Jefferson River - Definition

The Jefferson River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 207 mi (333 km) long, in the U.S. state of Montana. It is one of three rivers, along with the Madison and Gallatin that converge near Three Forks, Montana to form the Missouri. Along various stretches of its lenghth, it is also known as the Red Rock River and the Beaverhead River.

The Jefferson-Beaverhead-Red Rock rivers

It rises as the Red Rock River in the Centennial Mountains near the continental divide in southwestern Beaverhead County, near the border with Idaho, and flows west through Upper and Lower Red Rock lakes, then NNW past Lima to the Clark Canyon Reservoir, where it becomes the Beaverhead. As the Beaverhead, it flows NNE past Dillon. Near Twin Bridges, it joined by the Ruby River and the Big Hole River, and continues as the Jefferson River north and east. Near Cardwell, it receives the Boulder River, and flows east to form the Missouri with the Madison and Gallatin northeast of Three Forks, approximately 28 mi (45 km) WNW of Bozeman.

See also

• List of Montana rivers