Kayak Love

Montana · river

Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

92of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Eleocharis palustris - 28639516472.jpg by Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

10 mph

gusting to 17 mph

Air temp

78°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

3.29 cfs

low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 100

  • Today

    72

  • Thu

    83

  • Fri

    93

  • Sat

    76

  • Sun

    30

  • Mon

    86

  • Tue

    100

    Best

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
1p814
2p1015
3p1017
4p1317
5p1318
6p1519
7p1419
8p817
9p69
10p45
11p77
12a55

Is this flow normal for August 19?

Today's 3.29 cfs is 49% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 7 cfs, across 5 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind10 mph — noticeable but manageable-8

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Montana