Missouri River — Upper Missouri Breaks

★ Wild & Scenic🏞 National Park

Chouteau / Blaine / Phillips Co. · 149 mi · Class I

4,150CFS/ 4.51 ft

Flood

↓Falling (-120 cfs/hr)

Water temp: 53°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit

Optimal: 5000–15000 CFS · USGS #06054500

149 mi

Length

Class I

Difficulty

5000–15000 cfs

Optimal

9,200 cfs

Avg Flow

8,500 cfs

Hist. Median

#06054500

USGS Gauge

Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument · National Wild & Scenic River · Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

The most historically significant float in North America — Lewis and Clark paddled these exact 149 miles through the Upper Missouri Breaks in May 1805. The river flows through one of the largest remaining areas of shortgrass prairie wilderness in the world, past white sandstone formations, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles. Changed almost nothing in 220 years.

Trip sections

Fort Benton to Coal Banks Landing — Class I, historical starting point, white cliffs

Coal Banks to Judith Landing — Class I, most remote, badlands and wildlife

Judith Landing to Fred Robinson Bridge — Class I, Lower Breaks, lower canyon

Outfitters

Missouri River Canoe Company

Fort Benton-based Missouri Breaks trips

Upper Missouri River Guides

Lewis & Clark route canoe expeditions

72-Hour Flow Forecast

NOAA NWPS

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10-Year Flow Patterns

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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.