Montana River Conditions
Live USGS stream gauge data for 27 gauges across Montana’s major rivers. Updated every 15 minutes. Source: USGS NWIS.
Gauges Online
19/27 (70%)
Active Alerts
5
Low Flow
3
Updated
08:24 PM UTC
ACTIVE RIVER ALERTS (5)
Flathead River @ Polson | Flood warning
Flood stage. Avoid river corridors.
Clark Fork River @ Missoula | Very high
High flows — experienced outfitters only.
Bitterroot River @ Darby | Unsafe wading
Unsafe for wading. Float only with experienced guides.
Bitterroot River @ Hamilton | Dangerous
Extreme flood. No recreational use.
Bitterroot River @ Missoula (mouth) | Dangerous
Extreme flood. No recreational use.
LOW FLOW ADVISORIES | Fish Stress Possible
Missouri River @ Pelican Point (Helena) | 351 CFS Madison River @ below Hebgen Lake | 116 CFS Big Hole River @ Melrose | 35.1 CFS
Flow Level Guide
Flood - dangerousVery High - unsafe wadingElevated - cautionNormal / goodLow / drought
Missouri Basin(6/9 reporting)
Missouri River
Great Falls
Normal flow | 4,840 CFS4.88 ft65℉ | Excellent
0 CFS8,000 caution15,000 high25,000+ flood
Normal conditions for season.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Blue-ribbon trout below Black Eagle Dam; classic MT prairie fishery
25m ago
USGS chartMissouri River
Canyon Ferry
No data
Data unavailable
Below Canyon Ferry Reservoir; regulated tailwater; rainbow and brown trout
Missouri River
Pelican Point (Helena)
Low / drought | 351 CFS3.84 ft56℉ | Excellent
0 CFS5,000 caution10,000 high18,000+ flood
Below average flow. Check for voluntary closures.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Upper Missouri gold medal section; wade fishing below Holter Dam
10m ago
USGS chartMadison River
below Hebgen Lake
Low / drought | 116 CFS4.79 ft59℉ | Excellent
0 CFS1,500 caution3,000 high6,000+ flood
Very low flow. Fish stressed; consider voluntary closures.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
World-class tailwater; Quake Lake to Ennis; brown and rainbow trout
25m ago
USGS chartMadison River
Ennis
Good conditions | 942 CFS1.82 ft52℉ | Good
0 CFS2,000 caution4,000 high7,000+ flood
Favorable wading and float conditions.
Slightly cool; nymphs productive. Midday surface action.
Ennis reach; benchmark gauge for 50 Mile Riffle; salmonfly hatch
55m ago
USGS chartMadison River
Three Forks
Good conditions | 2,190 CFS3.36 ft
0 CFS3,000 caution6,000 high10,000+ flood
Favorable wading and float conditions.
Lower Madison / confluence with Jefferson + Gallatin forming Missouri
25m ago
USGS chartGallatin River
Big Sky
No data
Data unavailable
Upper Gallatin canyon; rainbow and brown trout; fly fishing only section
Gallatin River
Gallatin Gateway
Wade with caution | 1,770 CFS6.32 ft55℉ | Excellent
0 CFS1,200 caution2,500 high5,000+ flood
Wading difficult. Trekking pole recommended.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Lower canyon reach; whitewater + fishing corridor; summer benchmark gauge
25m ago
USGS chartSmith River
below Camp Baker
No data
Data unavailable
Permitted float-only river; brown and rainbow trout in limestone canyon
Yellowstone Basin(3/5 reporting)
Yellowstone River
Livingston
Elevated — caution | 11,300 CFS5.45 ft52℉ | Good
0 CFS8,000 caution20,000 high30,000+ flood
No wade fishing; float trips use caution.
Slightly cool; nymphs productive. Midday surface action.
Longest undammed river in lower 48; blue-ribbon cutthroat, brown trout
1h ago
USGS chartYellowstone River
Big Timber
Elevated — caution | 21,900 CFS7.66 ft58℉ | Excellent
0 CFS10,000 caution22,000 high35,000+ flood
No wade fishing; float trips use caution.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Float fishing corridor; spring runoff peaks late May
25m ago
USGS chartYellowstone River
Columbus
No data
Data unavailable
Mid-reach Yellowstone; strong summer hopper fishing
Yellowstone River
Miles City
Elevated — caution | 21,800 CFS4.99 ft
0 CFS15,000 caution30,000 high50,000+ flood
No wade fishing; float trips use caution.
Lower Yellowstone; sauger, walleye, channel catfish
40m ago
USGS chartBighorn River
below Yellowtail Dam
No data
Data unavailable
World-famous tailwater; regulated by Yellowtail Dam; trophy brown + rainbow trout
Flathead Basin(2/2 reporting)
Flathead River
Columbia Falls
Elevated — caution | 6,380 CFS5.99 ft53℉ | Good
0 CFS5,000 caution12,000 high20,000+ flood
No wade fishing; float trips use caution.
Slightly cool; nymphs productive. Midday surface action.
North Fork Flathead; Glacier NP boundary; westslope cutthroat
55m ago
USGS chartFlathead River
Polson
Flood warning | 42,800 CFS14.49 ft58℉ | Excellent
0 CFS6,000 caution15,000 high25,000+ flood
Flood stage. Avoid river corridors.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Below Flathead Lake outlet; bull trout, lake trout, westslope cutthroat
35m ago
USGS chartClark Fork Basin(8/11 reporting)
Clark Fork River
Deer Lodge
Normal flow | 257 CFS2.85 ft56℉ | Excellent
0 CFS1,500 caution4,000 high8,000+ flood
Normal conditions for season.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Upper Clark Fork; recovering from historic mining impacts; brown trout
55m ago
USGS chartClark Fork River
Missoula
Very high | 8,620 CFS6.18 ft55℉ | Excellent
0 CFS3,000 caution8,000 high15,000+ flood
High flows — experienced outfitters only.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Prime wade and float fishing; brown and rainbow trout; urban fishery
25m ago
USGS chartClark Fork River
Superior
No data
Data unavailable
Lower Clark Fork canyon; large brown trout, bull trout
Blackfoot River
Bonner (near Missoula)
No data
Data unavailable
A River Runs Through It fame; westslope cutthroat; summer wading classic
Bitterroot River
Darby
Unsafe wading | 3,280 CFS5.16 ft-1799966℉ | Very cold
0 CFS800 caution2,000 high4,000+ flood
Unsafe for wading. Float only with experienced guides.
Near-freezing. Fish deep and slow.
Upper Bitterroot; brown and rainbow trout; benchmark low-flow gauge
1h ago
USGS chartBitterroot River
Hamilton
Dangerous | 11,000 CFS8.90 ft-1799966℉ | Very cold
0 CFS1,200 caution3,000 high6,000+ flood
Extreme flood. No recreational use.
Near-freezing. Fish deep and slow.
Mid-valley Bitterroot; high summer hopper fishing; float or wade
1h ago
USGS chartBitterroot River
Missoula (mouth)
Dangerous | 19,400 CFS6.11 ft
0 CFS1,800 caution4,500 high8,000+ flood
Extreme flood. No recreational use.
Lower Bitterroot; largest flows; brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout
1h ago
USGS chartBig Hole River
Divide
Good conditions | 265 CFS2.55 ft51℉ | Good
0 CFS1,000 caution2,500 high5,000+ flood
Favorable wading and float conditions.
Slightly cool; nymphs productive. Midday surface action.
Mid Big Hole; arctic grayling + brown trout; drought monitoring gauge
55m ago
USGS chartBig Hole River
Melrose
Low / drought | 35.1 CFS1.85 ft57℉ | Excellent
0 CFS800 caution2,000 high4,000+ flood
Very low flow. Fish stressed; consider voluntary closures.
Ideal temp for trout activity and hatch emergence.
Upper Big Hole; prime early season dry fly fishing
55m ago
USGS chartBig Hole River
Twin Bridges
Good conditions | 231 CFS2.82 ft
0 CFS1,200 caution3,000 high6,000+ flood
Favorable wading and float conditions.
Lower Big Hole near confluence; drought-sensitive; voluntary closures likely
55m ago
USGS chartRock Creek
near Clinton
No data
Data unavailable
Blue-ribbon wild trout; westslope cutthroat + brown trout; salmonfly hatch
Flow thresholds calibrated per river based on historical conditions and MT FWP guidance. For voluntary fishing closures (Big Hole, Bitterroot, Madison), see Montana FWP Conservation Notices. Last cache refresh: May 30, 2026, 8:24 PM.