The Gardner River is a freestone river in Montana.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 5 guides and 1 shop nearby are listed here.
Gardner River is a freestone river in Montana.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Gardner River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Gardner River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Gardner River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of 6 restrooms near Gardner River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 6 restrooms near Gardner River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Dailey LakeEnnis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Dailey Lake.
Montana · about 20 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Hebgen LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hebgen Lake.
Montana · about 30 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Hyalite LakeLake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hyalite Lake.
Montana · about 30 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Soda Butte CreekThe upper section of DePuy Spring Creek near Livingston, Montana, in January. Photo: Mike Cline, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Soda Butte Creek.
Montana · about 34 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Earthquake LakeEagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Earthquake Lake.
Montana · about 35 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Hyalite ReservoirNavajo Lake from Navajo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hyalite Reservoir.
Montana · about 36 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
6.7 of 27.3 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
1 guide name it on their website
Bozeman, MT
Float trips · Walk-and-wade · Madison & Gallatin
Names this water
Livingston, MT · 31 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Madison & Gallatin
Nearby
Gallatin Gateway, MT · 33 mi
Wade trips · Drift boat · Madison & Gallatin
Nearby
What 3 nearby guide websites mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 3 nearby guide websites
5 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Mother's Day caddis (Grannom) (May) · Salmonfly (May to June) · Salmonfly (May to July) · Salmonfly (July) · Trico (August to September)
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Gardner River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge Gardner River near Mammoth, YNP. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At Gardner River near Mammoth, YNP (USGS 06191000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 06191000 · NWS GDRM8
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 4:30 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 5:30 PM MDT to Nov 5, 4:30 PM MST; ranging 104 to 130 ft³/s; latest 111 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 4:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM MST | 106 | 1.81 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM MST | 106 | 1.81 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM MST | 106 | 1.81 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM MST | 104 | 1.8 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM MST | 106 | 1.81 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM MST | 109 | 1.82 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM MST | 111 | 1.83 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM MST | 124 | 1.88 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM MST | 124 | 1.88 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM MST | 130 | 1.9 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM MST | 127 | 1.89 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM MST | 124 | 1.88 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM MST | 124 | 1.88 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM MST | 122 | 1.87 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM MST | 119 | 1.86 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM MST | 116 | 1.85 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM MST | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM MDT | 109 | 1.82 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM MDT | 111 | 1.83 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM MDT | 116 | 1.85 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM MDT | 116 | 1.85 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM MDT | 116 | 1.85 |
| Oct 29, 5:30 PM MDT | 114 | 1.84 |
Normal for Nov 5: 101–127 ft³/s (middle half of 76 years of record). Now: 111 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 111 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 76 years of record (1939–2026): 10th 93, 25th 101, median 114, 75th 127, 90th 142 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 77.1 ft³/s, highest 166 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−4.3% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 1.83 ft stage, 143 ft³/s at Nov 5, 3:45 PM MST (NWS gauge GDRM8; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Montana FWP uses are 66°F, 68°F and 73°F.
This gauge is on our page for Gardner River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:59 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Dailey LakeEnnis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Dailey Lake.
Montana · about 20 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Hebgen LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hebgen Lake.
Montana · about 30 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Hyalite LakeLake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hyalite Lake.
Montana · about 30 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Soda Butte CreekThe upper section of DePuy Spring Creek near Livingston, Montana, in January. Photo: Mike Cline, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Soda Butte Creek.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Earthquake LakeEagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Earthquake Lake.
Montana · about 35 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Hyalite ReservoirNavajo Lake from Navajo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hyalite Reservoir.
Montana · about 36 mi
Gardiner, Montana
River cabins · 3.0 mi
