Bighorn River level at Fort Smith
Montana · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 06287000 — Bighorn R bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam nr St. Xavier · NWS forecast point STXM8
Reading taken · as of 48 min ago
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 1,840 CFS, this gauge is running 75% of normal for mid-September — below the 2,460 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 91 years of record (1935–2026).
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Flow history at Fort Smith
Daily values from USGS 06287000, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for STXM8 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Fort Smith
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 65.60 ft | 15,700 CFS | Jun 20, 2011 |
| 65.60 ft | 16,300 CFS | Jun 25, 2023 |
| 65.15 ft | 14,200 CFS | Jun 22, 2018 |
| 65.12 ft | 14,100 CFS | May 26, 2017 |
| 65.04 ft | 14,500 CFS | Jun 10, 2015 |
| 64.78 ft | 13,300 CFS | Jun 23, 2009 |
| 64.04 ft | 11,000 CFS | Jun 22, 2019 |
| 63.93 ft | 10,800 CFS | Jun 18, 2010 |
| 63.63 ft | 9,530 CFS | Jul 15, 1975 |
| 63.60 ft | 10,000 CFS | Jun 18, 2008 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Bighorn River at Fort Smith
In Montana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Yellowtail releases swing 1,500-13,000 cfs.
Bighorn River at Fort Smith — common questions
3 questions
What makes the flow change on Bighorn River at Fort Smith?
Rain upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows how it behaves through the year.
Is Bighorn River at Fort Smith high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 2,460 CFS, from 91 years of record (1935–2026). Today is 75% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 06287000 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for STXM8 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.