Brownes Bridge

**Location & Facilities**
Brownes Bridge is a public fishing access site located 6 miles south of Melrose on the Big Hole River's Lower Section (Mile 32). This 3-acre facility offers a concrete boat ramp suitable for kayaks, canoes, and small motorboats, along with parking for trailers, picnic tables, and restroom facilities.

**River Character & Paddling**
The Lower Section of the Big Hole River, where Brownes Bridge is situated, features a lower gradient with open rangeland landscape and fewer coniferous trees compared to upstream sections. The access point puts you in the heart of a designated Smallmouth Bass Trophy area, making it popular for both fishing and paddling. Brownes Bridge serves as a strategic mid-section access point, positioned between the Salmonfly access (6 miles upstream) and Kalsta Bridge (2 miles downstream), giving paddlers flexibility for day trips or longer float plans.

**Recreation & Nearby Areas**
Beyond the river, the site provides proximity to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the scenic Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area to the north, offering opportunities to combine water and land-based recreation in southwestern Montana's backcountry.