Navigating Deadmans Basin Reservoir right now is looking a lot less like smooth sailing and a whole lot more like an impromptu off-road expedition. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks took to social media just a few days ago with a photo notice showing the concrete boat ramp ending abruptly in a scenic view of plain dry dirt. The local water levels have retreated so far down the shore that if you were hoping to slide your vessel into the water, be prepared for a bit of a scrape—currently, the water line isn’t even touching the bottom of the ramp, making any attempt to float a boat tricky.
Before hitching up the trailer, you’ll want to check if the reservoir has filled up any more. The ramp requires a minimum water mark of 56% capacity—or a 3,906-foot elevation—just to get its toes wet, and real-time updates are posted online via the DNRC State-Owned Dams database.
If you’d rather skip the reading and talk to someone who knows every inch of the shoreline, FWP recreation manager Sean Flynn is on standby at 406-431-6112 to help you decide whether to pack the lifejackets or leave the boat parked safely in the driveway, too.
(FWP photo was dated August 6, 2026)
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