Dense cottonwood stands dominate the river bottom for most of the remaining distance to the Fred Robinson Bridge. The Bureau of Land Management has developed an excellent map of the wild and scenic portion of the river. They may be purchased at most BLM offices in Montana. Most people allow five to seven days to float the entire 149 miles. While the widely spaced access points preserve the primitive nature of the river, they make shuttling vehicles difficult.
Shuttles take several hours or can be arranged in Fort Benton.
The wild and scenic portion of the Missouri grows more popular every year, and high national interest in the Lewis and Clark Expedition could lead to levels of use that compromise solitude. Self-registration is available at Fort Benton, Coal Banks Landing, and Judith Landing. While you may encounter large numbers of people at major put-in points, this is a big river and people seem to spread out during the day. Unfortunately, campsites on public land are limited, as is shade. Mature cottonwoods are dying and there is little new growth, mainly due to cattle grazing along the banks.