BLM Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, Montana route planning
Upper Missouri Breaks Route Map: Fort Benton to James Kipp
The Wild and Scenic Missouri through the White Cliffs and the Breaks, mapped from BLM and USGS access coordinates.
Most parties run the White Cliffs section from Coal Banks Landing to Judith Landing, then continue into the Breaks to James Kipp if they have the days. Launch registration is required, water is scarce, and the wind runs upstream most afternoons. Fort Benton is the upstream start for full-length trips and the location of the monument's interpretive center.
Access points and landmarks
The monument spans 149 miles of Wild and Scenic river; Coal Banks to Judith Landing is the popular 47-mile section. Every coordinate below links to the published source it came from. Recheck access, closures, and water levels with the managing agency before you launch.
| Point | Role | Coordinates | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Benton | waypoint | 47.82889, -110.65583 | Historic head of navigation and the upstream start for full-length trips. USGS GNIS feature record ↗ |
| Coal Banks Landing | put in | 48.03386, -110.22799 | BLM launch and campground; the standard put-in for the White Cliffs section. BLM site page; GNIS coordinate ↗ |
| Judith Landing | waypoint | 47.73736, -109.62610 | Mid-river access at the Judith River confluence, and the take-out for most White Cliffs trips. BLM site page; NRHP coordinate ↗ |
| James Kipp Recreation Area | take out | 47.62777, -108.68960 | BLM campground and ramp at the downstream end of the Wild and Scenic corridor. BLM site page; GNIS coordinate ↗ |
Shuttle planning runs between Coal Banks Landing and James Kipp Recreation Area.
What we deliberately left off
- Hole-in-the-Wall and the Eagle Creek boat camp — BLM identifies both by river mile but publishes no coordinate, so they stay off the map.
Official sources
- Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument ↗
- Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River ↗
- Coal Banks Landing ↗
Distances and mileage figures come from the managing agency. Conditions change; this page is a planning aid, not a navigation chart.