Bighorn River 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 Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Low and clear — wadeable, and fish will be spooky
At 1,530 CFS, this gauge is running 55% of normal for late July — below the 2,800 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 91 years of record (1935–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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12 months of flow at Fort Smith
Daily values from USGS gauge 06287000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Fort Smith
| 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 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Bighorn River at Fort Smith
This gauge measures Bighorn River at Fort Smith, Montana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Yellowtail releases swing 1,500-13,000 cfs.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 2,800 CFS for late July, from 91 years of record.
Bighorn River at Fort Smith — common questions
What is the current flow on Bighorn River at Fort Smith?
As of the last reading on this page, Bighorn River at Fort Smith was running 1,530 CFS at a gage height of 59.50 ft, or 55% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06287000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 2,800 CFS, calculated from 91 years of record (1935–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Bighorn River at Fort Smith wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 2,800 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 06287000. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge STXM8. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.