Flow: 27200 ft³/s; Water Level: 7.62 ft. USGS. Other than a handful of diversion dams, the Yellowstone River is free of all obstacles from Billings to the North Dakota border. Although Native Americans had already been using the Yellowstone River, which they knew as the Elk River, for a long time, people of European descent first explored it in 1806. the Yellowstone starts just south of Yellowstone park and flows 768 miles to the Missouri river. A float trip on the Lower Yellowstone River can be a very long one. Yellowstone River Facts. It flows through northwestern Wyoming, southern and eastern Montana, and northwestern North Dakota over a course of 692 miles (1,114 km). Back to Rivers. The Yellowstone is the last free flowing river in the lower 48 states. Flow: 4470 ft³/s; Water Level: 3.63 ft; USGS.

From its headwaters in Lake Yellowstone downstream 670 miles to the Missouri River in North Dakota, the Yellowstone River flows as it has for centuries, in its natural state, undammed and untamed. Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt. Share. The river system drains about 70,000 square miles (181,300 square km). History of the Yellowstone River. Since this is more than 300 miles, an epic length float trip is possible. Yellowstone River, river, noted for its scenic beauty, in the western United States. Location: The Yellowstone River is born high in a remote part of Yellowstone National Park.. Flow: 5660 ft³/s; Water Level: 43.04 ft; USGS. If flows north, exiting Yellowstone Park at Gardiner, Montana.. From there, the Yellowstone River flows up Paradise Valley to Livingston.. After Livingston, the river turns northeast to join the Missouri River near the North Dakota border, over 600 miles away. Yellowstone River At Glendive Mt. Yellowstone River At Miles City Mt. The Clear, cool swift and challenging it offers fishermen and river runners some of the best water Montana has to offer. Readers Poll: What's Your Favorite Montana River?