Montana Stream Access Law - Classification of Waters

Classification of Waters

The law creates two classifications of waters capable of recreational use: Class I and Class II. Class I are waters which are capable of recreational use and have been declared navigable or which are capable of specific kinds of commercial activity including commercial outfitting with multi-person watercraft. Class II waters are all other rivers and streams capbable of recreational use that are not Class I waters.

Class I Waters

• Kootenai River Drainage
  • Kootenai River - from Libby Dam to the Idaho border
  • Lake Creek - from Chase cut-off road to its confluence with the Kootenai River
  • Yaak River - from Yaak Falls to its confluence with the Kootenai River
• Flathead River Drainage
  • South fork of the Flathead - from Youngs creek to Hungry Horse reservoir
  • Middle fork of the Flathead - from Schaffer creek to its confluence with the Flathead River
  • Flathead River (mainstem) - to its confluence with the Clark Fork River
• Clark Fork of the Columbia River Drainage
  • Clark Fork River - from Warm Spring Creek to the Idaho border
  • North Fork of the Blackfoot - from highway 200 east of Ovando to its confluence with the mainstem of the Blackfoot River
  • Blackfoot River - from the Cedar Meadow fishing access site west of Helmville to its confluence with the Clark Fork River
  • Bitterroot River - from the confluence of the East and West forks to its confluence with the Clark Fork River
  • Rock Creek - from the confluence of the West fork to its confluence with the Clark Fork River
• Missouri River Drainage
  • Missouri River - from Three Forks to the North Dakota border
  • Beaverhead River - from Clark Canyon Dam to its confluence with the Jefferson River
  • Big Hole River - from Fishtrap fishing access downstream from Wisdom to its confluence with the Jefferson River
  • Gallatin River - from Taylors Fork to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Jefferson River - to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Madison River - from Quake Lake to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Dearborn River - from Highway 431 bridge to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Sun River - from Gibson Dam to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Smith River - from the Camp Baker Fishing Access site near Ft. Logan to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Marias River - from Tiber Dam to its confluence with the Missouri River
  • Judith River - from the confluence with Big Spring Creek to its confluence with the Missouri River
• Yellowstone River Drainage
  • Yellowstone River - from Yellowstone National Park to the North Dakota border
  • Bighorn River - from Yellowtail Dam to its confluence with the Yellowstone River
  • Tongue River - from Tongue River Dam to its confluence with the Yellowstone River