Bighorn River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM, the Bighorn River is flowing at 1,890 cfs near Bighorn Mount, MT — 68% of normal for the date and down 7% in 24 hours. 4 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 542 to 1,890 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Bighorn River map
See the Bighorn River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Bighorn River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Bighorn Mount, the Bighorn River is running 1,890 cfs — 68% of normal, down 7% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 62% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Basin (-11%).
Paddlers: 0 of 20 runs on the Bighorn River with a live range are in range, 20 too low.
How the Bighorn River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Basin3,831 ft 542 cfs54%
- Kane3,642 ft 763 cfs56%
- St. Xavier3,152 ft 1,810 cfs72%
- Bighorn Mount2,723 ft 1,890 cfs68%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Bighorn River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (62%).
Bighorn River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bighorn River At Worland Wyo WY
Last reported Jul 2 · USGS 06268600 |
4,350 cfs | · | · | 8.22 ft | 4,051 ft |
|
Bighorn River At Basin WY
Oct 2, 4:15 AM · USGS 06274300 |
542 cfs | 54% | -11% | 2.91 ft | 3,831 ft |
|
Bighorn River At Kane WY
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 06279500 |
763 cfs | 56% | -1% | 1.82 ft | 3,642 ft |
|
Bighorn River Near St. Xavier MT
Oct 2, 4:15 AM · USGS 06287000 |
1,810 cfs | 72% | -1% | 60.74 ft | 3,152 ft |
|
Bighorn River Above Tullock Creek Near Bighorn Mount MT
Oct 2, 4:00 AM · USGS 06294500 |
1,890 cfs | 68% | -7% | 1.21 ft | 2,723 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Bighorn River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Cottonwood Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Cow Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Deer Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Deer Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | II–III |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | IV |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | II |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | · |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–V |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–V |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Porcupine Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Southeastern Boundary Of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area To Confluence With Bighorn River Gauge: St. Xavier |
Too low | 1,810 cfs | 1,817–6,814 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Trout Creek Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | II–III |
| Western Boundary Of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area To Confluence With Bighorn River Gauge: Kane |
Too low | 763 cfs | 1,026–2,915 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Wedding of the waters | No live range | · | 700–2,500 cfs | I |
Dams & reservoirs on the Bighorn River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Bighorn River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Bighorn River
The Bighorn River is a 461-mile long river that flows through Montana and Wyoming. The river has a rich history dating back to the early Native American tribes who used the river for food and transportation. In the early 1800s, fur trappers and explorers traveled up the river, followed by farmers and ranchers who settled in the region. Today, the Bighorn River is important for irrigation, agriculture, and recreation. The river is fed by several reservoirs, including the Yellowtail Dam, which was constructed in the 1960s to provide flood control and hydroelectric power. The Bighorn River is a popular destination for fly fishing, with rainbow and brown trout being the most sought-after species. The river is also popular for rafting and kayaking, with several companies offering guided tours.
Fishing near the Bighorn River
About the Bighorn River
How is the Bighorn River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Bighorn River is flowing at 1,890 cfs near Bighorn Mount, MT, about 68% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 542 to 1,890 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Bighorn River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Bighorn River is at 62% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
Is the Bighorn River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.