A Magical Boat Ride in the Rockies
Beautiful day for a boat ride!
Sometimes I get anxious when I go on a boat. Will I get motion sickness or will it pass this time? Will there be a crowd or just a few? Will the weather be nice or downright onery? I call it the case of the “wills,” and it ends soon after arriving to our destination. But for today, it was a magical day.
Peeking through our curtains covering a small window, and an eye to the world, the sky was promising as brilliant blues danced around, kicking the clouds out to the edges of the horizon. I jumped for joy as this would be a good day to traverse on the waters, learning about Lewis and Clark and how they traveled around these parts, discovering the area for people to live in today.
The entrance at the gates!
But I did have some nervousness about floating on the water, and I quickly pushed it aside as this was a trip we planned for a long time! All we had to do was show up and relax as we were not driving the boat, but a well, experienced person with storytelling skills that could captivate any audience.
Before we knew it, it was time to go on our next adventure as we spent the summer in Helena, Montana, working and playing along the way. A short, easy drive from Helena, and hugely scenic, a constant smile played on my face as I was so mesmerized with the Rockies and the gentle slope we were on. Pulling up to the parking lot, it was seemingly crowded with other outdoor enthusiasts, whether going on a cruise with us, or having a fishing boat all to themselves.
It was warm out, with a blazing sun casting its heat onto the waters below and to us as we went down the hill to the boats. There were so many people going on board that a second boat was necessary! Talk about a popular place to cruise on!
The amazing, very green Rockies!
Once we got settled in our boat that had a roof, but plenty of openness on the sides, camera was ready and tummy was settled. The other boat had no roof and with my light skin and hair, I thought it best to have some covering, even though I was drenched in sunblock.
Pulling out slowly, creating a small wake, we ventured on through the limestone cliffs, maybe the same cliffs that Lewis and Clark traveled on as they discovered this part of the country. Gates of the Mountains lives up to its name as we floated through the finely chiseled mountains with our storytelling captain, leading the way.
You might see a variety of bird species (even an eagle!), bighorn sheep, beaver, deer, bear and more! As we gently cruised on the lake, our informative captain showed us Indian pictographs from long ago as he gently swayed the boat close to a canyon wall.
Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, named the the aptly Gates of the Mountains as they floated on the lake, watching the cliffs go by and mesmerized as much as I was today. Isn’t it amazing that people float on a lake that was floated on the Lewis and Clark over 200 years ago?
It was an incredible ride, with plenty of pine trees and green grasses in a semi desert area. This lake, which is part of the Missouri River, goes to 25 feet deep, so no deep sea diving here! There is camping along the way, one the land beside the lake, if you have a boat and remember, this is BEAR COUNTRY! We went at the end of June, and June is the WETTEST month in Helena. Trust me on this as we experienced it!
Sometimes you may see wildlife here! Bighorn sheep, or maybe a bear!
The clouds did creep up on us we our boat ride was coming to an end, and I was grateful we chose the earlier time, as it got gusty and rainy later. As the locals say, wait 5 minutes and the weather will change. Indeed!
Here are the details for the Gates of the Mountains boat ride:
Adult (18-59) $20 per Person
Senior (60 and Over) $15 per Person
Child (3-17) $10 per Person
Active Military (With ID) $15 per Person
2 and Under Free
Duration is around 2 hours
Tickets go on sale the 1st of the year
Wear sun protection, comfortable clothes and shoes
There is a BAT TOUR that sells out quickly so if you want to go to that, click this website, Gates of the Mountains and book on May 20, 2024. It starts precisely at 8:15 p.m.
Whatever tour you decide to do, it will be a blast! Make sure to bring your camera and plenty of sunblock if the weather is warm. You can definitely get a sunburn in Montana!
Clouds coming quickly, preparing to storm (luckily we just missed it)!