Total streamflow across the
Madison River
was last observed at
5,304
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
10,520
acre-ft of water today; about 55%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
9,561 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2011-06-25 when daily discharge volume was observed at
26,220 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Madison River Bl Ennis Lake Nr Mcallister Mt
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,770 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Madison River, with a gauge stage of
4.47 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Madison River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 6,634 ft, the
Madison River Near West Yellowstone Mt.
| Last Updated | 2025-05-23 |
| Discharge Volume | 10,520 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
5,304.0 cfs
-137.0 cfs (-2.52%) |
| Percent of Normal | 55.48% |
| Maximum |
26,220.0 cfs
2011-06-25 |
| Seasonal Avg | 9,561 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Madison River Near West Yellowstone Mt
USGS 06037500 |
541 cfs | 1.94 ft | -4.59 | |||||
|
Madison River Bl Hebgen Lake Nr Grayling Mt
USGS 06038500 |
699 cfs | 1.54 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Madison River At Kirby Ranch Nr Cameron Mt
USGS 06038800 |
954 cfs | 1.83 ft | -1.14 | |||||
|
Madison River Near Cameron Mt
USGS 06040000 |
1340 cfs | 2.45 ft | -1.47 | |||||
|
Madison River Ab Powerplant Nr Mcallister Mt
USGS 06040800 |
242 cfs | 3.87 ft | -22.44 | |||||
|
Madison River Bl Ennis Lake Nr Mcallister Mt
USGS 06041000 |
1770 cfs | 4.47 ft | -4.32 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Weather Forecast
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Madison River is a headwater tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 183 miles (295 km) long, in Wyoming and Montana. Its confluence with the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers near Three Forks, Montana forms the Missouri River.
The Madison rises in Teton County in northwestern Wyoming at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers, a location known as Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park. It flows west then north through the mountains of southwestern Montana to join the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers at Three Forks. The Missouri River Headwaters State Park is located on the Madison at Three Forks. In its upper reaches in Gallatin County, Montana, the Hebgen Dam forms Hebgen Lake. In its middle reaches in Madison County, Montana, the Madison Dam forms Ennis Lake and provides hydroelectric power. In 1959, the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake formed Quake Lake just downstream from Hebgen Dam. Downstream from Ennis, the Madison flows through Bear Trap Canyon, known for its class IV-V whitewater. The Bear Trap Canyon section is part of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness area.
The river was named in July 1805 by Meriwether Lewis at Three Forks. The central fork of the three, it was named for U.S. Secretary of State James Madison, who would succeed Thomas Jefferson as President in 1809. The western fork, the largest, was named for President Jefferson and the east fork for Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin.
The Madison is a Class I river in Montana for the purposes of access for recreational use.