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Flathead, North Fork - 1. Canadian Border to Blankenship Bridge
Flathead, North Fork, Montana, US |
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1. Canadian Border to Blankenship Bridge
| Usual Difficulty | I-II+(III) (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 58 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 15 fpm |
Glacier National Park is a spectacular backdrop of the whole trip
Glacier National Park is a spectacular backdrop of the whole trip
Photo by Kevin Colburn taken 07/04/09
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N F Flathead River nr Columbia Falls MT | ||||
| usgs-12355500 | 1000 - 10000 cfs | I-II+(III) | 01h07m | 12500 cfs (too high) |
River Description
The North Fork is one of only four Wild and Scenic Rivers in Montana. It forms the southwestern border of Glacier National Park. It offers paddlers some of the most spectacular vistas in the Northern Rockies, blue-green water, and the chance to see Grizzlies from your boat. The river maintains a steady pace through class I and II riffles, with an occassional rapid that may approach class III. There is lots of wood in the river, mostly in large log jams, requiring some paddling skills. There are also a number of braided channels that can deadend, particularly below polebridge, requiring some careful choices. In general though, this reach is a mellow float through beautiful country. Camping is unregulated, and many people float this reach as a 2 or 3 day trip. No trip to the North Fork is complete without a stop at the Northern Lights Salloon for a beer and hot meal, and the Polebridge Mercantile for some amazing baked goods and coffee.
See also the Middle Fork Flathead.
Rapid Summary
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.0 | Ford Access | N/A |  |
| 24.0 | Poleridge Access | N/A | |
| 42.0 | Big Creek River Access | N/A | |
| 53.5 | Glacier Rim Access | N/A | |
Rapid Descriptions
Alternate river access that let's you take out above the bigger rapids or put-in to just do the lower section.
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Associated News
North Fork Flathead (MT) Gets New Protections
March 10, 2010
1. Canadian Border to Blankenship Bridge , Flathead, North Fork Montana, US (mobile)
User Comments
(even for Glacier) on both sides of the river, so please be careful and take appropriate (Alaska
style) measures if camping. Also, this part of Montana is in the Pacific Northwest weather system
and does not enjoy the beautiful early weather the rest of Montana generally does and Glacier tends
to make it's own weather all summer. Plan for bad weather year-round. Lot's of wood hazards!!!
Inquire at Polebridge. If you get lucky with the weather, you'll never forget this float!!!!