MONTANA RIVER RUNS

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Montana is a paradise for whitewater enthusiasts, with a variety of thrilling river runs to choose from. One popular destination is the Gallatin River, known for its exciting Class II-IV rapids and stunning scenery. The Gallatin River offers a mix of technical drops and fast-paced sections, making it a favorite among both beginners and experienced paddlers. Recommended streamflow levels for the Gallatin River range from 1,500 to 3,000 cubic feet per second for optimal conditions.

Another must-visit spot for kayaking and whitewater rafting in Montana is the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. This remote and pristine river run offers a true wilderness experience, with challenging Class III-IV rapids and breathtaking views of Glacier National Park. The Middle Fork is best tackled at streamflow levels between 2,000 and 5,000 cubic feet per second for an exhilarating ride. Safety is paramount when navigating Montana's whitewater rivers, so always check current streamflow levels, wear appropriate gear, and paddle with a group or guide. With its diverse range of river runs and stunning natural landscapes, Montana is a mecca for whitewater enthusiasts seeking adventure and adrenaline-pumping thrills.

       

Location Streamflow (cfs) Difficulty (class)
Southeastern Boundary Of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area To Confluence With Bighorn River
1950 III-IV
The Headwaters To The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek
7 III-IV
The Headwaters To Ends Above Slough Creek Campground, Located On A Secondary Spur Road To The Park's Main Road
7 NONE
Begins Where The River Parallels A Two Lane Highway To The Western Boundary Of Yellowstone National Park
665 II-III+
Northeast Yellowstone National Park Boundary, Near Cooke City To The Confluence With Lamar River
7 III-IV
Jackpine Rd & Wf Madison Rd, Sec. 4, T12s, R1e To Shakelford Homestead, Sec. 25, T1s, R1w
736 II-IV
Shakelford Homestead, Sec. 26, T12s, R1w To 1/2 Mi Below Landon Camp, Sec. 32, T12s, R1w
736 NONE
1/2 Below Landon Camp, Sec. 32, T12s, R1w To Up River 3/4 Mi, Sec. 31, T12s, R1w
20 NONE
1/4 Mi West Landon Camp, Sec. 31, T12s, R1w To Fossil Creek, Sec. 27, T12s, R2w
20 NONE
Dobrota Headwaters, Sec. 23, T18n, R10w To Mainstem, Sec. 31, T18n, R9w
1160 III-IV
Dwight Creek, Sec. 12, T17n, R12w To Dry Creek, Sec. 3, T17n, R11w
99 III+
Canyon Creek Headwaters, Sec. 28, T17n, R11w To Dry Creek, Sec. 11, T17n, R11w
99 II
Junction Of The Fisher River (Three Miles Sownstream Of Libby Dam) To Tub Gulch, Approximately Four Miles Upstream From The Town Of Libby, Montana
17000 III-IV
10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek To 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek
17000 III-IV
9 Miles From Quartz Creek To Surprise Gulch,Two Miles Below Kootenai Falls To 9 Miles From Quartz Creek To Surprise Gulch,Two Miles Below Kootenai Falls
290 II
Slowery, Sec. 15, T17n, R27w To Sec. 31, T18n. R28w
2690 III
Cuttoff, Sec. 9, T18n, R27w To Sec. 34, T19n, R25w
11100 III-IV
West Fork Fish Creek Headwaters, Sec. 6, T13n, R26w To Clearwater Crossing Trailhead, Sec. 6, T13n, R25w
2690 NONE
Cedar Log Creek Headwaters, Sec. 14, T12n, R26w To Mainstem, Sec. 19, T13n, R25w
2690 III-IV
Middle Fork Indian Creek Headwaters, Sec. 14, T12n, R26w To Mainstem, Sec. 25, T12n, R26w
2690 III-IV
Mainstem Headwaters, Sec. 21, T11n, R25w To Montana Creek, Sec. 18, T12n, R24w
8490 II-III
Montana Creek, Sec. 18, T11n, R24w To Fish Creek, Sec. 8, T12n, R24w
8490 II-III
Irish Creek Headwaters, Sec. 20, T12n, R25w To Mainstem, Sec. 22, T12n, R25w
8490 NONE
Pebble Creek Headwaters, Sec. 10, T11n, R25w To Mainstem, Sec. 28, T12n, R25w
8490 NONE
White Creek Headwaters, Sec. 33, T12n, R24w To Mainstem, Sec. 18, T12n, R24w
8490 III-IV
Mainstem Headwaters, Sec. 4, T15n, R18w To Boundary, Sec. 2, T13n, R18w
1140 III-IV
Wrangle Creek Headwaters, Sec. 18, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
83 III-V
Lake Creek Headwaters, Sec. 30, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
83 III-IV
White Sand Mouth, Sec. 34, T37n, R14e To Trail #47 And Trail #50, Sec. 5, T36n, R15e
53 NONE
Trail #47 And #50, Sec. 5, T36n, R15e To Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 36, T36n, R15e
670 II-III
Blodgett Lake Dam, Sec. 27, T6n, R23w To S B Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 17, T6n, R21w
670 III-IV
Fossil Ck & Wf Madison, Sec. 27, T12s, R2w To Miner Creek, Sec. 30 T12s, R2w
20 III
From The Boundary Of The Flagstaff Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area #690 Downstream For Three Miles To The Confluence Of Main Quartz Creek To
290 III-IV
From The Headwaters Of The West Fork Of Quartz Creek Downstream For Three Miles To The Boundary Of The Flagstaff Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area #690 To
290 III
Lookout Creek And South Fork, Sec. 21, T34n, R30w To Upstream For 6 Miles
290 III
Cabin Creek Headwaters, Sec. 13, T17n, R10w To Dry Fork, Sec. 13, T17n, R11w
99 II-IV
Cooney Cr Headwaters, Sec. 17, T19n, R9w To Mainstem, Sec. 1, T17n, R10w
1160 III-IV
Fools Gold Crossing (Fdr 480) To Wagon Box Creek
89 II-III
Wagon Box Creek To Dry Fork Trail
89 III-IV
Lolo/Deerlodge Nfs Boundary To Clark Fork River
216 NONE
Headwaters, Sec. 17, T19n, R15w To Seeley Lake, Sec. 20, T17n, R15w
83 II-III
Headwaters, Sec. 7, T18n, R14w To Morrell Falls, Sec. 24, T18n, R15w
83 III
Nf Blackfoot Headwaters, Sec. 34, T18n, R9w To Main North Fork Trailhead, Sec. 27, T16n, R11w
99 III-IV
Dry Fork Headwaters, Sec. 30, T17n, R10w To Mainstem, Sec. 30, T17n, R10w
99 III-IV
Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
151 III-IV
Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
119 III-IV+
Dry Fork River From Its Confluence With Lake Creek To Confluence With Little Big Horn
89 III-IV
Pool Creek, Sec. 7, T28n, R12w To Falls, Sec. 25, T29n, R12w
97 III
Willow Creek, Sec. 32, T24n, R29w To Noxon Reservoir, Sec. 14, T24n, R31w
56 II-III
Headwaters, Sec. 34, T28n, R11w To Swift Reservoir
97 NONE
Arch Coulee Junction, Sec. 32, T13n, R11e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T13n, R11e
61 II-III
Headwaters, Sec. 13, T18n, R10w To Forest Boundary, Sec. 6, T17n, R7w
116 III-IV
Lick Creek Bridge, Sec. 18, T4n, R21w To Bear Creek Pass, Sec. 5, T4n, R23w And Twin Lakes Dam, Sec. 29, T5n, R23w
262 III-IV
Morrell Falls, Sec. 24, T18n, R15w To Morrell Falls Trailhead, Sec. 36, T18n, R15w
83 II-III
10 Miles From Surprise Gulch To A Mile Below Kootenai Vista Estates To 10 Miles From Surprise Gulch To A Mile Below Kootenai Vista Estates
290 NONE
North Fork Bull River, Sec. 32, T29n, R32w To Proposed Cabinet Mtns Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 1, T28n, R32w
143 NONE
Snowbank Lake, Sec. 4, T15n, R8w To Landers Fork Blackfoot River, Sec. 36, T15n, R8w
27 II-III
Sec. 29, T.8s, R.13w To All Upstream Waters
25 III
Custer Forest Boundary, Sec. 19, T8s, R20e To Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
356 III-IV
Custer Boundary, Sec. 6, T8s, R20e To Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
356 III-V
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters, Sec. 25, T8s, R17e
356 III-IV
Spring Gulch Headwaters, Sec. 12, T14n, R19w To Mainstem, Sec. 35, T14n, R19w
1140 III-IV
High Falls Creek Headwaters, Sec. 5, T14n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 2, T14n, R18w
382 III-IV
East Fork Headwaters, Sec. 8, T14n, R17w To Mainstem, Sec. 14, T14n, R18w
382 IV
Beaverhead Boundary Sec. 22, T4s, R4w To Upper Branham Lake, Sec. 5, T4s, R3w
156 III
Beaverhead Boundary, Sec. 22, T9s, R3w To South Of Romy Lake, Sec. 26, T8s, R3w
113 II-III
Pattengail Ck. Sec. 11, T2s, R12w To Jaccobsen & Mono Cks, Sec. 33, T3s, R12w
323 III
Sec 15, T2s, R10w To Lion Cr, Sec. 4, T3s, R11w
323 III-IV
Proposed Torrey Peak Wilderness To Proposed Torrey Peak Wilderness
81 III-V
Elk Rv & Wf Madison Rv, Sec. 17, T12s, R1e To Dirty Creek, Sec. 11, T11s, R1w
736 II-III
Mainstem Headwaters, Sec. 35, T10n, R22w To South Fork Lolo Creek Trailhead, Sec. 12, T11n, R22w
2250 III
No Name Creek Headwaters, Sec. 30, T10n, R22w To Mainstem, Sec. 24, T10n, R22w
670 III+
Hebgen Lake Dam, Sec. 23, T11s, R3e To Gallatin Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T11s, R2e
665 III
Gallatin Canyon, Sec. 19, T4s, R4e To Yellowstone National Park, Sec. 27, T9s, R5e
820 II-III
Grave Creek System
463 III-IV
From The Junction Of Hennesey Creek Downstream For Nine Miles To The Confluence With The Kootenai River To
290 III-IV
Dirty Ck To Elk River & Gravelly Range Road #290, Sec. 15 T11s R2w
736 III-IV
Wf Madison River, Sec. 10 T11s R1e To Jackpine Rd #1209, Sec. 4, T12s R1e
736 III-IV
Gallatin Forest Boundary, Sec. 26, T3s, R12e To Blakley Creek, Sec. 26, T3s, R12e
1200 III-IV
Town Of Nelson, Sec. 12, T12n, R2w To Missouri River, Sec. 19, T12n, R2w
2870 II-III
Blakley Creek, Sec. 26, T4s, R12e To Miller Creek, Sec 13, T4s, R21e
1200 III-IV
Miller Creek, Sec. 13, T4s, R21e To Bramble Creek, Sec. 26, T5s, R12e
1200 II-III
Bramble Creek, Sec. 26, T5s, R12e To Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, Sec. 22, T7s, R12e
110 II-III
Gallatin Forest Boundary, Sec. 32, T7s, R7e To Yellowstone National Park, Sec. 23, T9s, R8e
820 II-IV
Fool Creek, Sec. 24, T25n, R11w To Wilderness Boundary
160 III
Wilderness Boundary To South Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
1160 NONE
Headwaters, Sec. 4, T18n, R10w To North Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
1160 III-IV
Headwaters, Sec. 15, T18n, R10w To Straight Creek, Sec. 25, T19n, R10w
1160 III-IV
Custer Forest Boundary, Sec. 1, T7s, S16e To Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
110 NONE
Hauser Dam, Sec. 29, T12n, R2w To Cochran Gulch, Sec. 18, T12n, R2w
2870 II-III
Trail #329, Sec. 15, T7n, R7w To Sec. 28, T8n, R7w
156 II-III
Sec. 28, T8n, R7w To Ontario Creek, Sec. 12, T8n, R7w
1 III
Custer Forest Boundary, Sec. 15, T5s, R15e To Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
488 III-IV
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters, Sec. 9, T9s, R14e
110 III-IV
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters, Sec. 29, T7s, R15e
110 II
Confluence Rock Creek, Sec. 34, T8s, R19e To Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
356 III-IV
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters, Sec. 10, T9s, R17e
356 III
S B Boundary, Sec. 17, T6n, R21w To Westside Of Blodgett Campground, Sec. 17, T6n, R22w
670 III-IV
Nez Perce Fork Bitterroot River, Sec. 26, T1s, R22w To Painted Rocks Dam, Sec. 26, T1s, R22w
53 II-III
Vermilion River
131 III-IV
Chief Joseph Cg, Sec. 28, T9s, R15e To Montana State Line, Sec. 34, T9s, R15e
7 III-IV
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters, Sec. 20, T9s, R17e
356 III-IV
Yaak Falls, Sec. 4, T33n, R33w To Downstream To Bpa Powerline, 6 Miles West Of Troy
290 III-IV
West Side Blodgett Campground, Sec. 17, T6n, R21w To Bitterroot Forest Boundary, Sec. 17, T6n, R21w
670 II-III
Madison River
770 II-III
Big Hole River
1110 II-IV
Big Sheep Creek
461 III
Blackfoot River
274 II-III
Bad Canyon Creek
1780 IV-V
Gallagher Creek
27 NONE
Belmont Creek
967 III
Rock Creek
152 NONE
Missouri River
3740 II-IV
Beaverhead River
592 II-III
Marias River
12 II-III
Muskrat Creek
77 III-IV
Piney Creek
1580 III-IV
Clarks Fork Of The Yellowstone
1580 IV-V
Pat O'Hara Creek
1580 IV-V