Beartrap Canyon - Madison Dam to Route 84
Montana – US
- Class
- III to IV
- Length
- 8.5 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 28 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 4,760 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 4,520 Feet
- Typical season
- March to December
Current Flow
1,210 CFS
Gauge height: 3.69 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:00 PM
▼ -45.83/hr (12h) ▼ -22.92/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- Madison River bl Ennis Lake nr McAllister MT Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 1,200 |
| Average | 2,400 |
| Maximum | 3,000 |
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
Bear trap is a beautiful wilderness canyon with lots of a scenic miles and a few rapids. Most put in for the mostly dewatered double drop rapid. After a 1/4 mile water enters the river from a power station on river right and things get a little more padded. There are some II's, one with a nasty seive on river left. Whitehorse is the first named rapid and is the longest and most sustained of the rapids. Two holes wait at the top. The scouting trail is on the left but most will opt to read and run. When cliffs meet river level on the left scout/portage Kitchen sink on the right. Kitchen sink is a IV at typical flows and V at high flows (3000ish +). Finally green wave ends the major rapids with sneak down the right or a massive pourover boof off the green wave. Watch out for snakes. The bird watching in this canyon can be pretty good. Bald and Golden Eagles, osprey, mallards, wood ducks, pelicans etc.
Rapids
No rapids added yet.
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Above Double Drop | 4,760 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | Put in here for double drop. Most rafts will want to put in at the boat ramp a little downstream. |
| Take-Out | Take out | 4,520 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | Typical Bear trap takeout |
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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