Captain William Clark explored the Gallatin Valley in July of 1806, on his return trip from the Pacific. Their roads is in every direction . . . Had Captain Clark proceeded further upstream, he would have discovered some challenging rapids that would have tested the Corps of Discovery's buffalo-skin boats. Modern-day explorers, however, find the whitewater much to their liking. After its start in Yellowstone Park, the Gallatin dashes its way through beautiful forested country, providing good fishing and excellent whitewater boating along the way.
Access is good and public land touches the river in many locations.
The sinuous East Gallatin winds through open meadows and agricultural country. With its brushy banks, deep holes and sometimes silty bottom, it resembles the Beaverhead, only smaller. Its high nutrients make for a good fishery, but access is difficult and fences are common. Floating on the East Gallatin is possible most of the year, except in particularly dry years. Early in the season, floating is possible as high as the Cherry River Fishing Access Site in Bozeman.