Yaak
2. Yaak Falls to Kootenai R.
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 9.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Gauge | Yaak River Near Troy Mt |
| Flow Rate as of 13 minutes | 5.88 fthigh runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 13, 2020 |
River Description
The Yaak is one of the coolest runs in Montana. Access is easy, but the canyon has a remote feel. Green, mossy canyon walls and huge trees provide a beautiful setting.
Paddlers interested in Yaak Falls can run the falls much lower than the rest of the run. 700 cfs was still plenty of water for those two drops.
Below the Falls, and after several miles, watch for a log pile on river left, just above a left turn, where the river drops out of sight. This rapid is called 'Stonechest', and is the crux rapid on the run. Scout on river left. The water really hauls ass through this part. Most of the rapid can be seen from the top. Most of what appear to be holes from above, are actually holes. If you decide to portage, do so on river right. This rapid has been the scene of much carnage in the past, but most class IV boaters will love it. After Stonechest is about another mile of closed in canyon, then lets up to class II for three miles or so. When you see two large trees with broken out tops, side by side on the left bank, you are coming into the last drop, appropriately called 'Good To The Last Drop'. GTTLD at most levels is a fun eddy hopping class IV boulder garden. If in doubt where to be, stay right. The gauge and US 2 Hwy bridge are just below. A USFS campground is south of Hwy 2 below the bridge. There is also a small campground at the putin.
To get to the putin, go West on Hwy 2 from the takeout for several miles to Yaak River Road. Go right up the road for about eight miles to Yaak Falls (yes it has been run). Put in at the campground just below the falls. The Yaak is fun at most levels above 800 cfs, and is optimal at 2500 for most paddlers. Flood stage is 7100 cfs, and is runnable, but epic. NOTE: At levels about 6500 CFS and above, the portage at Stonechest becomes impossible on river right, and next to impossible on river left.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportCouple substantial strainer hazards as of 5/9/24 at ~1500. The most note worthy was almost river wide (kayak sized gap) about a mile in on the first sharp right hand bend. It has the potentially to be stuck in there for a bit and move into worse places as the water fluctuates. Be safe out there!
On Friday May 23rd, 2014 we rafted this section at 7.1 feet, ~4900cfs.
2 paddlers and 1 oarsman.
Since we were solo we stuck to the inside of all corners to stay out of the big hydraulics on the outside of turns.
We caught the last river right eddy at the top of Stone Chess, then scraped down the right side after determining the terminal holes down the left were not worth navigating without safety. New wood was prevalent down the right side.
The run out below Stone Chess was IV+ with a 15 foot curling wave just around the corner which was missed by going left.
All boulders at Good to the Last Drop were submerged creating a series of huge waves and breaking laterals.
We ran this starting left missing the top waves then charging center right.
Powerful water buried the boat on at least 2 occasions. A missed line or angle when taking on the holes would have been devastating as no recovery zones exist until the Yaak confluence with the Kootenai.
At this level a river wide ledge exists just below GTTLD which requires gutting.
We were able to skirt the meat of the next ledge by going far left.
For pictures and video please go to oregonraftingteam.com
Tim Brink
yaak river ; having lived on the yaak for 12 years. the area of rapids below the falls is known to old timers as China Downs or drowns, due to friction between the mining intrests along the yaak a story or two has it that a times the 'unwanted' chinese workers were found dead after 'falling' into the river along this stretch.
mskyle6@yahoo.com
R2 Yaak Falls on June 28th 2009. Dan McCain and Aeric Reilly
This shows the falls at a potentially hazardous level. They are much more manageable at lower levels.
new online whitewater guide for montana area paddling - check it out!
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com
After missing the top eddy, we chose to at least
scout the bottom half of Stone Chest
A guy at the put in said this was a weir made by
Chinese miners. I think he was nuts.
Last class III rapid on the Yaak before a long flat
stretch. One of the few places where it is relatively
easy to hike into the gorge.
Top half of Good to the Last Drop; the last rapid on
the Yaak. At low flows (like this), it is just a big
boulder dodge.
A quick shot of Will running the last drop of the Yak. More pics and video available at www.middlebury.edu/~nvandal
Upper Stone Chest rapid at low water.