Upper Put In

Upper Put In is a whitewater put-in on the Gallatin River in Gallatin County, Montana, located near the headwaters of this significant stream. The Gallatin River is a large river system (Stream Order 7) with substantial gradient and flow characteristics that make it suitable for whitewater paddling. With an average flow of 1288 cubic feet per second and an average velocity of 3.92 feet per second, the river maintains moderate to swift current conditions typical of mountain streams. The location sits at approximately 5000 feet elevation with the river dropping over 4700 feet total across its 114-mile course, indicating steep gradient sections throughout the upper watershed.

Paddlers using Upper Put In should be prepared for fast-moving water with an average gradient of 41.8 feet per mile. The river's proximity to its headwaters means water conditions can be cold and responsive to precipitation and snowmelt, particularly during spring and early summer. This put-in serves as an access point for kayakers and canoeists looking to run sections of the upper Gallatin in what is clearly a whitewater-focused segment of the river system.