Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT water level

Name: Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Big Hole River, Montana, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.31ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 07:45 AM MDT (23 min ago)

Flow: 63.5 cfs
Water temperature: 40 °F

History

7 days

Water level

What this means

The Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT is at 2.31 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.30 ft and 2.42 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 40 °F.

Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 6.82 ftJune 18, 2020

Floating and fishing near Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

What happens at each level

8.00 ft: Flood water reaching into northwest portions of Wisdom along Hwy 278, in vicinity of Pine and 1st St, and area on north side of intersections of 43 and 278, and 43 and Pine St.
6.80 ft: 6.8 Feet - June 2020 - Snowmelt from previous day. Big Hole at Melrose rose into flood stage to 6.5 feet.
2.31 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	6.82 ft	June 18, 2020
2	6.66 ft	June 17, 2010
3	6.37 ft	June 6, 1995
4	6.20 ft	June 10, 2011
5	6.17 ft	June 9, 1997
6	6.09 ft	June 7, 1991
7	5.87 ft	May 19, 1996
8	5.76 ft	April 23, 2009
9	5.59 ft	June 10, 2006
10	5.44 ft	April 30, 2008

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:58 AM Sunset 06:41 PM Daylight 10 hr, 43 min First quarter 69%

Map

Other gauges on the Big Hole River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Hole River below Mudd Cr near Wisdom MTRiver gauge, Big Hole River	167 cfs	Normal	−4.0 cfs	15 mi
Big Hole River at Maiden Rock near Divide MTRiver gauge, Big Hole River	413 cfs	Normal	−13.0 cfs	35 mi
Big Hole River near Melrose MTRiver gauge, Big Hole River	1.82 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	37 mi
Big Hole River near Glen MTRiver gauge, Big Hole River	470 cfs	Normal	−9.0 cfs	45 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Salmon River at SalmonRiver gauge, Salmon River	2.30 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	37 mi
Lemhi River below L5 Diversion near SalmonRiver gauge, Lemhi River	157 cfs	Low	±0	37 mi
Middle Fork Rock Cr near Philipsburg MTRiver gauge, Middle Fork Rock Cr	54.2 cfs	High	−1.8 cfs	39 mi
West Fork Bitterroot River near Conner MTRiver gauge, West Fork Bitterroot River	57.5 cfs	Very low	±0	41 mi
Bitterroot River near Darby MTRiver gauge, Bitterroot River	1.63 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	41 mi
Willow Creek near AnacondaRiver gauge, Willow Creek	2.1 cfs	Normal	±0	41 mi
Mill Creek near AnacondaRiver gauge, Mill Creek	11.5 cfs	Low	−0.5 cfs	41 mi

Questions and answers

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 07:45 AM MDT, the water level was 2.31 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT?

The highest level on record is 6.82 ft on June 18, 2020.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

Where does this data come from?

The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06024450 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 45.61797, -113.45694 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	2.31 ft	2026-10-20 13:45	Provisional
Flow	63.5 cfs	2026-10-20 13:45	Provisional
Water temperature	40 °F	2026-10-20 13:45	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Big Hole River below Big Lake Cr at Wisdom MT (usgs:06024450). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/big-hole-river-below-big-lake-cr-at-wisdom-mt

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer