Rattlesnake Creek

I am a big booster of packrafting Rattlesnake Creek, but it's less advisable this year than in years past. Currently, many more logs in Rattlesnake Creek than in years past, especially between Rattlesnake Creek Traihead and Duncan Drive. That area would be class 5 at high water and I would not recommend it above medium flow this year, with river-wide logs, a beaver dam, and pushy hydraulics leading to hazardous conditions. Below water level of 55 on the guage at the most upstream pedestrian bridge in Greenough Park, the upper section of the creek should be navigable for experienced packrafters who are willing to float the Lochsa, but hazards are high. Between Duncan Drive and Greenough park there were some hazards, but it would be doable for class 3-4 boaters at that level. In Greenough park there are at least 3 river-wide hazard trees and it's not recommended at high water this year, although below the bottom bridge out to the Clark Fork was fine.

A fun trip with Rob Roberts to visit the dam removal site. The site looks awesome, and it is such a treat to be able to paddle from the trailhead to town!

The reason for putting in at Duncan Drive (and not above) is a river-wide hazardous dam structure that usually acts as a strainer. Water flows under the dam, through a metal grate, usually clogged with logs. You could easily lose a paddler to this structure. The section between Sawmill Gulch Road Bridge and Duncan Drive is not recommended. If you want to link, exit left above the first concrete structure encountered and portage the 1/4 mile to put in below the dam.