Montana river crests

Highest NWS-recorded flood crests for 38 of 38 Montana gauges on Flowcast whose NWS forecast point publishes crest history. Ordered by highest crest.

Updated Nov 5, 9:33 AM PST · USGS data, provisional

River gauge	Highest NWS-recorded crest	Date	Crests shown
Ruby River near Twin Bridges NWS RTBM8	5,951 ft	January 2, 1952	8
Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam, near St. Xavier NWS STXM8	65.6 ft 15,700 cfs	June 20, 2011	8
Middle Fork Flathead River near West Glacier NWS WGCM8	36.46 ft 140,000 cfs	June 9, 1964	8
Kootenai River below Libby Dam, near Libby NWS KBDM8	28.5 ft 55,000 cfs	June 18, 2006	8
Flathead River at Columbia Falls NWS CFMM8	25.58 ft 176,000 cfs	June 9, 1964	8
Marias River near Shelby NWS SHLM8	23.64 ft 241,000 cfs	June 9, 1964	8
Clark Fork near Plains NWS PLNM8	19.17 ft 134,000 cfs	June 5, 1948	8
Missouri River at Fort Benton NWS FBNM8	18.5 ft 140,000 cfs	June 6, 1908	8
Clark Fork above Missoula NWS ABOM8	17.4 ft 48,000 cfs	June 1, 1908	8
Yellowstone River at Billings NWS BILM8	16.37 ft 83,600 cfs	June 15, 2022	8
Blackfoot River near Bonner NWS BONM8	16 ft	February 9, 1996	8
Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs NWS CORM8	14.72 ft 54,700 cfs	June 13, 2022	8
Sun River at Simms NWS SSRM8	13.7 ft 50,000 cfs	June 9, 1964	8
Sun River near Vaughn NWS VAUM8	13.66 ft	March 19, 1969	8
Bitterroot River near Missoula NWS BITM8	13.11 ft 28,440 cfs	May 19, 1997	8
Judith River near mouth, near Winifred NWS JDRM8	13.02 ft 14,987 cfs	March 24, 2019	8
Smith River near Eden NWS EDNM8	12.5 ft	February 4, 1963	8
Jefferson River near Twin Bridges NWS TWIM8	12.42 ft 15,200 cfs	June 9, 1997	8
Missouri River at Toston NWS TOSM8	12.22 ft 34,000 cfs	June 12, 1997	8
Clark Fork below Missoula NWS BELM8	12.14 ft 52,200 cfs	May 11, 2018	8
Gallatin River at Logan NWS LOGM8	11.88 ft	February 5, 1963	8
Missouri River below Holter Dam, near Wolf Creek NWS HTRM8	11.7 ft 34,800 cfs	June 8, 1948	8
Yellowstone River near Livingston NWS LIVM8	11.63 ft 55,200 cfs	June 13, 2022	8
Yaak River near Troy NWS TRYM8	11.1 ft 12,500 cfs	May 27, 1948	8
Stillwater River near Absarokee NWS SRAM8	10.49 ft 16,900 cfs	June 13, 2022	8
Madison River near West Yellowstone NWS MDSM8	10.01 ft	January 8, 1937	8
Jefferson River near Three Forks NWS TFKM8	9.88 ft	January 3, 1997	8
Madison River near Cameron NWS CMNM8	8.83 ft	January 10, 1962	8
Marias River near Loma NWS LOMM8	8.72 ft 10,800 cfs	June 16, 1964	8
Rock Creek near Clinton NWS RCCM8	8.63 ft 5,830 cfs	May 10, 2018	8
Bitterroot River near Darby NWS DARM8	8.55 ft 10,458 cfs	May 17, 1997	8
Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder NWS RRBM8	8.52 ft 3,010 cfs	May 16, 1984	8
Big Hole River near Melrose NWS MLRM8	8.09 ft 13,000 cfs	June 9, 1997	8
Madison River below Ennis Lake, near McAllister NWS MADM8	8.01 ft 9,550 cfs	June 12, 1970	8
Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges NWS TWNM8	7.88 ft 2,200 cfs	June 25, 1984	8
Gallatin River near Gallatin Gateway NWS GLGM8	7.38 ft 9,100 cfs	June 17, 1974	8
Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom NWS BGKM8	6.82 ft 4,442 cfs	June 18, 2020	8
Beaverhead River at Dillon NWS DILM8	6.63 ft 1,740 cfs	June 21, 1964	8

Crest stages and dates are the National Weather Service's own (National Water Prediction Service gauge data), shown only for gauges whose NWS forecast point lists the same USGS gauge number. Stages are in feet on each point's own NWS datum. Crests NWS marks as an older datum, and preliminary crests, are left out; only official and record crests are listed. These describe flooding history, not fishing or boating safety; Flowcast's Fishable/Floatable status is never based on them. All states.

More Montana lists

Data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Readings are provisional and subject to revision. Flowcast statuses are automated comparisons with each gauge's own history, not safety ratings or fishing reports. Check local conditions, weather, regulations and closures before you go. Rivers can change quickly.