Yellowstone River
🎣 Blue-Ribbon Trout🏞 National Park🐟 TU Conservation
Park / Sweet Grass Co. · 692 mi · Class I–III
3,500CFS/ 2.26 ft
Optimal↑Rising slowly (+50 cfs/hr)· +140 cfs in 3h
Water temp: 51°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 2000–15000 CFS · USGS #06192500
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Yellowstone National Park (headwaters) · Montana Blue-Ribbon Trout Stream · Trout Unlimited Conservation
The longest undammed river in the contiguous United States — 692 miles from Yellowstone National Park to the Missouri River confluence. The Yellowstone flows through Paradise Valley, past Livingston and Billings, delivering world-class trout fishing and Class I–III whitewater in one of the most iconic Western landscapes.
Trip sections
Paradise Valley — Gardiner to Livingston, Class I–III, most popular
Livingston to Big Timber — Class I–II, wide valley float
Big Timber to Columbus — Class I, prairie river transition
Outfitters
Montana Fishing Company
Yellowstone River guided float fishing from Livingston
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.