Moose to Storm Castle
Montana – US
- Class
- III+ to IV+
- Length
- 12 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 33 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 5,720 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 5,401 Feet
- Typical season
- March to December
- Author
- Glenn
Current Flow
867 CFS
Gauge height: 2.15 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:00 PM
● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- Gallatin River near Gallatin Gateway MT Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 300 |
| Average | 2,000 |
| Maximum | 10,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
This is the most commonly run section of the Gallatin. Putting in at Moose flats campground and taking out at the Storm Castle Bridge provides floaters with nearly every rapid this river has to offer. Depending on time and flows many options are available to make the float shorter.
Everything above the 35mph bridge is CLIII at all flows. At high flows there is good play and a couple of big feeling wave trains. Below the bridge things step up a full grade regardless of flows. At low flows there are technical eddies, attainments and rock boofs. At high flows (4000+) there is lots of funny water, big wave trains and some big holes to miss (or hit). The less paddled section between the two storm castle accesses steps back down in difficulty but offers the only rapids separated from the road. This is the afterwork special for Bozeman and Big Sky paddlers.
Rapids
No rapids added yet.
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Moose Flats | 5,720 Feet | Yes | Yes | No | All Vehicles | Moose flats is the highest put-in that is commonly used. Most will opt for this put-in for a long day or during high water only. |
| Put-In | Lava Lake (35 mph bridge) | 5,500 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Short run put-in/ Upper take out. |
| Put-In | Thumper | 5,553 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Long pull out/Thumper rapid. Typical put in <1000 cfs. |
| Put-In | Greek Creek CG | 5,629 Feet | Yes | No | No | All Vehicles | Greek Creek put-in. Please park at one of the pullouts and not in the campsite, as it is not a day use area. |
| Take-Out | Storm Castle | 5,401 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | There are two parking lots labaled "Storm Castle" on highway 191. This is the "upper" lot. This is the typical take-out for the mad-mile section, and marks the end of the CL IV whitewater. Putting in here is an option for more novice paddlers who are prepared for somewhat continous CL III. When things are crowded get your things out of the water quickly as the eddy is small and things have a tendency to turn into a cluster. |
| Take-Out | Storm Castle (Bridge) | 5,314 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | The lower of the two storm castle parking lots. This is easily distinguished as it has a bridge next to it. This is typically the lowest take-out used by those looking for whitewater. |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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