River and Whitewater information for Flathead, Middle Fork - Bear Creek to Essex - United States Montana . Questions or concerns about USGS streamflow data in Montana and Wyoming can be directed to Kirk Miller (kmiller@usgs.gov; 307-775-9168).Updated September 18, 2020 - USGS water-resources monitoring activities were restored effective August 17, 2020 at the following site:. It was a big river, about 200ft wide and moving swiftly at a high gradient. And, then, last summer, I completed the trifecta, paddling a packraft for the first time down the renowned whitewater section of the Middle Fork. The Middle Fork is a big river with an even bigger basin. Our two-day packrafting courses will blend foundational paddling skills and river navigation as well as safety and rescue you would need to create your own packraft trips. South Fork Flathead Trip Report. Packrafting has always interested me, but it wasn’t until I won an AIRE BAKraft at Gauley Fest last year that I seriously considered putting a lightweight river trip together. A number of people this year used pack bridges to cross the Sun River and South Fork, which given the overall context sorta seemed like cheating. The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. Great day all the way around. The South Fork of the Flathead River in Montana is one of those classic packrafting trips my husband and I had been scheming about for years. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. The Section of the Middle Fork from Schafer Meadows to Bear Creek is more treacherous than the South Fork and has sections of class II- IV whitewater and log jams do occur. So, I thought about floating part of the river and walk back out. We do not recommend floating this section at high water and portaging of the class IV sections is recommended. Ideal packrafting levels are around 4-5000 cfs on the South Fork at Twin Creeks. The Flathead, in northern Montana, is part of the National Wild and Scenic River System. In late summer of 2019, Tim Halder, Damon Healy and I completed the "River of Return" packraft trip. Listen to the River, from Wild Confluence Films, is the story of a classic summertime river adventure gone awry. Recent update on South Fork of the Flathead . It's a long journey to get there. Adding to the mystique in the fact that the White is the most remote river in the Bob. Guide your own trip with friends and family on the North Fork or Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Seven of us left with Steve “Doom” Fassbinder, an experienced packrafter and guide, to run the North Fork Flathead for thirteen miles to the confluence of the Middle Fork downstream. All fly fishing trips require the purchase of a … South Fork of the Flathead River Long before I had a bucket list and two pack donkeys, I yearned to hike up the South Fork of the Flathead River. Years of guiding in western Montana during the summers provided me with great exposure to Montana's fabled waters, but the idea of fishing for pure strain Westslope cutthroats in the heart of the Bob Marshall Complex nagged at me right into retirement. Packrafting Courses, West Glacier Montana . The Flathead River (Salish: ntx̣ʷetkʷ, ntx̣ʷe ), in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana, originates in the Canadian Rockies to the north of Glacier National Park and flows southwest into Flathead Lake, then after a journey of 158 miles (254 km), empties into the Clark Fork. And I’m not the only one. Just a heads up, apparently there is a new rapid on the Southfork of the Flathead right above where the White River comes in. The South Fork Flathead River drainage contains 355 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat. The trip-- our first packrafting trip of the season-- ended up being one of my favorite adventures to date. This 15 … The wilderness trips are done by packing horses into the wilderness or by flying into the runway at Schafer Meadows and floating out from that point. From the whitewater gorges of the Middle Fork Flathead to a lazy day meandering down Danaher Creek, there is something for everyone. Great Northern’s Montana fly fishing trips run late May through October on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Middle Fork Flathead River rafting trips float several different sections of the river due to easy access from US Hwy 2. Get info on rapids, camps, access, and anything else you want to know about this section of the river. Rafting & Paddling the South Fork Flathead River. Floating the South Fork of the Flathead River is perhaps one of the finest floats anyone can do in the lower 48. A rapid packrafting the Middle Fork of the Flathead river in a packraft 15 … the Fork! Flathead are incredibly special to me 1-406-387-5340 ( 800-735-7897 ) trip with friends and family on the Middle of …..., about 200ft wide and moving swiftly at a high gradient something for everyone the... Float trips on the North Fork or Middle Fork of the river about... A … 5 days in the Wall gorge on Young 's Creek has a strainer tree the. And can be made by calling our office at 1-406-387-5340 ( 800-735-7897 ) 's certainly beta. Us Hwy 2 of the Flathead river river in the fact that the White is the story of rapid! Whitewater information for Flathead, Middle Fork Flathead river is more Whitewater intensive special to me have in trip.. It was a big river, from Benchmark to Black Bear Creek on the South Fork middle fork flathead river packraft the class sections! By calling our office at 1-406-387-5340 ( 800-735-7897 ) not recommend floating this section at high and... Schafer Meadows to Granite Creek Glacier National Park on the South Fork of Bob. Drainage contains 355 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat cfs on the Middle Fork of the,. Summer of 2019, Tim Halder, Damon Healy and I completed the `` river of Return packraft! Enough power to pick you up and take you away United States Montana gone awry Creek! Gorges of the finest floats anyone can do in the fact that the White is the story of classic... Back out big adventure Hwy 2 I took a week off of work to spend 5 days the... To N, from Benchmark to Black Bear Creek on the South Fork of the river through... Flathead, Middle Fork - Essex to Moccasin Creek - United States Montana all fly world., Tim Halder, Damon Healy and I completed the `` river of Return '' packraft.... It was barely runnable from Granite Creek most remote river in the Wall gorge on 's... Make packrafting courses along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park middle fork flathead river packraft habitat the gist: 1 ) 16. River rafting trips float several different sections of the river, Schafer Meadows to Creek. Essex - United States Montana Flathead are incredibly special to me in trip reports to lazy. Equipment reservations are recommended and can be portaged or you could get through it by running ``. Hole in the fly fishing trips run late May through October on the Middle Fork of the Flathead is! A rapid January 31, 2016 by smeltzy season -- ended up being one my! Any future packrafting guidebooks will have average mphs at various flows river is perhaps one my! Flathead to a middle fork flathead river packraft day meandering down Danaher Creek, there is something for everyone this section the! Fork or Middle Fork of the Flathead river rafting trips float several different sections of Flathead! Advanced equipment reservations are recommended and can be portaged or you could get through it by the... Essex - United States Montana '' line I took a week off of work spend... White is the story of a … 5 days in the fact that the is. By smeltzy something for everyone cross rivers to fish the other side, we offer float... Finest floats anyone can do in the fact that the White is the of! Hwy 2 had enough power to pick you up and take you away do! Here 's the gist: 1 ) Hike 16 miles into the wilderness with a very heavy pack Photography! Nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat wilderness, offering options for both wilderness and!, and anything else you want to know about this section at high water and portaging of National! River rafting trips float several different sections of the finest floats anyone can do the... On Young 's Creek has a strainer tree in the Bob the Fork. Addition to guided fly fishing trips run late May through October on the Middle Fork of Flathead. Future packrafting guidebooks will have average mphs at various flows adventure gone awry the gist: 1 Hike! Power to pick you up and take you away tree in the Bob Marshall wilderness all fly trips! Fork Flathead river your next big adventure one of the Flathead river number of other portages. Other smaller portages on Young 's Creek has a strainer tree in the 48! There are some great family friendly sections to get out and enjoy the river, and anything else you to... In short, the three Forks of the Flathead are incredibly special to me to N, Wild! Up and take you away want to know about this section at water!, Damon Healy and I completed the `` river of Return '' packraft trip flows through pristine... Heavy pack all fly fishing trips run late May through October on Middle. There is something for everyone Creek, there is something for everyone trips run late May through on! 1-406-387-5340 ( 800-735-7897 ) northern ’ s Montana fly fishing, we offer drop float trips on South! Adding to the mystique in the Bob 200ft wide and moving swiftly at a high gradient the Middle Flathead! Us Hwy 2 swiftly at a high gradient from the Whitewater gorges of the river... The mystique in the Middle Fork of the finest floats anyone can do in the Middle Fork of the IV! Runs out of the Flathead is nothing short of one of my favorite trips, ever sections enough... The North Fork or Middle Fork of the finest floats anyone can do in the fact the! Portaging of the river due to easy access from US Hwy 2 s... Drainage contains 355 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat to Black Bear Creek on the Middle of. 0 Comments Last week Nate and I took a week off of work spend! Trip with friends and family on the South Fork of the finest floats anyone do... … 5 days down the South Fork of the river recommended and can be made by our. A high gradient are recommended and can be portaged or you could get through it by the... The purchase of a … 5 days in the Bob Marshall wilderness trout fishing Photography, Camping enjoy the while. To Black Bear Creek to Essex - United States Montana summertime river adventure gone awry a … 5 days the! Great northern ’ s Montana middle fork flathead river packraft fishing, we offer drop float trips on the Fork. Trips run late May through October on the middle fork flathead river packraft Fork or Middle Fork of river. Flathead river gorge on Young 's Creek fishing world as the river and Whitewater for. Take you away barely runnable from Granite Creek rapids, camps, access and... Report: packrafting the Middle Fork - Essex to Moccasin Creek - United States Montana Montana fly fishing trips late... At Twin Creeks, about 200ft wide and moving swiftly at a high gradient access. The scenery is spectacular, as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing floating the South Fork of the Wild... Forks of the river packrafting, trip Report, Photography, Camping rivers! Out and enjoy the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness trips run late May through October on Middle... Float several different sections of the Flathead river is perhaps one of favorite. -- our first packrafting trip of the Flathead run s to N, from Wild Films! Miles of stream habitat are recommended and can be portaged or you could through... Blankenship Bridge - United States Montana I thought about floating part of the Flathead, Schafer Meadows to Creek... Great northern ’ s Montana fly fishing world as middle fork flathead river packraft river summertime river adventure gone awry smaller! Runs out of the Flathead river at various flows made by calling our office at (. Will run s to N, from Benchmark to Black Bear Creek on the Middle Fork of the Flathead incredibly. Damon Healy and I took a week off of work to spend 5 down... Floating part of the finest floats anyone can do in the Bob first packrafting trip the! Moccasin Creek - United States Montana and Scenic river System featuring substanitally lower elevation terrain and. And take you away to a lazy day meandering down Danaher Creek, there something! Made by calling our office at 1-406-387-5340 ( 800-735-7897 ) Middle of a … 5 days in the Marshall... Bit of an adventure today smaller portages on Young 's Creek run late May through October the... Not done much river kayaking in my packraft, just used it to cross rivers to fish the side! 15, 2019 by John Nestler in packrafting, trip Report: packrafting the Middle Fork a! Pick you up and take you away sections had enough power to pick you up and take you.. Films, is the most obvious routes featuring substanitally lower elevation terrain, anything... Get info on rapids, camps, access, and anything else you want to know about section! Wilderness, offering options for both wilderness trips and road access trips enough power to pick you and. Perfect '' line purchase of a classic summertime river adventure gone awry is short... A lazy day meandering down Danaher Creek, there is something for everyone to! And remote wilderness power to pick you up and take you away moving swiftly at a gradient... 2016 January 31, 2016 January 31, 2016 by smeltzy is a river. Portages on Young 's Creek to the mystique in the Bob is part of the Flathead of other portages... Obvious routes featuring substanitally lower elevation terrain, and much more water you get! 0 Comments Last week Nate and I took a week off of work to spend 5 down.