The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River river run
The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River
The segment mileage for this section is approximately 10 miles, and it features several rapids and obstacles, including House Rock, Kenney's Alley, Rock Garden, and the Narrows. These rapids provide an exhilarating challenge for experienced paddlers.
Specific regulations to the area include obtaining a permit through the National Park Service (NPS) before embarking on the river. The NPS also requires that all paddlers wear a personal flotation device and carry a whistle. Additionally, all paddlers must adhere to a carry-in, carry-out policy in regards to trash and other waste.
In summary, the Whitewater River Run from the Confluence with Soda Butte Creek to the Confluence with the Yellowstone River in Wyoming offers an exciting adventure for intermediate to advanced paddlers. With a class rating of III-IV and several challenging rapids and obstacles, it is important to keep in mind the ideal streamflow range of 1,000 to 5,000 cfs and to obtain the necessary permits and adhere to regulations set forth by the National Park Service.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar River Nr Tower Falls Ranger Station Ynp | 4,610 cfs | → |
| Soda Butte Cr At Park Bndry At Silver Gate | 429 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Yellowstone Lk Outlet Ynp | 2,320 cfs | → |
| Tantalus Creek At Norris Junction | 3 cfs | → |
| Boiling River At Mammoth | 25 cfs | → |
| Gardner River Near Mammoth Ynp | 495 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
Other river runs
- Begins Above Slough Creek Campground, Located On A Secondary Spur Road To The Park's Main Road To The Confluence With Lamar River
- Begins 1/4 Mile Downstream From Northeast Entrance Road Bridge In The Area Of Tower Falls/ Roosevelt To Northern Park Boundary
- Begins 1/4 Mile Upstream From Northeast Entrance Road Bridge In The Area Of Tower Falls/ Roosevelt To Ends 1/4 Mile Downstream From Northeast Entrance Road Bridge In The Area Of Tower Falls/ Roosevelt
- The Headwaters To Ends Above Slough Creek Campground, Located On A Secondary Spur Road To The Park's Main Road
- Northeast Yellowstone National Park Boundary, Near Cooke City To The Confluence With Lamar River
Campgrounds
- Cache Creek Ford S.
- 3l1
- Cache Creek Ford N
- Lower Lamar
- Pebble Creek - Yellowstone National Park
- Pebble Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River
What's the optimal flow for The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of The Confluence With Soda Butte Creek To The Confluence With The Yellowstone River.