Sun River

The Sun River is one of Montana's most beautiful and scenic rivers. The Sun begins in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and flows southeast to Great Falls where it meets the Missouri River. You will enjoy great fishing for trout and mountain whitefish as well as excellent boating on Gibson Reservoir.

Hunting/Fishing opportunities: Elk hunting during the archery season. Antlerless elk and antelope hunting by permit only. Mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, and grouse hunting during archery and general seasons outside the December 1 - May 15 closure. Limited waterfowl hunting (duck and Canada goose). Fishing in Barr Creek and Swayze and Dickens lakes

Wildlife viewing: A variety of game and nongame bird and animal species may be viewed from May 15 to December 1. Peak times for birding include spring and fall waterfowl migrations. Large numbers of elk can usually be observed from the county road during the winter months.

One attraction of the Sun River is the Sun River Canyon. Each November, bighorn sheep rams from one of the largest herds in the country (800 to 1,000 animals) gather within Sun River Canyon to test their mating prowess. Again and again, two males with massive curled horns hurl themselves at each other. Rams may clash this way for 40 times or more if evenly matched. The winner earns the right to lead the herd and mate with the ewes.

For most of the year, Bighorns lead a more placid life munching grass in the canyon bottoms in the winter and crisscrossing distant cliffs in the summer. Sun River Canyon in summer resounds with other sounds - the slap of a beaver tail on water, warbles of songbirds among stream side cottonwoods and the drumming of woodpeckers.

This area along the Rocky Mountain Front is the heart of the chinook belt, providing some of the earliest wildflower displays (April) east of the Rockies.

Experience the Sun River with an America Outdoors outfitter, who provide fishing, hunting, canoeing, scenic floats, horseback riding and dude ranch lodging.