Kayak Love

Montana · river

Silver Bow Creek below Blacktail Creek at Butte

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

100of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Silver Bow Creek below Blacktail Creek at Butte
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Elymus junceus - 28639858632.jpg by Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

5 mph

gusting to 13 mph

Air temp

74°F

25% chance of rain

River flow

14.1 cfs

low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Monday · 96

  • Today

    51

  • Wed

    73

  • Thu

    83

  • Fri

    70

  • Sat

    21

  • Sun

    72

  • Mon

    96

    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)
11a210
12p515
1p918
2p1220
3p1623
4p1825
5p1925
6p1826
7p1723
8p1220
9p711
10p1015

Is this flow normal for August 18?

Today's 14.1 cfs is 17% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 17 cfs, across 41 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind5 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0

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

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