Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 1 9 18 I slip my red kayak into the water and wait for my husband, Dewey, and our daughter Risa to load Wyatt into the canoe. We turn to the left after entering the narrow channel that leads to the main course of Clearwater River, which winds for 3.5 miles until it empties into the northern end of Seeley Lake. Sitting in boats, we are dwarfed by thick willow brush that surrounds us, casting a sense of mystery that adds to our excitement as we slip almost blindly around each corner of the meandering, mellow river. Wyatt drags his hand in the water captivated by the bubble contrail he is creating in the clear water. A startled turtle does a clumsy belly flop off the bank scuttling into streams of algae draping downfall that lies below. Birds flit overhead, skimming branch to branch and filling the quiet air with song. Muddied areas along the grass and shrub-covered shore sug- gest the presence of beaver along with snipped branches and shiny twigs that have been stripped of their bark and lie beneath the water and strewn along the banks. Brush dominates the shoreline with only a small sandbar and an open bank along the way. It is a different kind of trail because you get to sit down for an hour or two on a quiet narrow portion of river that allows for a lazy downstream float. ere isn't need for fast paddling except maybe to skirt possible downfall, especially in the spring when the river flows higher and faster. Later in the season, low water might require a brief portage over shallow sections of the river. Even though it is called a canoe trail, a variety of boats are used along with canoes, including kayaks, blow-up watercraft, and paddleboards. e river paddle takes one to two hours to complete, depending on how fast you paddle and the current, which though never fast, is stronger during spring run-off. e tunnel effect created by the heavy brush encourages boat- ers to zero in on the sights and sounds of this pristine section of the Clearwater River near Seeley Lake, where you can catch glimpses of the Mission Mountains bordering the 4,000' valley on the west and the Swan Range on the east. Wildlife is abundant along the river giving boaters a chance to see (or hear) a great blue heron, sandhill crane, eagle, osprey, common loon, yellow warblers, and a variety of other ducks and birds. Moose, deer, mountain lion, beaver, otter, mink and musk- rat are some of the larger animals that find refuge in the nearby forest and along the water. Look closely to find smaller creatures such as frogs, painted turtles, garter snakes, fish and insects such as dragonflies, butterflies, water striders and the inevitable mos- quitoes, especially in early summer. Early morning is usually the best time to capture glimpses of wildlife and to enjoy the added tranquility of solitude. A great blue heron perches on the top of a crooked old snag and even though we are far below, he lifts off and flies farther down the river, only to move again when we appear later around a corner. e buttercup underwater plant creates a lacy border along the river's edge. We hear the rattle of the sandhill crane somewhere close, though hidden by the thick willow. Its prehistoric sound Boat launch

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