The Bitterroot River is a tributary of the Clark Fork River in southwestern Montana, USA. It runs for about 75 miles (121 km) south-to-north through the Bitterroot Valley, from the confluence of its West and East forks near Conner to the Clark Fork near Missoula.
Ravalli County and Missoula County along with the towns along the Bitterroot River, including Hamilton, Stevensville and Missoula, are popular destinations for fly fishing, with rainbow trout being fairly prevalent and with smaller populations of brown trout and cutthroat trout. Although the Bitterroot River passes close by to many residential areas, it is an excellent place for wildlife viewing. Many species of ducks and waterfowl are common along with osprey, bald eagles and heron. Both white-tailed deer and mule deer frequent the river as a source of water and to graze near its banks. The most notable wildlife viewing local along the river is the famous Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge.
The Bitterroot is a Class I river from the confluence of the East and West forks to its confluence with the Clark Fork River for public access for recreational purposes.
Read more about Bitterroot River: In Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the word river:
“The name of the town isn’t important. It’s the one that’s just twenty-eight minutes from the big city. Twenty-three if you catch the morning express. It’s on a river and it’s got houses and stores and churches. And a main street. Nothing fancy like Broadway or Market, just plain Broadway. Drug, dry good, shoes. Those horrible little chain stores that breed like rabbits.”
—Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993)