Laurel sits where three highways meet the Yellowstone River: I-90, US-212, and US-310 all converge here, and the river runs wide through the valley below.
Heading to Yellowstone National Park? On your way to the Beartooth Highway? Making a pit stop in Billings? Laurel is one of the better-positioned towns in the state, perfectly situated for all your Montana adventures.
Below, you’ll find bank fishing spots, boat ramps, float routes, campgrounds, overlooks, and gravel bars that hide some of the rarest gemstones in the world.
Yellowstone River at a Glance: The Yellowstone River near Laurel is a go-to stretch for fishing, floating, camping, birding, and rockhounding. Riverside Park and Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access are the primary local entry points. The river runs best for floating from July through September. A Montana fishing license is required for all angling.
Things to Do on the Yellowstone River Near Laurel
The Yellowstone is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states, running from Yellowstone National Park through Paradise Valley, then into Laurel and eastward toward the Missouri. A few miles above town, it runs cold and clear over a rocky bottom. By the time it reaches Laurel, it’s widened, warmed, and settled into a character entirely different.
That shift is what makes this stretch so accessible and teaming with birds and wildlife. The current mellows, the banks open up, and whether you’re wading in with a fly rod or hunting gravel bars for moss agates, the river is easy to get on and hard to leave.
Yellowstone River Fishing
The Yellowstone River around Laurel isn’t the same fishery as the tailwaters above the colder portions near Livingston, but that’s not a knock against it. This stretch holds brown trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish that you won’t find in the colder water upstream, and the access points around Laurel put you right on the river.
Note: All anglers need a current Montana fishing license before heading out.
Riverside Park
Riverside Park is Laurel’s signature access point on the Yellowstone, with bank fishing, a boat ramp, and cottonwood shade along a wide stretch of riverbank. It’s as close to walk-up fishing access as Laurel gets.
Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access
Also known as Sportsman’s Park, the Buffalo Mirage FWP fishing access site is a primary put-in and take-out point near town. Wade fishing and raft access are both available, so expect to share the banks with local anglers and floaters heading up and down the valley.
Sundance Lodge Recreation Area
The Sundance Lodge Recreation Area sits at the confluence of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone and the main Yellowstone River, about a mile from Laurel via Highway 212. Managed by the BLM, the 380-acre site is day-use only with wade fishing along the confluence and non-motorized launches for canoes and kayaks.
Floating & Rafting: What to Know Before You Go
Near Laurel, the Yellowstone is calm and meandering. The significant rapids are concentrated on the upper river near Gardiner and Yankee Jim Canyon, well upstream from here, so what you’re looking at is a scenic flatwater float that works for most skill levels and most watercraft.
Planning a float along the Yellowstone River? A few things to know before you launch:
- Put-ins and take-outs: Riverside Park and Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access are the primary local options. Most floaters plan trips between the two or extend further up and downstream, depending on their itinerary.
- Best season: July through September is the prime float window. Flows stabilize, temperatures rise, and the river settles into a manageable pace.
- Avoid spring runoff: Avoid spring runoff: May and June bring high water and fast currents from snowmelt. Conditions can be dangerous for recreational floaters.
- Watercraft: Canoes, kayaks, rafts, and paddleboards all work well on this stretch. No whitewater experience required.
The annual Livingston-to-Laurel Boat Float finishes in Laurel each July, a multi-day community event that draws participants from across the region. It’s one of the better ways to experience the river and a good reason to time your trip around it.
Camping Along the Yellowstone River
Camping along the Yellowstone near Laurel ranges from a city park directly on the riverbank to full-facility state parks within an easy drive, with a few quieter Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) sites in between.
Riverside Park Campground
Riverside Park offers the most convenient camping option for staying on the river without driving far. Sites are available for tents and RVs, with fees ranging from $20 to $30 per night, depending on site type. The campground is dry camping only with no utility hookups, and reservations are required. It’s a solid base for a night or two if you’re planning to fish or float the next morning.
Cooney State Park
Cooney State Park, about 40 miles south of Laurel, offers excellent walleye and rainbow trout fishing, three boat ramps, water skiing, and five campgrounds with 82 campsites, including 19 with electrical hookups. Reservations are available through Montana State Parks, and the park fills up fast on summer weekends. It’s a step up in amenities from Riverside Park and a natural add-on for anyone spending multiple days in the area.
Itch-Kep-Pe Park, Columbus
About 20 miles west of Laurel along the Yellowstone, Itch-Kep-Pe Park offers FWP camping directly on the river with a boat ramp and fire rings. It’s a quieter option than Cooney and a good choice for campers who want to stay on the Yellowstone itself rather than a reservoir.
Yellowstone River Overlooks, Birding & Rockhounding
The Yellowstone has a way of pulling people in, even when they’re not fishing or floating. The river bottom habitat draws a remarkable variety of birds, the gravel bars hold Montana moss agates found nowhere else on earth, and Pompeys Pillar rises above the valley 40 miles east with views that stop people mid-sentence.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument
Pompeys Pillar is a sandstone butte that rises above the river valley and offers panoramic views of the Yellowstone stretching in both directions. Captain William Clark’s 1806 signature is carved into the rock, the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. An on-site interpretive center covers the history, and the short hike to the top of the butte is accessible for most visitors.
Sundance Lodge Recreation Area
Beyond its fishing access, the Sundance Lodge Recreation Area is one of the better spots near Laurel for birding and wildlife watching. The area lies along both the Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce National Historic Trails, and the 3-mile loop trail through the property is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, with no motorized vehicles allowed.
Rockhounding for Montana Moss Agates
The Yellowstone River is the only place in the world where Montana moss agates form, and the gravel bars along the river near Laurel are a legitimate source. These lustrous stones are best spotted at low water in early spring or late fall when bars are exposed. It’s one of those activities that rewards patience and a good eye; no special equipment is required, and collecting for personal use is permitted.
After a Day on the Water: Stop By Seed of Life
Few rivers in Montana offer as much variety in a single stretch as the Yellowstone. The access is easy, the float is calm, and the gravel bars are hiding jewel-like stones. Spend a day here, and you start to understand why people come back year after year.
After a day on the water, Seed of Life Laurel is an easy stop on the way back into town. We carry small-batch, Montana-grown cannabis for both medical and recreational customers, and our team is happy to help you find the right product for winding down after a long day outside.
Looking for other things to do in Laurel? Head to our in-depth guide and explore all this town has to offer. Exploring beyond Laurel? Head to any Seed of Life in Montana and stock up before your next Montana adventure.
FAQ: Yellowstone River Near Laurel, MT
The Yellowstone originates in Yellowstone National Park near Younts Peak in Wyoming and flows approximately 692 miles northeast before joining the Missouri River near Williston, North Dakota. It passes through Paradise Valley, Livingston, Laurel, Billings, and Miles City along the way, making it the longest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States.
The Laurel stretch of the Yellowstone is a transition zone between the blue-ribbon trout water of the upper river and the warm-water fishery downstream. Anglers near Laurel can expect a mix of brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish depending on the season. A Montana fishing license is required.
The upper Yellowstone near Livingston and Paradise Valley is considered prime dry fly water. The stretch near Laurel is fishable and holds trout, but the character of the river shifts toward warm-water species here. Anglers specifically chasing trout on the fly will find better water 30 to 50 miles upstream.
Yes. Riverside Park and Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access are the main local put-in and take-out points for recreational floaters. The stretch is calm and manageable for canoes, kayaks, and rafts. July through September is the recommended window; spring runoff makes conditions unpredictable and fast.
Not near Laurel. The significant rapids on the Yellowstone are on the upper river near Gardiner and Yankee Jim Canyon, roughly 100 miles southwest. The Laurel stretch is a flatwater float suitable for recreational paddlers, not a whitewater destination.
