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Montana
West Fork Madison River
No verdict for this water
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
River facts
- Water
- Flows year-round
- Average flow
- 131 cfs
- Average current
- 1.2 ft/s
- Gradient
- 56.5 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 107 sq mi
Long-term averages modeled by USGS (NHDPlus HR), not today's conditions. Check a gauge before you go.
Here's your day on the water, mapped
West Fork Madison River
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
West Fork Madison River is a 26-mile paddling stretch near Cameron, Montana. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 131 cfs and a gradient of about 56.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Keep exploring — more water worth the drive
Photo: Jim Peaco, National Park Service, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Madison River
~39 min drive
Madison River is a 0.1-mile paddling stretch near West Yellowstone, Montana. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 1,120 cfs. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Windy Point Boat Launch
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Windy Point Boat Launch is a boat launch in Montana.
Upper Coffee Pot
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A worthwhile stop near Idaho.
Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Ruby River
~59 min drive
Ruby River is a 100-mile paddling stretch near Alder, Montana. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 292 cfs and a gradient of about 24.8 feet per mile.
Quake Lake Boat Launch
~34 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Montana.
Flat Rock
~48 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Idaho.
Photo: myself, CC BY-SA 2.5 (via Wikimedia Commons)Red Rock River
~1h 13m drive
Red Rock River is a 50-mile paddling stretch near Lima, Montana. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 592 cfs and a gradient of about 19.3 feet per mile.
West End Boat Ramp
~50 min drive
West End Boat Ramp is a boat launch in Idaho.
Big Springs Grp. Area - Island Park
~54 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Idaho.
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Little Firehole River
~1h 20m drive
Little Firehole River is an 8.4-mile paddling stretch near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 90 cfs and a gradient of about 83.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the National Park Service.
