Kayak Love

Montana · river

Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby

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

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Libby Dam, Montana (28987547090).jpg by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, CC BY-SA 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

8 mph

gusting to 17 mph

Air temp

92°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

9,010 cfs

normal for this date

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
3p714
4p1018
5p1015
6p1015
7p1013
8p913
9p716
10p512
11p27
12a04
1a33
2a23

Is this flow normal for July 30?

Today's 9,010 cfs is 14% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 10,500 cfs, across 53 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind8 mph — noticeable but manageable-3
  • Heat92°F — bring more water than you think-3

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