Flathead, North Fork

A fun, partly cloudy day from Big Creek to Blankenship. It took us just under 4 hours with a couple brief stops at this level (3,200cfs). There are a couple fun wave trains before the listed rapids on AW and Paddleways apps for this section, but nothing too complicated.

Upper Fool Hen was a bit longer than expected and had some ugly looking hydraulics in two places river left. These are easily avoidable if you stay in the middle as the river gradually bends to the right.

Lower Fool Hen could be run either right or left of the exposed boulder at this level. Left is trickier because you might cross into a rather strong reciculating eddy directly behind the rock.

The Ledge did not look fun. Your upstream view of it was partially obsctructed by a small wave about 20ft before it. There was no problem going left.

The Flathead Valley Paddling Society group on Facebook had some helpful info on rapids (including the SAR post screenshot about the Shelf/Ledge/Wave) and shuttle information (XCLSVE Shuttles).

See comment. As of 7/17

I've spent a lot of time in and around Glacier. This stretch has a very large grizzly population (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!!!!

A higher water trip for early July on the North Fork. Still very reasonable and enjoyable!

One of the easiest and most beautiful trips around...

permit info not for this North Fork.

Facing west from Glacier along the NF

Fun rapids with ability to lap the lower rapid if you take out immediately after at Wurtz Flats. 4x4 trails will bring you back north of the rapids