TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE
Total streamflow across the
Bighorn River
was last observed at
7,340
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
14,559
acre-ft of water today; about 102%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
7,188 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2023-06-26 when daily discharge volume was observed at
66,500 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Bighorn R At Worland Wyo
reporting a streamflow rate of 4,350 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Bighorn River Near St. Xavier
with a gauge stage of 60.42 ft.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Bighorn River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 4,051 ft, the
Bighorn R At Worland Wyo.
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.
| Last Updated | 2024-12-21 |
| Discharge Volume | 14,559 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
7,340.0 cfs
+60.0 cfs (+0.82%) |
| Percent of Normal | 102.11% |
| Maximum |
66,500.0 cfs
2023-06-26 |
| Seasonal Avg | 7,188 cfs |
YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)
Streamflow Conditions
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bighorn R At Worland Wyo
USGS 06268600 |
4350 cfs | 8.22 ft | ||||||
|
Bighorn River At Basin
USGS 06274300 |
1080 cfs | 3.55 ft | 0.93 | |||||
|
Bighorn River At Kane
USGS 06279500 |
1450 cfs | 2.51 ft | 9.85 | |||||
|
Bighorn River Near St. Xavier
USGS 06287000 |
2240 cfs | 60.42 ft | -1.75 | |||||
|
Bighorn River Ab Tullock Cr Nr Bighorn Mt
USGS 06294500 |
2570 cfs | 1.77 ft | -1.53 |
History of the River
The Bighorn River is a tributary of the Yellowstone, approximately 461 miles (742 km) long, in the states of Wyoming and Montana in the western United States. The river was named in 1805 by fur trader François Larocque for the bighorn sheep he saw along its banks as he explored the Yellowstone.The upper reaches of the Bighorn, south of the Owl Creek Mountains in Wyoming, are known as the Wind River. The two rivers are sometimes referred to as the Wind/Bighorn. The Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, on the north side of the Wind River Canyon near the town of Thermopolis. From there, the river flows through the Bighorn Basin in north central Wyoming, passing through Thermopolis and Hot Springs State Park.
At the border with Montana, the river turns northeast, and flows past the north end of the Bighorn Mountains, through the Crow Indian Reservation, where the Yellowtail Dam forms the Bighorn Lake reservoir. The reservoir and the surrounding canyon are part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
The Little Bighorn River joins the Bighorn near the town of Hardin, Montana. Approximately fifty miles farther downriver, the Bighorn River ends where it joins the Yellowstone.