trailsideClass IV-V
1.25 Miles
Avg Gradient 250 fpm
Last Slide
Last Slide Photo of Josh by Nick taken 5/13/02 @ Very LOW Gauge Information
River DescriptionKootenai Creek is the most accessible and high quality creek run in the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys. The creek starts high in the Bitterroot Mountains and flows through a spectacular but low gradient glacial canyon before the bottom drops out about 1.25 miles upstream from the canyon mouth. The upper part of the run is studded with nice class III and IV drops seperated by short sections of calmer water. Then, the final quarter mile or so falls in a nearly continuous series of 3-10 foot bedrock drops. All these drops are fun and runnable, and an occassional eddy exists between them. The highlight for many is the 10 foot falls which requires a good boof and a river-right line to avoid the room of doom on the left. The bedrock nature of the creek and its easy access make it a staple for many area paddlers.The Kootenai Creek trailhead is located a short drive up N Kootenai Creek Road from Highway 93 and is well signed. You can't miss the big sawtooth ridges above the canyon. From the trailhead, hike up until you get tired or run out of gradient and put on. Be sure to carefully scout for wood on your hike up! In 2006 new signs went up at the trailhead preventing people from legally taking out right below the steep stuff as was the historical practice. The first bridge downstream has been made intentionally inaccessible by landowners who filled in the easement with brush. Local volunteers are working on resolving at least one of these issues with a strong preference for working with the landowner at the take-out. For now it appears the only legal option is to paddle to 93 or skip the steep stuff and hike back out. StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2008-03-25 15:18:10
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Bitterroot R nr Darby [ MT ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| State | River Name/Section | Class | Level | Rel. Level | Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT | Kootenai Creek— trailside | IV-V | 801 cfs | low | 7/24 10:45 |
| AW Gauge ID: | 4874 |
| USGS Station: | 12344000 |
| HUC: | 17010205 |
| Latitude: | 45.9722 |
| Longitude: | -114.1406 |
| Class: | 4 |
User Comments |
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2007-07-27 04:41:20 (363 days ago)
New online guide for Montana area whitewater; check it out!
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com Edit
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2007-04-29 02:33:11 (452 days ago)
Robin Carleton
Want to see more photos of Kootenai Creek? Check out my website. www.infinitymountain.com
Have fun!
Robin
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No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
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