Canyon Ferry Lake Water Level
Montana · Missouri River
Sponsor Canyon Ferry Lake
Put your marina, real-estate, or local business in front of everyone checking this lake's level. One exclusive sponsor per lake.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Water level history
About Canyon Ferry Lake
Canyon Ferry Lake is a reservoir on the Missouri River in Montana, operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Its full summer pool sits at 3797 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Canyon Ferry Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation targets when Canyon Ferry Lake is completely filled — 3797 feet above sea level. Above that line the Corps deliberately keeps empty "flood storage" to absorb heavy rain, so the lake rarely sits far above 3797 ft for long. A reading a few feet under full is usually just the normal operating band rather than a sign of drought.
In a typical year the Corps keeps Canyon Ferry Lake lower over winter for flood storage and lets it fill for the summer recreation season. Levels can jump several feet after a single big storm and are drawn down again once the high water passes.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Canyon Ferry Lake, so they show how today compares over that record rather than an all-time extreme. The 12-month and 5-year chart views make the trend and the lake's usual seasonal shape easy to see.
Canyon Ferry Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Canyon Ferry Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Canyon Ferry Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Canyon Ferry Lake?
Canyon Ferry Lake's full summer pool is 3797 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Canyon Ferry Lake?
Canyon Ferry Lake is operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Missouri River.
Where is Canyon Ferry Lake located?
Canyon Ferry Lake is in Montana, on the Missouri River.
Why is Canyon Ferry Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Bureau of Reclamation lowers the pool for flood storage, power, or water supply — and recover after rain and snowmelt. The history chart above shows the recent trend.
What are the record high and low levels for Canyon Ferry Lake?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Canyon Ferry Lake.
Other lakes near Canyon Ferry Lake
- Fort Peck LakeMT
- Bighorn LakeMT/WY
- Tiber Reservoir (Lake Elwell)MT
- Lake Francis CaseSD
- Lewis and Clark LakeSD/NE
- Lake OaheSD/ND
See current levels for all 4 Montana lakes and reservoirs →
Add this gauge to your website
Run a marina, boat rental, guide service, or real-estate site on Canyon Ferry Lake? Put this free live-level widget on your page — just copy and paste the code: