List of rapids of Montana facts for kids
There are 34 named rapids in Montana. A rapid is a part of a river where the water flows very fast and gets really bumpy. This happens because the riverbed drops steeply, making the water speed up and get turbulent. Think of it as a watery rollercoaster!
Rapids are found between a calm, smoothly flowing part of a river (called a run) and a cascade, which is like a mini-waterfall. In a rapid, the river usually gets shallower, and you can often see rocks sticking out of the water. As the fast-moving water crashes over and around these rocks, it mixes with air bubbles, making the surface look white and foamy. This is why it's often called "whitewater"! Rapids form where the riverbed is very strong and doesn't easily wear away compared to the areas downstream.
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What Makes a River Rapid?
Rapids are exciting features of rivers. They form when the ground beneath the river suddenly slopes downwards. This steep slope makes the water rush faster. Imagine pouring water down a slide – it speeds up, right? That's what happens in a rapid.
Also, rapids often have many rocks and boulders in the riverbed. The water has to flow around and over these obstacles, which creates lots of splashes and foamy white water. This is different from a calm river section, where the water flows smoothly, or a waterfall, where the water drops straight down.
Montana's Exciting Rapids
Montana is home to 34 named rapids, spread across several of its major rivers. These rapids offer thrilling challenges for rafters and kayakers, and they are also important natural features of the state's beautiful landscape. Each rapid has its own unique characteristics, shaped by the river's flow and the rocks in its path.
Rapids on the Big Horn River
- Sitting Bull Rapids, Big Horn County, Montana, 45°37′47″N 107°40′23″W / 45.62972°N 107.67306°W, about 2,943 feet (897 m) high.
Rapids on the Clark Fork River
- Thibideau Rapids, Missoula County, Montana, 46°57′12″N 113°37′17″W / 46.95333°N 113.62139°W, about 3,478 feet (1,060 m) high.
Rapids on the Missouri River
The Missouri River has many rapids, especially in certain sections where the river drops in elevation.
- Baker Rapids, Prairie County, Montana, 46°42′30″N 105°28′32″W / 46.70833°N 105.47556°W, about 2,215 feet (675 m) high.
- Bear Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°43′29″N 109°27′11″W / 47.72472°N 109.45306°W, about 2,375 feet (724 m) high.
- Bird Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°46′48″N 109°09′43″W / 47.78000°N 109.16194°W, about 2,326 feet (709 m) high.
- Black Bluff Rapids, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°54′43″N 110°28′18″W / 47.91194°N 110.47167°W, about 2,559 feet (780 m) high.
- Brunots Rapids, Cascade County, Montana, 47°10′00″N 111°50′03″W / 47.16667°N 111.83417°W, about 3,389 feet (1,033 m) high.
- Budels Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°47′43″N 109°05′23″W / 47.79528°N 109.08972°W, about 2,313 feet (705 m) high.
- Castle Bluff Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°47′38″N 109°15′04″W / 47.79389°N 109.25111°W, about 2,342 feet (714 m) high.
- Castle Bluffs Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°47′38″N 109°14′26″W / 47.79389°N 109.24056°W, about 2,336 feet (712 m) high.
- Dauphin Rapids, Fergus County, Montana, 47°44′36″N 109°22′47″W / 47.74333°N 109.37972°W, about 2,359 feet (719 m) high.
- Deadman Rapids, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°43′14″N 109°41′43″W / 47.72056°N 109.69528°W, about 2,411 feet (735 m) high.
- Flennikens Rapids, Cascade County, Montana, 47°10′15″N 111°49′11″W / 47.17083°N 111.81972°W, about 3,396 feet (1,035 m) high.
- Gallatin Rapids, Fergus County, Montana, 47°43′43″N 109°27′58″W / 47.72861°N 109.46611°W, about 2,375 feet (724 m) high.
- Heron Rapids, Sanders County, Montana, location unknown, about 6,450 feet (1,970 m) high.
- Holmes Rapids, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°44′54″N 109°34′32″W / 47.74833°N 109.57556°W, about 2,415 feet (736 m) high.
- Kipps Rapids, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°51′31″N 110°04′21″W / 47.85861°N 110.07250°W, about 2,474 feet (754 m) high.
- Little Dog Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°43′15″N 109°25′21″W / 47.72083°N 109.42250°W, about 2,369 feet (722 m) high.
- Lone Pine Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°47′34″N 109°16′21″W / 47.79278°N 109.27250°W, about 2,349 feet (716 m) high.
- Lone Pine Rapids, Cascade County, Montana, 47°10′40″N 111°48′43″W / 47.17778°N 111.81194°W, about 3,379 feet (1,030 m) high.
- Magpie Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°47′35″N 109°12′58″W / 47.79306°N 109.21611°W, about 2,333 feet (711 m) high.
- McKeevers Rapids, Blaine County, Montana, 47°44′23″N 109°30′23″W / 47.73972°N 109.50639°W, about 2,388 feet (728 m) high.
- Pablo Rapids, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°45′11″N 109°53′09″W / 47.75306°N 109.88583°W, about 2,447 feet (746 m) high.
- Picotts Rapids, Fergus County, Montana, 47°43′33″N 108°51′58″W / 47.72583°N 108.86611°W, about 2,270 feet (690 m) high.
- Pine Island Rapids, Cascade County, Montana, 47°10′55″N 111°48′24″W / 47.18194°N 111.80667°W, about 3,379 feet (1,030 m) high.
- The Big Eddy, Cascade County, Montana, 47°36′35″N 111°02′53″W / 47.60972°N 111.04806°W, about 2,776 feet (846 m) high.
Rapids on Big Timber Creek
- Thunder Rapids, Sweet Grass County, Montana, 46°02′06″N 110°16′59″W / 46.03500°N 110.28306°W, about 8,061 feet (2,457 m) high.
Rapids on the Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is another major river in Montana with several notable rapids.
- Buffalo Rapids, Custer County, Montana, 46°30′20″N 105°44′09″W / 46.50556°N 105.73583°W, about 2,303 feet (702 m) high.
- De Russys Rapids, Prairie County, Montana, 46°51′10″N 105°02′12″W / 46.85278°N 105.03667°W, about 2,113 feet (644 m) high.
- Dixons Rapids, Custer County, Montana, 46°33′40″N 105°37′47″W / 46.56111°N 105.62972°W, about 2,270 feet (690 m) high.
- McKeons Rapids, Prairie County, Montana, 46°48′03″N 105°15′07″W / 46.80083°N 105.25194°W, about 2,159 feet (658 m) high.
- Trout Rapids, Stillwater County, Montana, 45°35′04″N 109°06′38″W / 45.58444°N 109.11056°W, about 3,474 feet (1,059 m) high.
- White Island Rapids, Prairie County, Montana, 46°51′15″N 105°08′42″W / 46.85417°N 105.14500°W, about 2,129 feet (649 m) high.
- Wolf Rapids, Prairie County, Montana, 46°45′47″N 105°25′52″W / 46.76306°N 105.43111°W, about 2,195 feet (669 m) high.
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