Highly scenic whitewater run through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness with a reasonable road shuttle.
Put-in / access: Madison Dam / Powerhouse (45.4853, -111.6325)
Take-out: Warm Springs Access / Route 84 (45.5897, -111.5642)
Difficulty: Class I-IV
Mileage: 9 miles
Season: Year-round, due to the dam release, but summer is peak.
Hazards: The Kitchen Sink is a notorious Class IV rapid that routinely flips rafts. It is a long, technical boulder garden.
Permits: None required.
Guided trips: Yes. Montana Whitewater offers trips here.
Camping: Trapper Springs and Red Mountain campgrounds are located near the take-out.
Visitor Access
- Nearest town: Ennis
- Difficulty: Class I-IV
- Season: Not explicitly mentioned on American Whitewater. Further search needed.
- Mileage: 12 miles
- Permits & fees: Permits not required for private groups, but registration is necessary at the launch. A permit system was proposed by Montana FWP for 2023, but details need to be confirmed.
- Hazards: Kitchen Sink (Class IV, potentially V at high flows) with multiple sieves and undercut rocks, responsible for multiple fatalities. Double Drop (Class III, IV at high flows). Pulsing flows from the dam can cause dramatic changes. No cell service, help is 3-4 hours away. Healmets, PFD's, Pin kit, First aid and layers highly recommended.
- Guided trips: Montana Whitewater offers full-day trips under a special-use permit from the BLM.
- Camping: Not explicitly mentioned on American Whitewater. Further search needed. Confirm current flows, closures, AIS inspections, and land-manager rules before you put in. Cold water and wood hazards kill—this guide is informational, not instruction.