Yellowstone River
About
From Yellowstone National Park's high plateau, the Yellowstone River drops 692 miles through Paradise Valley and across Montana's prairie transition, maintaining Blue-Ribbon trout stream status through most of its upper reaches. The Gardiner to Livingston stretch through Paradise Valley runs Class I–III water and draws the heaviest boat traffic, while downstream sections from Livingston to Big Timber flatten to Class I–II wide valley floats. By Big Timber to Columbus, the river has settled into Class I prairie character. At 7,800 CFS average with an optimal range of 2,000–15,000, the Yellowstone carries substantial volume — gauge 06192500 tracks flows that can shift dramatically with snowmelt and weather. The 2022 flooding event marked a 500-year high that reshaped sections of the river corridor and closed park access for weeks. Montana Fishing Company operates guided trips on select stretches. Trout Unlimited maintains conservation projects along the drainage, working to protect spawning habitat and riparian corridors in both Park and Sweet Grass counties.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.