Smith itinerary
Every published mile marker on the Smith route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Smith River (Montana) permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Smith. One reservation is one launch date; the whole trip follows from it, issued by lottery.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Camp Baker and Eden Bridge are the ones on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 33
- Across the markers
- 58.9 mi
- Published route length
- 59 mi
- Published ascent
- 0 ft
How long it takes: 4 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The Smith route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
Camp Baker
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
The put-in, 26 miles from White Sulphur Springs. Day-use only, with no overnight camping except September 1 to November 30, and where the toilet inspection and safety talk happen.
4.4 miles to Spring Creek
Mile 4.4
Spring Creek
1.2 miles to In-Lieu
Mile 5.6
In-Lieu
0.4 miles to Indian Springs
Mile 6.0
Indian Springs
0.8 miles to Rock Garden
Mile 6.8
Rock Garden
2.1 miles to Rock Creek
Mile 8.9
Rock Creek
3.1 miles to Scotty Allen
Mile 12.0
Scotty Allen
3.2 miles to Syringa
Mile 15.2
Syringa
1.7 miles to Canyon Depth
Mile 16.9
Canyon Depth
0.9 miles to Two Creek
Mile 17.8
Two Creek
The upstream end of the mid-canyon stretch where layover nights are permitted.
0.6 miles to Sheep Wagon
Mile 18.4
Sheep Wagon
4.4 miles to Cow Coulee
Mile 22.8
Cow Coulee
0.8 miles to Sunset Cliff
Mile 23.6
Sunset Cliff
1.9 miles to County Line
Mile 25.5
County Line
3.5 miles to Bear Gulch
Mile 29.0
Bear Gulch
1.3 miles to Trout Creek
Mile 30.3
Trout Creek
1.7 miles to Crow’s Foot
Mile 32.0
Crow’s Foot
1.5 miles to Table Rock
Mile 33.5
Table Rock
1.9 miles to Fraunhofer
Mile 35.4
Fraunhofer
0.6 miles to Meadow Bend
Mile 36.0
Meadow Bend
1.5 miles to Upper Parker Flat
Mile 37.5
Upper Parker Flat
The downstream end of the layover-eligible mid-canyon boat camps.
0.4 miles to Parker Flat
Mile 37.9
Parker Flat
0.8 miles to Deep Creek
Mile 38.7
Deep Creek
0.8 miles to Paradise Bend
Mile 39.5
Paradise Bend
4.5 miles to Staigmiller
Mile 44.0
Staigmiller
0.5 miles to Merganser Bend
Mile 44.5
Merganser Bend
0.3 miles to Black Butte
Mile 44.8
Black Butte
0.2 miles to Ridgetop
Mile 45.0
Ridgetop
2.0 miles to Class II whitewater (mile 47)
Mile 47.0
Class II whitewater (mile 47)
0.2 miles to Givens Gulch
Mile 47.2
Givens Gulch
0.2 miles to Rattlesnake Bend
Mile 47.4
Rattlesnake Bend
1.6 miles to Class II whitewater (mile 49)
Mile 49.0
Class II whitewater (mile 49)
9.9 miles to Eden Bridge
Mile 58.9
Eden Bridge
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
The take-out, 28 miles from Great Falls via Ulm and Interstate 15. Two SCAT machines here clean and sanitize portable toilets.
Getting a Smith for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Smith dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Smith around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.