- elevation 3,104 ft (946 m) - min 270 cu ft/s (8 m/s) Discharge 67 m³/s Country United States of America | - average 2,370 cu ft/s (67 m/s) Length 121 km Mouth Clark Fork River | |
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- max 38,300 cu ft/s (1,085 m/s) Sources East Fork Bitterroot River, West Fork Bitterroot River Cities Missoula, Hamilton, Stevensville Similar Clark Fork River, Rocky Mountains, Lolo Peak, Fort Missoula, Mount Sentinel | ||
The Bitterroot River is a tributary of the Clark Fork River in southwestern Montana, United States. 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.
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Map of Bitterroot River, Orchard Homes, MT, USA
Ravalli County and Missoula County along with the towns along the Bitterroot River, including Hamilton, Stevensville, Missoula, and Darby are popular destinations for fly fishing, with rainbow trout being fairly prevalent and with smaller populations of brown trout and westslope 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 locale 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.