List of rivers of Montana facts for kids

Montana is a large state in the western United States, and it's famous for its beautiful mountains and wide-open spaces. It's also home to many important rivers! These rivers are super important for Montana's environment, wildlife, and even for people living there. They provide water for farms, homes, and recreation like fishing and rafting.

What's really cool about Montana's rivers is how they flow to different parts of the continent. Some rivers flow east, some flow north, and others flow west, eventually reaching three different oceans! This happens because of special land features called "divides."

Rivers Flowing East: To the Gulf of Mexico

Many rivers in Montana start on the eastern side of the Continental Divide of the Americas. This "Great Divide" is like a giant natural wall that separates which way water flows. Rivers on the east side of this divide eventually make their way to the Missouri River, which then joins the mighty Mississippi River. From there, the water travels all the way to the Gulf of Mexico!

Missouri River System

The Missouri River is one of the longest rivers in North America, and a big part of it flows through Montana. Many other rivers join the Missouri, bringing water from different parts of the state.

Here are some of the main rivers that feed into the Missouri:

• Jefferson River
  • Beaverhead River
  • Big Hole River
• Madison River
• Gallatin River
• Marias River
  • Cut Bank Creek
  • Two Medicine River
• Sun River
• Smith River
• Judith River
• Musselshell River
• Milk River
• Yellowstone River
  • The Yellowstone River is a very important tributary of the Missouri. It starts in Yellowstone National Park and flows through Montana.
  • Some rivers that join the Yellowstone include:
    • Gardner River
    • Boulder River
    • Stillwater River
    • Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
    • Bighorn River
      • Little Bighorn River
    • Tongue River
    • Powder River
• Little Missouri River

Rivers Flowing North: To Hudson Bay

Another important natural boundary in Montana is the Laurentian Divide. Rivers that start on the north and east side of this divide flow towards Hudson Bay. Hudson Bay is a huge body of water in Canada that connects to the Arctic Ocean. These rivers often join the Saskatchewan River and then the Nelson River on their journey north.

Here are some rivers that flow towards Hudson Bay:

• Belly River
• St. Mary River
• Waterton River

Rivers Flowing West: To the Pacific Ocean

On the western side of the Continental Divide of the Americas, rivers flow in a completely different direction! These rivers head west, eventually joining the mighty Columbia River. The Columbia River then carries their water all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Here are some of the main rivers that flow west:

• Clark Fork River
  • The Clark Fork is a major river in western Montana. Many other rivers join it, including:
    • Bull River
    • Thompson River
    • Flathead River
      • The Flathead River is a large river system that includes:

* Jocko River * Little Bitterroot River * Whitefish River * South Fork Flathead River

• • • St. Regis River
    • Bitterroot River
    • Blackfoot River
    • Little Blackfoot River
• Kootenai River
  • The Kootenai River also flows through western Montana and has its own tributaries like:
    • Yaak River
    • Fisher River
    • Tobacco River
• Swan River

Rivers with the Same Name

It might seem a bit confusing, but sometimes different rivers in Montana have the exact same name! For example, there are 45 different streams in Montana named Willow Creek. This shows how many waterways there are across the state!

See also

• Montana Stream Access Law
• List of rivers in the United States