Madison River
🎣 Blue-Ribbon Trout🏞 National Park
Madison / Gallatin Co. · 140 mi · Class Riffles
1,160CFS/ 3.60 ft
Optimal→Stable
Water temp: 52°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 800–3000 CFS · USGS #06041000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Montana Blue-Ribbon Trout Stream · Yellowstone National Park headwaters
One of the most famous trout rivers in America. The Madison is a blue-ribbon trout stream flowing from Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks where it joins the Gallatin and Jefferson to form the Missouri. The 50-mile riffle between Quake and Ennis lakes is legendary — continuous riffled water holding wild rainbow and brown trout in extraordinary densities.
Trip sections
Yellowstone Park — Madison Junction to West Yellowstone, Class I, wildlife-rich
Quake Lake to Ennis — 50 mi, the 50-mile riffle, Class I–II, legendary trout water
Beartrap Canyon — Class IV–V, expert whitewater gorge below Ennis Lake
Lower Madison — Three Forks approach, Class I
Outfitters
Montana Troutfitters
Madison River guided float fishing from Bozeman
The Tackle Shop
Madison River fly shop and guides, Ennis
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.