Moyie River Whitewater Rafting

Moyie River Whitewater Rafting

Location: Near Moyie Springs, Idaho

Duration: 1 Day

Season: Spring

Distance: ~ 12 river miles, one way (Class II-III whitewater

Difficulty: Moderate

The Moyie River originates in southeast British Columbia and crosses the border into Idaho. The clear, cold waters after plunging into Idaho, travel through a scenic canyon setting of cedars and cottonwoods with great opportunities for viewing wildlife.

As for the whitewater, the Moyie River makes for a good spring run with consistent and fast-flowing whitewater for the intermediate level boater. The 12 –mile section averages a drop of 30 feet a mile, which means non-stop intermediate level whitewater during the Spring run-off. The Moyie is a fun class II-III river with minimum running level being 500 cfs and maximum running level being 2500 cfs.

From the put-in at Meadow Creek, the Moyie is a class II run with shallow and rock-filled rapids. Below Meadow Creek and after the three-mile mark, there are few rapids worthy of mention before you get to the dam area. The main reason for the their mention is because I just don't want people to feel like it's a cake walk prior to the dam area. Beginner IK's and kayak users can get blasted here and in the past I've even seen a raft or two flip, so keep your eyes open.

As for the dam area, the river enters a canyon containing two class III rapids. The old Ileana (Eileen) Dam], breached on the left, forms the first rapid. Slow yourself down by pointing at the dam and then let the current carry your around.

SAFETY NOTE: If the Moyie River is running 2,000 cfs or greater, take particular care around the Ileana (Eileen) Dam, this area becomes difficult and dangerous at these levels. 2nd SAFETY NOTE: If for some reason a participant is in the water swimming, when they reach this point, they should swim to the left bank! Water flows around and through the dam, a swimmer could be carried against the dam and possibly be sucked under and into the intakes. There is still rebar across these holes, which is very dangerous.

The other rapid is called Hole-in-the-Wall. The entire river is funneled into this gap, there are rapids above the run, but it flattens out below. Hole in the Wall is more of a pool and drop run but don’t take it for granted. Entry is usually off the river left bank, but you have to be careful not to be too far left. The current in this run will almost always try to force you to the right bank, set up left, point slightly left and go for it. At higher levels the river tends to surge through this section so keep your head up and enter with some power.

Finally, a gravel road runs along the length of the river, but most of the lower run is hidden from view. As for camping, Meadow Creek (23 Units) is probably your best bet. There is a parking lot at the put-in. It is near private property so users should be curtious and try to keep the area clean. There are no restrooms at the put-in, so trip participants should use the facilities at Meadow Creek campground before they go to the launch site.

NOTE: Running rivers is a dangerous activity and it would be unreasonable to inform people how to specifically run certain rapids because of the variance or changing nature of rapids based on river flows. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you scout any and all rapids you are unfamiliar with.

Directions: From Coeur d’Alene, ID take 95 North through Sandpoint, ID and Bonners Ferry to the junction of Highway 2 and highway 95. This junction is called Three Mile Corner and is the only traffic light north of Bonners Ferry. Turn right and drive approximately 2.4 miles to the Meadow Creek road. This will be on your left traveling east. Follow Meadow Creek road 14.2 miles to the put in at Two Bridges.

Alternate Access: This can be accomplished by driving North on 95 through the Three Mile Corner stop light, to Good Grief, ID and follow the river South to the Twin Bridges. This route is longer, but it follows paved roads most of the way to the put-in. Shuttle Access: At the turn off to Meadow Creek Campground, traveling down river, turn left on to the road leading to the camp. With in the first half-mile the road will split, take the right road. This is called the Moyie River Road and follows both the river and the railroad tracks down river to the Moyie Springs Junction. This is a alternate shuttle route and is sometimes very rough, but it does save time. Be extremely careful crossing the railroad tracks on this route, the corners are blind and the trains come very fast.

For pictures, map and more info click on Moyie River

See you on the river,
Greg

Clark Fork River Whitewater Rafting

Clark Fork River Whitewater Rafting

Location: Near Superior, Montana

Duration: 1-2 Day

Season: Summer

Distance: ~14 river miles, Class II-III whitewater

Difficulty: Moderate

Named after William Clark of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, the Clark Fork River boasts some of the biggest and best whitewater found in Montana. The Clark Fork is the largest river in the Northern Rockies.

It rises out of Montana's mountains along the Continental Divide near Butte and flows West 320 miles to Lake Pend Oreille. Its mountain canyons provide habitat to variety of wildlife including deer, moose, elk, bears, ospreys, hawks, turkey vultures, and eagles.

One of Western Montana's best whitewater rafting stretches during late summer, the later runoff of the Eastern slopes of the Bitterroot Range provides the Clark Fork with water when most other rivers are nearing their lows.

This post talks about a section of the river before Idaho's Lake Pend Oreille, where it flows through a deep rose-colored canyon called the Alberton Gorge. The Alberton Gorge is located approximately 35 miles West of Missoula and is a fantastic 1-day, 14 mile trip of Class II-III whitewater.

Canyon walls and submerged boulders constrict this big volume river, creating punchy rapids with tall waves and deep holes. And, although I-90 parallels the entire gorge making for easy access, the highway can seldom be seen or noticed.

The recommended flow for running the Alberton Gorge is 1,800 cfs - 15,000 cfs (cfs = cubic feet per second) for rafting with kayaking being had year-round. There are to main rapids on this section of river, Tumbleweed Rapid and Fang Rapid. There are no restrictions on group size.

The put-in at Cyr Bridge has a nice man-made ramp and the Forest Grove take-out at Tarkio is a nice paved ramp. There's also a sign at the put-in that lists all the rapids. Finally, camping is available on the river at the Fish Creek confluence.

NOTE: Running rivers is a dangerous activity and it would be unreasonable to inform people how to specifically run certain rapids because of the variance or changing nature of rapids based on river flows. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you scout any and all rapids you are unfamiliar with.

Now, specific to this section of river, we highly recommend that you definitely scout Tumbleweed and Fang Rapid. Tumbleweed is usually run river left and Fang is usually run river right, so left on Tumbleweed and right on Fang is the saying.

NOTE: If you would like to make this a longer multi-day trip, you can put-in above Cyr Bridge or take-out below the Tarkio exit, but the main whitewater section is through the Alberton Gorge, the rest is more of a float (with excellent fishing).

For pictures, map and more info click on Clark Fork River

See you on the river,
Greg