“Missouri River Paddlers Trail 43” Officially Dedicated
Author: Al Christophersen, Broadwater County Trails
Article Published: 07/31/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 04Al Christophersen
Broadwater County Trails
On Saturday, July 18th, the Lower Toston Dam Recreation Area boat launch was home to an excited gathering of over 40 river enthusiasts and Broadwater County Trail (BCT) team members for the dedication of the first completed trail under the Trails Vision Plan.
The segment of the Missouri River from Toston Dam to the Indian Road recreation site at the bridge near Townsend has been designated as the “Missouri River Paddlers Trail 43”. It is the latest paddlers trail to extend the connection to the Jefferson River Canoe Trail, from Twin Bridges to Headwaters State Park, and the Missouri River Headwaters Paddlers Trail from Headwaters State Park to Toston Dam. The “43” represents that the trail lies entirely within Broadwater County.
The Broadwater County Trail team has collaborated with managing agencies and sponsoring organizations to get this designation supported and approved. Saturday’s dedication event was a great step forward in the implementation of the first trail under the Trails Vision Plan accepted in December 2025. The team began their implementation efforts in January and brought it to an exciting culmination at a well-attended ceremony.
The dedication was attended by representatives of Governor Gianforte and Senator Daines’ offices, who
presented comments. Then congratulatory letters from Senator Sheehy and Broadwater County commissioners were read to the attendees. Representatives from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Bureau of Land Management, who manage most of the river trail access sites, expressed their excitement and enthusiasm for the work going into establishing this aquatic river trail and have helped develop the partnership for future maintenance of the sites and the river.
BCT revealed the new river signs as part of the dedication ceremony. The new river signs will be posted on new portal signboards at all four access sites along this river segment. Those sites are Lower Toston Dam, Toston Bridge, Yorks Islands fishing access site and ending at the Indian Road campground and Day Use site at the Townsend bridge. The Broadwater County Trust Board and BCDC have helped sponsor the signage and designation of this trail project. The VFW and BCDC helped supply ceremonial supplies.
A formal ribbon cutting celebrating the official opening of the river trail was conducted after a boisterous countdown by the gathered paddlers. Over 30 watercrafts of canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and a raft all entered the river and enjoyed a very refreshing float.
The BCT will be conducting monitoring of the sites to ensure the maintenance of signage, as well as conducting an annual river trash cleanup. The BCT hopes that the future river trash cleanup can occur on or near the anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which actually traversed this section of river in 1805.
BCT encourages river trail users to continue to keep the river clean of trash and respect the river setting and follow proper river etiquette.
There were attendees of the ceremony and an inaugural float from across Montana, and they expressed gratitude for bringing the recreational aspects of the river to the public’s attention.
If you would like to become a BCT team member, donate to the trails work in Broadwater County or have questions, visit our FB page, or contact: John Hahn, 405-202-1050; Carol Hatfield, 406-431-9656, or Al Christophersen, 406-439-0197.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: See Captions
Image 1 Caption: Paddlers assembled for dedication and inaugural float
Photo Credit: Broadwater Trail Committee
Image 2 Caption: Renee Lemon, FWP Director Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Representing Gov. Gianforte.
Photo Credit: Amy Currence
Image 3 Caption: Eliza Pizzini, Senator Daine’s Helena Staff
Photo Credit: Amy Currence
