Index

General Information

Montana Rivers

List of Composite Maps

Montana Links

Special Symbols

Symbol	Meaning
	Click for weather information local to the gauge site.
	Click for the gauge location, shown as on the displayed map.
	Click for the corresponding entry on the river flows page.
	Click for color-coded flow (high/good/low) trigger level information.
	Click for the rating table (gauge height to river flow conversion chart).
	Click for the graph of recent flows.
	Flow on this run is likely to differ markedly from reported flow - see second paragraph below.
	Click for a map showing put-in, take-out, and rapid locations (if available).
	Click for a composite map showing the relationship of this run to other nearby runs.

General Information

The following lists the various Montana flow sites reported by Dreamflows, and some whitewater runs associated with those sites.  This list isn't by any means exhaustive, but should provide a useful cross-listing.  Sites reported by Dreamflows appear against the left-hand margin in bold, while associated runs appear indented underneath.  Where available, gauge location and other pertinent information appear beneath the site name.  The terms "above" and "below" mean "upstream from" and "downstream from", respectively, and distances are in river miles.

In general, the flow on any given run will differ to some extent from the reported flow for its gauge.  For example, the flow on the Chamberlain Falls run of the North Fork American is lower than the inflow at Clementine, since the run starts many miles upstream from Clementine (side creeks make up the difference).  For runs marked the difference is likely to be radical.  Please consult a good white-water guidebook for information on how to estimate the actual flow on any given run.

Click on the icon, when present, for run-specific put-in, take-out and/or rapid location information.  Click on the icon, when present, for a composite view showing gauges and runs in the same drainage or general area.  The terms "run" and "reach" are used interchangeably; both mean a specific section of some river or stream that is typically paddled during a single trip.  Of course you're not necessarily limited to these access points and may choose others, though be sure to consider the legal and logistical aspects first.  Also, be aware that access points may not be accurately measured or displayed, and in any case can change over time, so please don't take the published access points too literally.  In particular, many access points are shown as the middle of a bridge; this doesn't mean you should seal launch off, but rather scout around for the best river-side access.

Information on the runs listed below was taken from one (or more) of the following sources:

Almost all of the runs below have some basic information about the run: the length, the class, and a tag indicating which guidebook the information was taken from (see the above table for a list of tags).  The page numbers (where given) are for the specified edition of the guide. The class ratings listed here never include all the nuances in the guidebook.  Note very carefully that the information supplied here is intended only as an aid to selecting runs which might appeal to you.  Different authors rate runs differently, some runs have significant rapids and hazards not covered by the ratings given here, and ratings change with flow.  Also, only a fraction of the information in the guidebooks is presented here.  PLEASE CONSULT AN APPLICABLE GUIDEBOOK before selecting a run to paddle.

Note also that the class rating will sometimes have a qualifier appended in parentheses.  If the rating (for example) were given as III to IV, then this means the run is generally considered Class III to IV at normal flows.  If the rating were III to IV (V) instead, then that would mean the run was class III to IV overall, but that it contained class V rapid(s).  If the rating were III to IV (P) instead, then that would mean the run was class III to IV overall, but that it contained portage(s).  Note: for various reasons (e.g. qualifier omissions in guidebooks, or the river's changed), some entries that should have a qualifier might not show one.  So, if you don't see a qualifier for a given run, then don't assume that one doesn't apply.

Many of the runs listed below have links to web pages that describe the run and associated logistics.  Many also provide interesting photos.  Note: these are third-party web sites, though, and as such Dreamflows cannot vouch for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided; nor are the opinions expressed necessarily shared by Dreamflows.  Note also that for many runs, the logistical information is taken from a hardcopy book, plus there are one or more links to online pages as well.  This offers the reader more sources of run information.

Return to Index.

Montana Rivers

  North Fork Blackfoot River - Upper Run (4 miles, III to V-, Turner p44)        AWA

  Blackfoot River - Scotty Brown Bridge to Johnsrud Park (32 miles, II to III, AWA)        AWA

  Clark Fork River - Cyr Bridge to Tarkio (Alberton Gorge) (10 miles, III to IV, Turner p38)        AWA

  Prospect Creek - Lower Run (3 miles, IV+ to V, Turner p52)        AWA

  North Fork Flathead River - Big Creek to Glacier Rim (11 miles, II to III, Turner p120)        AWA

  Middle Fork Flathead River - Schafer Meadows to Bear Creek (27.5 miles, IV, WWW p128)        AWA
  Middle Fork Flathead River - Bear Creek to Moccasin Creek (31 miles, II+, WWW p128)        AWA  Buy the Guidebook
  Middle Fork Flathead River - Moccasin Creek Access to West Glacier (8 miles, III, WWW p128)        AWA  Buy the Guidebook
  Middle Fork Flathead River - West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge (6 miles, II, WWW p128)        AWA  Buy the Guidebook

  South Fork Flathead River - Big Prairie to Mid Creek Access (31 miles, II (IV,P), WWW p132)        AWA

  Swan River - Wild Mile (1.2 miles, IV to V (dam), Turner p122)      

  Flathead River - Kerr Dam to Buffalo Bridge Road (Buffalo Rapids) (7 miles, III, WWW p135)      

  Kootenai River - Below Kootenai Falls (1.5 miles, IV+, Turner p134)    

  Yaak River - Spread Creek to Yaak Falls (16 miles, II to III, AWA)        AWA
  Yaak River - Yaak Falls to Hwy-2 (9 miles, III to IV (IV+), Turner p136)        AWA

  Big Hole River - Divide Bridge to Beaverhead River (51.8 miles, II, AWA)      AWA

  Madison - Hebgen Reservoir to Quake Lake (3 miles, II to III, AWA)        AWA
  Madison - Earthquake Lake Run (1.7 miles, IV+ to V+, Turner p146)        AWA

  Madison - Beartrap Canyon (10 miles, III+ to IV+, Turner p148)      

  Gallatin River - Yellowstone National Park to Big Sky (20 miles, I to II, AWA)        AWA
  Gallatin River - Big Sky to Moose Flats (8 miles, II to III, Turner p152)      
  Gallatin River - Moose Flats to Storm Castle (8 miles, III to IV, Turner p154)      
  Gallatin River - Storm Castle to Squaw Creek (2.5 miles, II to III, Turner p156)      

  Smith River - Camp Baker to Eden Bridge (59 Miles, I to III, AWA)      AWA

  Belt Creek - Sec 15 to Monarch (Neihart Section) (19 miles, II to III, AWA)        AWA
  Belt Creek - Monarch to Riceville (14 miles, II to III, AWA)        AWA

  Yellowstone River - Black Canyon (20 miles, V to V+ (P), Turner p228)      
  Yellowstone River - Gardiner Run (4 miles, II to III+, Turner p224)      
  Yellowstone River - Yankee Jim Canyon (4 miles, III to IV, Turner p226)      

  Yellowstone River - Springdale FAS to Grey Bear FAS (9 miles, II to III, Turner p214)      
  Yellowstone River - Otter Creek FAS to Pelican FAS (10 miles, III, Turner p216)      

  Boulder River - Hells Canyon (3.25 miles, IV+ to V (P), Turner p210)        AWA
  Boulder River - Bible Stretch (6.5 miles, III to IV, Turner p212)        AWA
  Boulder River - Chippy Park Campground to Boulder Falls (9 miles, II to III, AWA)        AWA
  Boulder River - Boulder Falls to Highway (Boulder Falls Canyon) (1 mile, V+, AWA)        AWA

  Stillwater River - 3-day Mission Run (24 miles, V+ (P), Turner p170)      
  Stillwater River - Woodbine Run (3.5 miles, V, Turner p176)        AWA
  Stillwater River - Buffalo Jump to Cliff Swallow (11.8 miles, I to III, AWA)        AWA
  Stillwater River - Absarokee to Whitebird (8 miles, II (III), Turner p178)        AWA
  Stillwater River - Whitebird to Fireman’s Point (4.5 miles, III to III+, Turner p180)        AWA

  West Rosebud Creek - Emerald Lake to Pine Grove CG (3 miles, III to IV+, Turner p188)        AWA

  Rock Creek - Lake Fork to outside Red Lodge (2.5 miles, III to IV, Turner p190)    

  Clarks Fork Yellowstone River - Stix and Stones (4.7 miles, V+ (P), Turner p62)        AWA
  Clarks Fork Yellowstone River - Day Stretch (4 miles, IV to IV+ (V+,P), Turner p70)        AWA
  Clarks Fork Yellowstone River - Honeymooner (3 miles, V to V+, Turner p72)        AWA
  Clarks Fork Yellowstone River - Box (19 miles, V to V+ (VI,P), Turner p64)        AWA  OregonKayaking
  Clarks Fork Yellowstone River - Lower Run (3 miles, IV to V-, Turner p76)        AWA

List of Composite Maps

Return to Index.

Montana Links