Construction Begins on New Coal Banks Landing Campground Boat Ramp
FORT BENTON, Mont. – Construction of a new boat ramp at the Bureau of Land Management’s Coal Banks Landing Campground begins this week and should be completed by spring 2025.
While most visitor amenities will remain open during this time, some features will be limited or unavailable as necessary to accommodate construction activities:
• The eastern campground entrance will remain open to the public
• Vault toilets will remain open and available
• The existing boat ramp will remain available for river access
• Tent camping will be limited
• No RV or trailer camping will be available
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but look forward to the increased river access the new ramp will provide for visitors to paddle or boat on the Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River next spring,” said Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center Manager Thomas Valencia.
About 20 years ago, the natural movement of the river caused an attached bar upriver from the existing concrete boat ramp to grow, leaving the ramp sitting in mud. Over time, reduced flows and increased sediment deposition developed within the channel beyond the ramp, significantly impacting boat access during low-flow conditions.
Coal Banks Landing Campground is the starting point for many river trips within the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. The new boat ramp will be located at the upriver end of the campground and will have room for both jet boat and canoe launching.
-BLM-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.