American Prairie is a nonprofit conservation organization working to create one of the largest nature reserves in the continental United States. Located in north-central Montana between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, the reserve, open to the public, spans more than 527,000 acres. It’s also home to one of the most unexpectedly ideal paddling experiences in the West.
Now, American Prairie is encouraging paddlers, rafters, and river runners to explore this quiet, lesser-known stretch of the Missouri River. It’s a rare opportunity to experience a truly remote river corridor without the crowds of nearby national parks—and with a chance to support one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in the country.
Float the same route Lewis and Clark once traveled as the Missouri River winds through dramatic canyons, rolling prairie, and vast skies, offering peaceful, crowd-free floats and an intimate connection to the land and water. Wildlife sightings are common along the river as bison graze the banks, elk and deer move through the grasslands, and eagles patrol the skies. The region includes federally recognized “quiet park” zones, and the night skies here offer some of the best celestial observations in North America.
Whether you’re a seasoned river canoeist or setting out on one of your first paddling adventures, this landscape is both wild and welcoming. Overnight options include riverside campsites as well as safari-style yurts at the group’s conservation-focused Kestrel Camp, which you can reserve online at the link below.
Keep in mind however that American Prairie’s mission goes beyond recreation. With more than half a million acres now under conservation management, the organization is restoring native prairie ecosystems, rebuilding riparian wetlands, and maintaining wildlife corridors. Efforts include replanting native vegetation, building beaver dam analogs, supporting prairie dog colonies, and tracking migratory species through long-term research programs like Cameras for Conservation. Nearly every acre is open to the public, and more than 80,000 acres are enrolled in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Block Management program for public access and habitat stewardship.
American Prairie partners with a wide range of stakeholders from neighboring ranchers to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to implement science-based conservation strategies that benefit people and wildlife. The organization’s vision is bold but simple: to create a lasting refuge for biodiversity and public connection to the land. Or as they put it, “a refuge for people and wildlife, forever.”
Plan your visit or learn more about the work behind American Prairie at americanprairie.org.