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.
See this route beside all ten extreme canoe trips on one map
Destination guide: photos, local culture and travel tips
Canoe gear by destination: what this trip requires
Read the Upper Missouri River Breaks trip article — season, permits, hazards and itineraries →
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.