Rock Creek (Montana) Explained

Rock Creek
Source1 Coordinates:46.2239°N -113.5225°W
Mouth Coordinates:46.7253°N -113.6839°W
Mouth Coord Ref:[1]
Length:52miles[2]
Mouth Elevation:3520feet
River System:Columbia River

Rock Creek is a 52miles river in Missoula and Granite County, Montana. Rock Creek is a tributary of the Clark Fork river. The river's headwaters are in Lolo National Forest near Phillipsburg, Montana. The river roughly parallels the Sapphire Mountains and enters the Clark Fork of the Columbia River near Clinton, Montana. Sapphires are found along the river.[3] [4]

Rock Creek is also a stream in south central Montana in Carbon County. It flows from Glacier Lake, travels south into Wyoming before turning north back into Montana. It flows through the town of Red Lodge before entering the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River, which is not to be confused with the Clark Fork of the Columbia River which is what the other Rock Creek flows into.

The 2022 Montana floods at Rock Creek caused catastrophic damage to parts of Red Lodge.[5] [6]

Angling

Rock Creek is a popular fly fishing river for locals and destination anglers. It contains rainbow, brown, westslope cutthroat and the threatened bull trout.[7]

Notes and References

  1. 789673. Rock Creek.
  2. Web site: Detailed Water Body Report-Rock Creek . Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department . 2011-11-06.
  3. Web site: Montana Sapphires - Gemology. Gem Gallery. October 29, 2011. Note: Includes map of major Montana sapphire mines
  4. Book: Voynick, Stephen M.. Yogo The Great American Sapphire. Mountain Press Publishing. 1985. March 1995 printing, 1987. Missoula, MT. 0-87842-217-X. 193.
  5. Web site: 2022-06-13 . Yellowstone National Park closes entrances, residents evacuate Red Lodge as floods sweep across Montana . 2022-06-16 . Montana Public Radio . en.
  6. Web site: In pictures: Historic flooding in Montana . 2022-06-19 . CNN.
  7. Web site: Montana's Rock Creek . AnglerGuide.com . 2011-11-07.