Madison River at Cameron
Montana · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 06038500 — Madison River bl Hebgen Lake nr Grayling MT · NWS forecast point GRYM8
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Up and off-colour — heavier water than usual for wading
At 1,440 CFS, this gauge is running 137% of normal for late July — above the 1,050 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 87 years of record (1939–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
Sponsor Madison River
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
12 months of flow at Cameron
Daily values from USGS gauge 06038500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Cameron
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 5.30 ft | 10,200 CFS | Aug 15, 1959 |
| 3.69 ft | 5,090 CFS | Jun 3, 1943 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Madison River at Cameron
This gauge measures Madison River at Cameron, Montana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Montana's most-checked trout gauge; salmonfly timing.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,050 CFS for late July, from 87 years of record.
Madison River at Cameron — common questions
What is the current flow on Madison River at Cameron?
As of the last reading on this page, Madison River at Cameron was running 1,440 CFS at a gage height of 2.18 ft, or 137% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06038500, 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 1,050 CFS, calculated from 87 years of record (1939–2026). 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 Madison River at Cameron 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 1,050 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 06038500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge GRYM8. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.