Missouri Cliffs Lodge

Trip Overview
Perched high above one of Montana’s premier trout rivers, Missouri Cliffs Lodge offers sweeping views of the legendary Missouri River. Designed with both comfort and scenery in mind, Missouri Cliffs Lodge features expansive common areas that showcase panoramic river views. From arrival to departure, guests are cared for by an experienced hospitality team dedicated to creating a memorable stay. Guests can relax in a welcoming saloon and bar, gather around the stone fireplace in the vaulted great room, or enjoy meals in the bright dining area surrounded by windows. Spacious guest accommodations provide a comfortable retreat after a day on the water. Situated in the center of the Missouri River Canyon, the lodge offers convenient access to the entire tailwater section between Wolf Creek and Cascade.

Lodging Details
To maintain a relaxed and personalized atmosphere, accommodations are limited to just six guest rooms, hosting a maximum of 12 anglers. Five rooms are located within the main lodge, while the sixth room is situated in a nearby guest house. Each room is furnished with two beds and a private bathroom, providing comfort and privacy. The lodge’s main level serves as the hub of activity, featuring a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious dining room with sweeping river views, a comfortable gathering area in the great room, and a rustic saloon crafted from reclaimed barnwood complete with a full-service bar.

Food and Beverages
The lodge’s dining experience is led by Executive Chef Guillermo Farias. Guillermo was born and raised in San Martin de Los Andes in the Patagonian region of Argentina. He has over 14 years of culinary experience working at one of the late Ted Turner's fly fishing lodges in Patagonia. It is very common for guests to comment that Chef Guillermo’s food is some of the best they’ve ever had at a lodge. Breakfast is a hot & cold buffet that will have you going back for more. Lunch is on the water with your guide. And dinner is a multi-course meal that will not disappoint from the starter salad to dessert. There is a well-appointed bar with a wide selection of beers, wines, liquors, and mixers. As well as a snack station for those midnight cravings.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center in Great Falls provides an ideal view of terrain similar to what the Corps of Discovery encountered along their portage of the Great Falls of the Missouri River. You can also visit the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art in Great Falls. This beautiful building with its ornate interior was originally built in 1895 and is designated as a National Historic Landmark. Great Falls was also the home of the famed cowboy artist Charlie Russell, whose original home and log studio are now part of the CM Russell Museum, one of our nation’s greatest collections of Western art. There’s also boat tours of the spectacular limestone canyons of the Gates of the Mountains along the Missouri River.

Internet / Communications
There is Wi-Fi access and a land line for needed phone calls at the lodge. Cell phone reception is very limited and unreliable at the lodge.

How to Get There
Missouri Cliffs Lodge is located almost directly between the cities of Great Falls and Helena, Montana. Drive time from the Great Falls International Airport is about 40 minutes. And drive time from the Helena Regional Airport is about 55 minutes. Most guests choose to rent a car. However, airport shuttles can also be arranged for an additional fee. 

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Check-in time is 3PM and check-out time is 10AM.

Documents Required
Montana fishing licenses are available online by visiting Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
As the state’s largest tailwater fishery, the Missouri benefits from a series of upstream reservoirs and a bottom-release dam that create remarkably consistent flows and stable water temperatures throughout the year. These conditions give the river many of the characteristics of a spring creek, supporting prolific insect hatches, exceptional trout populations, and impressive fish growth. Anglers can expect abundant opportunities, with trout averaging around 16 inches and larger specimens regularly brought to hand.

The upper section below Holter Dam is the most spring-creek-like portion of the river. Slow-moving currents, lush aquatic vegetation, and ideal trout habitat combine to support some of the highest fish populations in the state. This reach is particularly known for healthy trout growth and consistent fishing throughout the season.

After passing through the renowned fly-fishing community of Craig, the Missouri enters a scenic canyon characterized by towering cliffs, rugged rock formations, and dramatic landscapes. The canyon's varied currents, seams, and structure create countless holding areas for trout, offering anglers a diverse and engaging fishing experience.

Below the Pelican access site, the river gradually leaves the canyon and meanders into a wider valley framed by distant mountain ranges. Trout populations are somewhat lower in this section, but the fish that inhabit these waters are often larger. During the summer months, this reach is especially popular for its productive terrestrial fishing, with hopper patterns frequently producing memorable action.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge.

2026 Pricing (based on double occupancy)
3 nights / 2 days = $2,840.00 per person
4 nights / 3 days = $3,910.00 per person
5 nights / 4 days = $4,980.00 per person
6 nights / 5 days = $6,050.00 per person
7 nights / 6 days = $7,120.00 per person

What's Included:

• Lodging
• Guided fishing
• All meals (cooler lunch while fishing)
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the lodge
• Rods/reels, flies, and tackle provided by the guide
• Waders and wading boots
• Beer on guide trips
• Guide meet & drop off on each day of fishing
• River shuttle fees for guide’s vehicle
• Lodging taxes

What's Not Included:

• Airfare
• Airport transportation (rent a car or can be arranged at an additional cost)
• Fishing licenses
• Gratuities for lodge staff
• Gratuities for guides

Terms and Conditions – Cancellations
Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. A deposit of 50% per person is due within 10 days of booking for all trip packages and reservations, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. All trip cancellations must be received in writing, and sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. For all cancellations outside of 90 days of scheduled arrival at the lodge, a cancellation fee of 7.5% of the reservation total will be applied (plus a $100 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee will be issued). For cancellations 60-90 days before arrival, a cancellation fee of 50% of the reservation total will be applied (plus a $100 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee will be applied), and no refund or credit will be issued for trips cancelled less than 60 days before arrival. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. Refunds or rollovers are not available for reservation date changes. Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.