Sun River
Near Conrad, Montana
The Sun River originates in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and flows east through the Rocky Mountain Front before joining the Missouri River near Great Falls. The upper river above Gibson Dam offers wilderness fishing for native westslope cutthroat trout in a stunning mountain setting accessible by foot or horseback. Below the dam, the river becomes a tailwater supporting rainbow and brown trout, with the stretch near Augusta providing good fishing when conditions are right. The Sun River Game Range along the Rocky Mountain Front is renowned for wildlife viewing, including elk, deer, and bighorn sheep. Summer irrigation demands significantly impact flows in the lower river, making spring and fall the most reliable seasons. The Sun River is also known as the legendary waterway where Lewis and Clark first encountered grizzly bears. Access is available through several FWP sites and on public lands along its course through the prairie and foothills east of the Continental Divide.