Montana is quite often referred to as a “Mountain State.” And it’s true that as well as having some of the world’s most famous mountain ranges, Montana is not that close to the ocean. But that doesn’t mean it is a dry state – in fact, it is anything but dry.
The many beautiful bodies of water in the region are quite amazing, especially the rivers of Montana.
Extending north and south through the western terrain of Montana is the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains, which separates the area into two drainages, one west-sloping and the other east-sloping.
This means the flowing waters of the state head towards either the Mississippi or the Columbia. Eventually, the rivers flowing west deliver their water to the Pacific Ocean, while the waterways flowing east end up in the Atlantic, specifically the Gulf of Mexico.
So numerous major rivers flow through the state of Montana, and in fact, the rivers in Glacier Country encompass the full spectrum of conditions including calm paths, deep runs, gentle riffles, and a healthy dose of raging rapids ideal for white-water rafting and such like.
And while the rivers of Montana are vastly different, they do share a few common features. They all contain cool and clear water, are surrounded by impressive views, and are easy to access. Not only are Montana’s rivers nice to look at, but many of them have some kind of special significance as well.
So let’s take a closer look at ten of the rivers in Montana.
Make sure to check out our complete list of rivers and creeks at the end of this article.
Ten Best Rivers in Montana
- Missouri River
- Milk River
- Yellowstone River
- Kootenai River
- Bighorn River
- Clark Fork River
- Flathead River
- Blackfoot River
- Bitterroot River
- Gallatin River
1. Missouri River
It is probably fitting to start with the Missouri River, which happens to be the longest river in Montana with a total length of 2,340 miles.
This vast waterway is actually the 15th longest river in the world and originates up in the Rocky Mountains in western Montana. The river flows towards the East and eventually ends up in the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri.
The Missouri River has long been significant to Montana natives, not least of all for transportation purposes which help provide food to sustain them thousands of years ago.
The river got its name from the original Missouri tribe, whose name translates as “those with wooden canoes.” The Missouri River ranks as the 15th longest river in the world.
2. Milk River
The Milk River is the second-longest river in Montana, with a length of around 730 miles.
The river has something of a unique path in that it originates in Glacier County, and flows toward the East and Northeast before eventually entering the Canadian province of Alberta in the southern regions.
From Alberta the river eventually turns southeast, heading back in the direction of Montana. After passing through the Fresno Dam, and east past Havre, it winds in a north and southeast direction before merging with the Missouri River in Valley County.
The somewhat bizarre name of the Milk River comes from the fact that the silt and clay suspended in the water give it a peculiar whiteness, not unlike the color of milky tea.
3. Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River ranks as the third-longest river in Montana at just under 700 miles long. Its original source is the confluence of the North and South Forks, and it is a tributary of the Missouri River
The river flows through two other states as well as Montana, namely North Dakota and Wyoming. This is another prominent Montana river in that Native Americans used it as a main means of transport as well as the fact that it was an important source of water for irrigation purposes.
The Yellowstone River runs through Livingston in Montana. It flows from Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park and is another of the world’s longest remaining undammed rivers.
4. Kootenai River
The Kootenai River flows for a total length of 485 miles, placing it as the fourth-longest river in Montana, where it runs into the northwest region.
The river originates in the Canadian province of British Columbia, where the largest stretch of it is contained, and it also passes through Idaho before eventually heading back towards Canada and the Columbia River.
The Kootenai River is the largest river in the North American region that drains into the Pacific Ocean. Various dams have been built along the river to generate hydroelectric power, and the construction of Libby Dam resulted in the creation of the 90-mile long reservoir Lake Kooncanusa.
5. Bighorn River
The Bighorn River is a stream of the Yellowstone River and flows through both Montana and Wyoming. It is the fifth-longest in Montana with a length of 461 miles.
The river has three main sections, namely the Wind River which is in Wyoming; the Lower Bighorn River in Montana; and the BigHorn River located in both Wyoming and Montana.
The Bighorn River apparently got its name in 1805 when fur trader François Larocque spotted the bighorn sheep along its banks as he was exploring the Yellowstone region.