A designated Wild and Scenic river carves the southern boundary of Glacier National Park. For Montanans, the outdoors is less a hobby than a way of life.

The Middle Fork forms part of Glacier's rugged southwestern edge.

What sets it apart

Spring runoff turns its canyon into a rollercoaster of big rapids. For those who know the region well, it is a point of quiet pride.

The river is protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about Montana itself — a state where the wild and the worked-over sit close together. Go prepared, respect the conditions, and Montana's backcountry will give back in kind.