Missouri River at Craig
Montana · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 06066500 — Missouri River bl Holter Dam nr Wolf Cr MT · NWS forecast point HTRM8
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 3,620 CFS, this gauge is running 87% of normal for late July — close to the 4,150 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 80 years of record (1946–2026).
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 Craig
Daily values from USGS gauge 06066500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Craig
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 11.70 ft | 34,800 CFS | Jun 8, 1948 |
| 10.04 ft | 27,100 CFS | Jun 19, 1964 |
| 9.75 ft | 27,200 CFS | Jun 12, 1947 |
| 9.48 ft | 25,500 CFS | Jun 2, 1956 |
| 9.46 ft | 25,300 CFS | Jun 13, 1981 |
| 9.35 ft | 23,500 CFS | Jun 14, 1997 |
| 9.13 ft | 23,300 CFS | Jul 6, 1975 |
| 9.07 ft | 23,200 CFS | Jul 2, 2011 |
| 8.90 ft | 23,700 CFS | Jun 9, 1952 |
| 8.72 ft | 22,300 CFS | Jun 26, 1984 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Missouri River at Craig
This gauge measures Missouri River at Craig, Montana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Land of Giants tailwater below Holter Dam.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 4,150 CFS for late July, from 80 years of record.
Missouri River at Craig — common questions
What is the current flow on Missouri River at Craig?
As of the last reading on this page, Missouri River at Craig was running 3,620 CFS at a gage height of 2.78 ft, or 87% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06066500, 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 4,150 CFS, calculated from 80 years of record (1946–2026). 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 Missouri River at Craig 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 4,150 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 06066500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge HTRM8. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.