Missouri River — Lake Sakakawea to Bismarck
McLean / Burleigh Co. · 80 mi · Class I
94.1CFS/ 1.74 ft
Below Optimal
→Stable
Optimal: 10000–30000 CFS · USGS #06340500
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
80 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
10000–30000 cfs
Optimal
18,000 cfs
Avg Flow
16,200 cfs
Hist. Median
#06340500
USGS Gauge
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail · Knife River Indian Villages NHS

The Lewis and Clark route through the heart of North Dakota — 80 miles of free-flowing Missouri River from Garrison Dam to Bismarck. The Knife River Indian Villages, where Sacagawea joined the expedition, sit along this reach. Cold tailwater below the dam supports excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

Trip sections
Garrison Dam to Stanton — 30 mi, cold tailwater, Knife River confluence
Stanton to Bismarck — 50 mi, wider prairie river, cottonwood galleries
Outfitters
Missouri River Adventures
Multi-day guided Missouri River trips
Cross Ranch State Park
River access, camping, nature preserve
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.