2025 River Weed Pull Rodeo

Jun 30

June 27, 2025, marked another successful gathering of community for the annual River Weed Pull Rodeo! What started as an unseasonably cool, wet start eventually offered up blue skies as 160 participants took to the river to pull noxious weeds, along the Middle Fork of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River. Participants included Flathead Rivers Alliance staff , board members, and supporters, as well as representatives from all 4 of the original raft companies, community members, and agency representatives.

The River Weed Pull Rodeo continues to be a community favorite. With limited spots to keep in line with floating regulations the roster again quickly filled with an assorted group of passionate volunteers.

Glacier National Park Biologist Dawn LaFleur highlights the importance of education in weed mitigation, which continues to be a big focus of this event. There are some great resources you can reference if interested in learning more about the weeds causing trouble in our area and how to manage them. Check out Montana Weed Control Association's informational Weed ID webpage for more info.

Though weed mitigation is said to be a slow and never-ending battle, progress can be made to keep the populations in check. For example, Moccasin Creek, the Spotted Knapweed-infested inspiration for the River Weed Rodeo, now hosts a thriving native plant population. Thanks to the agency partners for their knowledge and education, and for the hard work of those involved in their weed suppression programs. Huge thanks to Brenda Guzman for her original call to action and continued wrangling of this one-day annual event!

History: The River Weed Pull Rodeo launched in 2003, as the brainchild of then-raft guide Brenda Guzman. Brenda gathered support from the four local raft guide companies, Wild River Adventures, Glacier Raft Co, Glacier Guides & Montana Raft, and Great Northern Whitewater & Resort for a burgers and beer party after a combined weed pulling effort. Brenda was troubled by the Spotted Knapweed infestation at the Moccasin Creek river access site, and was inspired to begin pulling weeds along the Middle Fork river corridor. From here, the event has grown to cover about 40 miles on the Middle Fork of the Flathead, from Essex to the Blankenship bridge. Holding strong to tradition, the volunteers meet up at Wild River Adventures for a celebration after the weed pull, with a barbeque and raffle prizes.