Grande Ronde River Whitewater Rafting

Grande Ronde River Whitewater Rafting
Location: Minam to Troy, Oregon
Duration: 2-3 Day
Season: Spring - Summer
Distance: ~ 45 river miles, one way

Difficulty: Easy

The Grande Ronde is French for "Great Roundabout". It flows from mountain forests, through one of the deepest canyons in the country, under towering basalt cliffs, eventually winding its way through drier desert terrain and then merging with the Snake River in Hell's Canyon.

The area is home to a wide range of wildlife including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, raccoons, otters, and eagles. Rainbow trout inhabit its waters as well as steelhead in fall and early spring (Note: fishing for trout is best July through September, and fall/winter steelheading is considered great).

You can expect unsettled weather, cooler waters and more solitude during the spring. During the summer, crowds, warm weather, fishing and great swimming are the norm. Campsites are clean, open gravel bars leading to level terraces with sandy spots for tenting.

The National Forest lands on the banks of this river are managed in a primitive state, so there are no facilities (i.e. restrooms, tables, grills, etc.). Bring your own porta-potties, shelters, and kitchen and pack everything out.

This trip documents the 45-mile wilderness section from Minam to Troy. This trip is suitable for families with young children or anyone who wants an exciting whitewater trip without the worries of extreme conditions. The whitewater is moderate enough for the novice and the river is runable year-round.

The trip begins on a tributary, the Wallowa River, which is upstream from the Grande Ronde and then floats down to the main river at its confluence. There are basically 2 major rapids on this trip and they’re both located on the first section of the Wallowa River. After that, it’s a bunch of smaller class II rapids on the Grande Ronde to Troy.

Now, the first major rapid you come to is House Rock Drop Rapid (class III), a drop around a boulder about the size of a small house. The chute is on river left of the boulder with a clean run-out. Blind Falls Rapid (class III) is next and has a class II rock garden that leads to an obscure ledge with a good chute in the center. Another class II rock garden and then a long class II section of rapids follow the ledge.
Because the ledge is very difficult to spot (hence the name) and you need to be river center to hit the chute correctly, start watching for it about a ½ mile downstream from marker #42 on the railroad track on the right bank.

As for campsites, they’re everywhere. Some to watch for are Howard Creek, which is shortly after a power line crosses over the river and just after Howard Creek on the right, the camping spot is on river left. From the camp spot at Howard Creek, the Wallowa River will join with the Grande Ronde at Rondowa.

After the confluence, there’s a nice campsite on river right across from Sheep Creek. At Clear Creek on river right there’s a nice campsite at the creek and a larger one about 5 minutes downstream on the right. After Meadow Creek there’s a nice campsite about 10 minutes below the creek on the left. And finally, downstream from Grossman Creek, there’s a nice campsite on river right.

Typical river levels during the primary floating season range between 2,000 to 10,000 c.f.s. (Cubic Feet per Second). The river drop is 21 feet per mile and the recommended flow to run the river is 1,500 to 4,000 c.f.s.

Higher, faster water conditions typically occur in the spring and early summer as warmer temperatures and rainfall melt mountain snow. Shallow, slower conditions typically occur by mid-July and remain through the fall and winter months with more exposed rocks being common. Boaters are strongly advised to obtain up-to-date river and weather conditions when planning their trip.

The summer months are the most popular, so to avoid crowds plan your trip on a weekday and avoid holidays. Self-issue boating permits are required for every boating party. They are free of charge and do not restrict the number of trips or affect trip itineraries. Permits are available at all major river access points.
Because campsites receive hundreds of visitors a season, boaters are asked to follow low-impact and Leave-No-Trace guidelines. Every boating party is required to carry and use a portable toilet suitable for their group size. All open fires must be contained in a fire pan and ash and charcoal must be packed out with other garbage (Note: fires are often prohibited during high fire danger).

Fire pan, portable toilet use, packing out all garbage and treading lightly on vegetation, helps to reduce impact and keeps campsites clean and healthy for future use. Bulletin boards at most access points are posted with detailed river information, seasonal fire restrictions and other special notices.

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 scout House Rock Drop and Blind Falls Rapid. House Rock Drop is usually run river left and Blind Falls is run river center through a distinct chute.

NOTE: There are a few other options for trips: a 2 day float can be had from Minam to Powwatka Bridge or the lower section in a more desert terrain from Boggan’s Oasis (Hwy 129) to Heller’s Bar at the confluence with the Snake River (the steelheading choice).

Finally, if you’re up to it, you can make longer wilderness trip combining all 3 trips from Minam to Heller’s Bar (~91 miles) (Note: this documenter has never done that one).

For pictures, map and more info click on Grande Ronde River

See you on the river,
Greg

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