Sun River
Encyclopedia
The Sun River is a tributary of the Missouri River
in the Great Plains
, approximately 130 mi (209 km) long, in Montana
in the United States
.
It rises in the Rocky Mountains
in two forks, the North Fork and South Fork, which join in the Flathead National Forest
above Gibson Reservoir
along the county line between Teton
and Lewis and Clark
counties. It flows E, SE, and E away from the mountains, past Simms
, Sun River
, and Vaughn
and joins the Missouri at Great Falls
.
The water of the river is used extensively for irrigation, through the Sun River Project of the United States Bureau of Reclamation
. The irrigation area covers approximately 92,000 acres (372 km²).
The North Fork of the Sun River begins high up in the Bob Marshall Wilderness
and flows generally Southward for about 20 miles (32.2 km) until it meets up with the South Fork of the Sun River. Almost immediately the two forks flow into Gibson Reservoir
. From when the water leaves the reservoir until it meets the Missouri River
in Great Falls
, the flowage is known as the Sun River.
The Sun is a Class I river from Gibson Dam to its confluence with the Missouri River for public access for recreational purposes.
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
, approximately 130 mi (209 km) long, in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It rises in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
in two forks, the North Fork and South Fork, which join in the Flathead National Forest
Flathead National Forest
The Flathead National Forest is a national forest in the western part of the U.S. state of Montana. The forest covers of which about 1 million acres is designated wilderness. It is named after the Flathead Indians who lived in the area. The forest is located in the Rocky Mountains with elevations...
above Gibson Reservoir
Gibson Reservoir
Gibson Reservoir is located just south of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. The reservoir is formed by a concrete dam and backs water up between a hilly pass for about 3 miles. The water in the dam is initially provided by spring snow runoff and carried there via the North Fork Sun River...
along the county line between Teton
Teton County, Montana
-National protected area:*Lewis and Clark National Forest *Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,445 people, 2,538 households, and 1,761 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 2,910...
and Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Flathead National Forest * Helena National Forest * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:...
counties. It flows E, SE, and E away from the mountains, past Simms
Simms, Montana
Simms is a census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 373 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:Simms is located at ....
, Sun River
Sun River, Montana
Sun River is a census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 131 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...
, and Vaughn
Vaughn, Montana
Vaughn is a census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 701 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:Vaughn is located at ....
and joins the Missouri at Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
.
The water of the river is used extensively for irrigation, through the Sun River Project of the United States Bureau of Reclamation
United States Bureau of Reclamation
The United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...
. The irrigation area covers approximately 92,000 acres (372 km²).
The North Fork of the Sun River begins high up in the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Bob Marshall Wilderness
The Bob Marshall Wilderness is a wilderness area in Flathead National Forest of western Montana in the United States. It is named after Bob Marshall , an early forester, conservationist, and co-founder of The Wilderness Society. The Bob Marshall Wilderness extends for 60 miles along the...
and flows generally Southward for about 20 miles (32.2 km) until it meets up with the South Fork of the Sun River. Almost immediately the two forks flow into Gibson Reservoir
Gibson Reservoir
Gibson Reservoir is located just south of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. The reservoir is formed by a concrete dam and backs water up between a hilly pass for about 3 miles. The water in the dam is initially provided by spring snow runoff and carried there via the North Fork Sun River...
. From when the water leaves the reservoir until it meets the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, the flowage is known as the Sun River.
The Sun is a Class I river from Gibson Dam to its confluence with the Missouri River for public access for recreational purposes.
History
A sign located 3 miles south of Great Falls gives information on the history of the Sun River.This river was called "The Medicine" by the Indians. On the return trip from the coast Capt. Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition struck this river approximately 50 miles west of here. He followed it down to the Missouri passing near this point July 11, 1806. In his journal under that date he said:
"when I arrived in sight of the white-bear Islands the missouri bottoms on both sides of the river were crowded with buffaloe I sincerely beleif (sic) that there were not less than 10 thousand buffaloe within a circle of 2 miles around that place"
The City of Great Falls covers a portion of the plain across which the Expedition made their difficult 18 mile portage around the falls of the Missouri in June 1805
See also
- List of rivers of Montana
- Montana Stream Access LawMontana Stream Access LawThe Montana Stream Access Law says that anglers, floaters and other recreationists in Montana have full use of most natural waterways between the high water marks for fishing and floating, along with swimming and other river or stream-related activities...