Summary
The park is situated around the Clark Canyon Reservoir, a man-made lake created by a dam on the Beaverhead River.
There are many good reasons to visit Clark Canyon Reservoir Park, including its scenic beauty, excellent fishing opportunities, and abundance of outdoor recreation options. Some specific points of interest within the park include the Beaverhead Rock State Park, a large rock formation that is considered a sacred site by many Native American tribes, and the Clark Canyon Dam, which offers fantastic views of the surrounding landscape.
Visitors to Clark Canyon Reservoir Park can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. The park is home to a variety of fish species, including rainbow and brown trout, as well as a diverse array of bird and mammal species.
Interesting facts about the area include its rich history as a site of Native American activity and later as a location for early pioneer settlements. The park was also used as a filming location for the movie "A River Runs Through It" in 1992.
The best time of year to visit Clark Canyon Reservoir Park is typically between May and October when the weather is pleasant and the park is fully open to visitors. However, fishing enthusiasts may also enjoy visiting during the winter months when the lake is frozen and ice fishing is popular.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References