Brennan's Wave
A man-made river wave on the Clark Fork River beside Caras Park, where in summer you can watch kayakers and river surfers tumbling through the rapids.
Brennan's Wave is a man-made wave built in 2006 in the Clark Fork River beside Caras Park. It is named after Brennan Guth, a local kayaker who died during a river trip in Chile. Water flowing over the concrete structure on the riverbed creates a continuous standing wave. From late spring through summer, when water levels are high, kayakers, stand-up paddlers and river surfers take turns riding the wave. The viewing platform and stone steps on the bank are good spots to watch, and the wave embodies Missoula's 'river city' spirit. Conditions change with the water level: May–June, at the snowmelt peak, brings the biggest waves, but the water is fast and cold; July–August is calmer. Watching is free. To get in the water, you need your own gear and whitewater experience. Ordinary visitors can rent inner tubes on the riverfront and float down from upstream to near here, and must wear life jackets.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Caras Park & Riverfront Trail
- Missoula Art Museum
- Downtown Missoula
- Missoula Farmers Market & Clark Fork Market
- University of Montana
- Mount Sentinel M Trail
- Mount Jumbo
- Historical Museum at Fort Missoula