Skip to content
Map of Garrison Dam Tailrace (Missouri River)
Add the first photo
AdvancedShore entry

Garrison Dam Tailrace (Missouri River)

North Dakota, United StatesDirections
AOW suggested3 m (10 ft) depthShore entry

Garrison Dam Tailrace (Missouri River) at a glance

Garrison Dam Tailrace (Missouri River) is an advanced shore dive site in North Dakota, United States with depths of from 3 m (10 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Walleye, Channel catfish, and Burbot (ling). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:39

Wind forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 10 h ago
—

Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Strong, variable current from dam releases, turbine noise and turbulence, very cold water year-round, low visibility, entanglement (fishing line)

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Sat
Sun9:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Mon9:00–12:00 moderate, 12:00–18:00 favorable, 18:00–19:00 moderate

8 kn wind (8 kn wind)

Tue9:00–19:00 moderate

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Wed16:00–18:00 moderate

14 kn wind (14 kn wind)

Thu9:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Fri9:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–19:00 favorable

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Sat9:00–19:00 favorable

4 kn wind (4 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 7:47 · Sunrise 8:19 · Sunset 18:39 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 25 Oct, 00:23 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Garrison Dam Tailrace (Missouri River)

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Walleye, Channel catfish, American paddlefish
Best time: July-August, ideally during zero-release maintenance shutdowns

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 62% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  2. February, 56% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 62% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 46% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 15 knots
  5. May, 57% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 64% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  7. July, 74% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 71% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  9. September, 73% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  10. October, 54% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  11. November, 66% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  12. December, 68% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots

July has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

The tailrace below Garrison Dam near Pick City and Riverdale, about 70 miles northwest of Bismarck, is North Dakota's signature dive: a cold, dark drift/current dive famous for close encounters with 6-7 ft American paddlefish, plus sturgeon, walleye, burbot and catfish. Water released from the bottom of Lake Sakakawea keeps the tailrace frigid year-round, and visibility tops out around 15 ft; locals time dives to zero-release (dam shutdown) periods announced by the Army Corps for calmer, clearer conditions. The riverbed downstream is the longest unaltered stretch of the Missouri system and yields bison bones and other artifacts.

driftshore

Strong, variable current from dam releases, turbine noise and turbulence, very cold water year-round, low visibility, entanglement (fishing line)

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.