Confluence of Gordon Creek and the South Fork of the Flathead River

**🏔️ Introduction / Overview**

The location known as the **Confluence of Gordon Creek and the South Fork of the Flathead River** is not a typical developed campground you can drive your RV to. Instead, it represents one of Montana's most pristine, remote, and rewarding backcountry camping experiences. Situated deep within the rugged and expansive **Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex**, this site is a junction point where the waters of Gordon Creek meet the federally designated Wild and Scenic South Fork of the Flathead River.

This area is a destination for the dedicated outdoor enthusiast—particularly those seeking **world-class fly fishing** for native species like westslope cutthroat and bull trout, or those embarking on **multi-day wilderness float trips**. Camping here is inherently rustic, a true immersion in the wilderness, far from roads and modern amenities. The remote nature of this confluence is its greatest selling point, offering an unparalleled opportunity to disconnect and experience the heart of Montana's "Wild and Scenic" heritage. Access is generally achieved via multi-day hike, horseback pack-in, or multi-day river float, making it an experience reserved for those with proper backcountry skills and preparation.

**📍 Location and Accessibility**

The confluence is located within the wilderness boundaries of the **Flathead National Forest**, specifically in the vast and protected **Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex**. It is geographically situated near the headwaters of the South Fork of the Flathead River.

**Address (General Area):** Powell County, MT, USA (Note: This is a wilderness location, not a physical roadside address.)

Access to this specific point is challenging and highly regulated due to its location deep inside a designated wilderness area.

• Primary Access: The most common ways to reach this confluence are via a challenging, multi-day **hike or horse pack-in** over mountain passes from trailheads like Owl Creek, or as part of a **multi-day float trip** on the South Fork of the Flathead River.

• Remoteness: Visitors should plan for a significant journey. Outfitters often quote long pack rides (e.g., a 9-hour horseback ride) to reach the float-able sections of the South Fork near this area.

• River Access: For float trips, the confluence is a key landmark, usually reached a day or more into a wilderness journey, indicating travel downriver from the headwaters.

• No Vehicle Access: There are **no roads** or easy vehicle access points to this camping location. Vehicle-accessible campgrounds are located many miles away outside the wilderness boundaries.

This is a trip that requires **advanced planning**, permits for commercial activities, and careful attention to wilderness rules, particularly regarding food storage and waste management.

**⛺ Services Offered (Wilderness & Backcountry)**

As a pristine wilderness location, the confluence site offers minimal infrastructure. The "services" provided are the regulations and recommendations required to maintain the wilderness character. Campers must be entirely self-sufficient.

• Designated Campsites: Camping is permitted in designated river sections, typically on **durable surfaces** like gravel and sand bars below the high-water mark, but it is **primitive/dispersed** and not a developed campground with numbered sites or facilities.

• Waste Disposal (Required): River users are **REQUIRED** to use a self-contained human waste disposal system (like a Groover or WAG bags) to comply with wilderness regulations and protect the river's purity.

• Bear Safety: Strict food storage regulations are enforced. All food, cooking gear, and refuse must be secured from bears at all times in an approved bear-resistant container or suspended a minimum of 10 feet above ground and 4 feet from any tree trunk.

• Campfires: Wood fires are generally allowed, but only if contained in a **fire pan** with an air space between the fire and the ground to protect the natural ecosystem.

• Water Source: The South Fork and Gordon Creek are the water sources, but all water must be **filtered, boiled, or chemically treated** before consumption.

• Stay Limits: Camping is typically limited to **one night** in any single campsite, with parties required to move at least one mile each day before establishing a new camp.

**🌟 Features / Highlights**

The area surrounding the Confluence of Gordon Creek and the South Fork of the Flathead River is highlighted by its untouched nature and specific recreational opportunities.

• Wild and Scenic River Status: The South Fork Flathead is a protected Wild River, ensuring its flow and surrounding landscape remain natural, rugged, and free-flowing.

• Exceptional Native Trout Fishing: The river is a destination for fly fishers, offering incredible "Catch and Release" opportunities for native **westslope cutthroat trout** and **bull trout**. It is one of the few places where you can legally target bull trout in Montana (with specific regulations and catch cards required).

• Remote Wilderness Immersion: Being 30 or more miles from the nearest road, this location offers a truly profound sense of solitude and escape, allowing for a deep connection with the Montana backcountry.

• Breathtaking Scenery: The area is characterized by dramatic mountains, deep green, unusually clear blue waters, and the rugged, diverse ecology of one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states.

• Abundant Wildlife: The entire Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is prime habitat for major Montana species, including grizzly bear, black bear, elk, moose, and mountain goats, making wildlife viewing a key feature.

**☎️ Contact Information**

Since this location is managed as a remote wilderness area, there is no direct contact number for the campsite itself. Visitors should contact the relevant Ranger District that manages this section of the **Flathead National Forest** for current conditions, alerts, and regulations.

• Relevant Ranger District: Spotted Bear Ranger District (Part of the Flathead National Forest)

• Forest Supervisor's Office Phone: (406) 758-5208 (For general Flathead National Forest information)

• Address (Administrative): Consult the Flathead National Forest website for the Spotted Bear Ranger District Office address for official mail or in-person visits prior to your trip.

**🌟 What is Worth Choosing This Confluence?**

Choosing the camping area around the Confluence of Gordon Creek and the South Fork of the Flathead River is a decision for the seasoned Montanan or serious wilderness traveler. It is worth choosing for two primary reasons: **unrivaled wilderness solitude** and **unparalleled native fish habitat**.

This is where you go when you want to truly leave civilization behind. The commitment required to reach this spot—the multi-day hike, the necessary hiring of an outfitter for a pack-in, or the challenging float—ensures that the crowds are nonexistent, and the natural environment remains virtually untouched. The clear, cold waters at the confluence create a magnificent environment for some of the best fly fishing in the region, targeting ancient and precious fish populations that are protected within this ecosystem.

The lack of services is a feature, not a bug. It forces self-reliance, rewards proper preparation, and deepens the appreciation for the raw, untamed nature of Montana's vast wilderness areas. If your definition of a perfect camping trip involves waking up to the sound of a wild, pristine river, navigating a log jam during a portage, and fishing for endangered native trout, the Confluence of Gordon Creek offers an unforgettable and profound Montana adventure that few ever experience.