Gros Ventre
Lower Slide Lake to Kelly
| Difficulty | IV |
| Length | 4.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Gros Ventre River at Kelly, Wy |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 603 cfsIII-IVlow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 29, 2025 |
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks contain an environment without parallel, and their rivers, in many ways, define and create the region’s dramatic landscapes. The Parks’ rivers and streams could provide a spectacular opportunity for Park visitors to experience the landscape’s natural splendor. However, all but one segment of [...]Read More
On March 30, 2009 President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009 which included the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act that was originally introduced by Senator Craig Thomas. This milestone realized the goal of the Snake Headwaters Campaign to permanently protect the most pristine rivers and streams in [...]Read More
The Wild and Scenic Gros Ventre River below Slide Lake is a classic, convenient, and fairly popular whitewater run for Jackson area residents and visitors alike. Paddling is prohibited by Grand Teton National Park on the lower half of this run, beginning at the Park Boundary. Take out at the Park Boundary to avoid violating this prohibition. Below the Park Boundary rapids continue upstream of Kelly. Below Kelly the river appears to offer a scenic (though still prohibited) float trip to the Snake River.
Jul 26, 2006
Oci-One Kanubi (Richard Hopley) somewhere in the middle of the Landslide rapid on the Gros Ventre, at a very low level.
Jun 21, 2002
A good minimum for this run is probably 600 cfs at Kelly. I've seen the gauge on this one have lots of problems. I did this run at 2300 cfs (2.x' on the bridge) one year, the next year, the gauge read 1100, but the water was at 3.5' on the bridge gauge and a lot bigger than the year before. It gets a bit pushier at high water, but still isn't all that hard.
Jun 3, 2002
Ran 5/30/02. 1 1/2 ft on 'old guage', which is closer to 3 ft on new guage, 800 cfs on USGS website. This is high water and makes the run nicer (not so much rock bouncing). Mostly class 3 with one easy 4 ('Hermit'). Boat scouted whole thing. Put in on Slide lake (take Taylor ranch road off Gros Ventre road) Take out at river access at park boundry, short 2.7 miles but sweet.
