Deadwood River

This was a great run for a packrafting day trip during the Packraft Roundup that included a hike in of about 3 hours at a moderate pace followed by a break for lunch and inflating boats of about an hour, and then 2 hours on the water with only a few brief breaks in the eddies. This was a great flow with plenty of well-formed rapids and just a few exposed rocks and a swift and consistent current. We had enough time to navigate, and in one case portage, wood hazards.

We had a group of four (Tom, Megi, Dan, and Ernie) that was a good number for this run. It was a hot, sunny day when we began our hike shortly after 10:00 a.m. We made a couple of stops along the way to recharge and refuel, reaching the old Julie Creek Campground around 1:00 p.m. After spending about an hour eating lunch and inflating our boats, we launched at approximately 2:00 p.m.

A couple of us ran the top drop at Nellies Creek, while the others portaged and launched below it. From there we enjoyed several miles of fun, continuous Class IV that was easily boat-scouted throughout. Eddies were scarce, but we found a few large enough to hold all of our boats for short breaks. There were a handful of holes to avoid and some wood hazards to navigate, but everything was manageable for experienced boaters.

Approximately two-thirds of the way through this first section of continuous whitewater, just under an hour into the run, we encountered a riverside log hazard that required a portage. The portage itself was straightforward, but the small eddies above it required quick, decisive boat handling to catch and secure a boat. Below this hazard, the whitewater gradually eased into Class III before transitioning into the short flatwater section we had observed from the trail during the hike in.

The river then built back into one final stretch of enjoyable Class IV before gradually easing into Class III for the remainder of the run. When the Banks-Lowman Road bridge came into view, we took out on river left at Deadwood Campground at around 4:00 p.m. We were fortunate to catch a ride back to our vehicle at the Julie Creek Trailhead.

During the 2025 American Packrafting Association Roundup, some of us more intrepid packrafters ventured to do this after Mike C. mentioned he had done an early spring clean-up. However Mike had mentioned the melt would have likely changed things a few months ago. Both crews were lucky to experience not a single riverwide strainer or portage! We leapfrogged, pooled our resources, and sent scouts wisely, and had a fantastic time. My crew was Dup Crosson, Quinlan Pfiffer, Landon Sawaya, and Trent Pearce (pictured at the put-in).

From BoaterTalk

Re: Anyone know about the Deadwood in Idaho?? by osteinle Aug 09 2003, 0:55 GMT New

Date: Aug 09 2003, 2:42 GMT

From: bobgedekoh

Hi Tarion,

The road to intermediate putin/takeout is washed out so you will have to the whole river from the dam to the SF Payette. It is over 20 miles, but the river has fast current so it will take about five hours. Takes an hour and a half to drive into the dam on the gravel road, so get a shuttle driver if you can. Drive is spectacular, however. It is running over 900 cfs, contrary to what some books suggest, this is not low, in fact to my mind it is moderately high and fairly pushy. The water is very cold so take pogies, it comes off the bottom of a deep lake. Take a breakdown paddle too since the run is very remote.

The run is mostly class 3-4, but there are a couple of more difficult sections and STRAINERS are a significant hazzard.

A couple nig strainers/logjams lodged in ledge drops in the first third of the run will require quick portages... usually on river right. These were fairly easy to see from above.

Also in the first third of the run... (last year) there was also a river wide log just under the surface of the water in the middle of a class 3 flushy rapid...it went the whole way across the river and was hard to see from above. We managed to catch a small eddy on the right above it. Be careful, it is hard to spot, and may have moved. Also, new strainers may also have appeared anywhere on this river so always be very heads up. Strainers are clearly the biggest hazzard on the Deadwood. There arent that many, but they can be nasty.

About half way down the run you will pass a bunch of huge dome shaped rocks on the right side of the river (the water is flat here). Not too far after that there is a straightaway, then you can tell that the river is going to turn right below the straightaway. There are a couple of ledgy boulder drops in the straightaway, they almost always seem to contain nasty strainers. The boulders are also undercut. These drops may or may not be runnable, look at them. Immediately after the right turn there is a slide/flush with pinning/ piton potential a punchy hole at the bottom. Look at it too and decide for yourselves. Some people portage this whole mess over the hill on the right, there is the semblance of a portage trail here.

Just below the slide/ hole there is a long class IV rapid that last year had a tree near the bottom that needs to be avoided. So eddy hop down this rapid and keep your eyes open. Again, it may have moved, it was possible to catch an eddy and sneak around the tree on the left last year.

You will eventually go under a nice bridge...the road to this bridge is gone. The rest of the river, (Lower Deadwood) alternates between easier and harder section but is generally less intense the the Upper Deadwood. But there are some strainers here too, so dont get complacent. Look for moose and bear on the lower section, we have seen both in the trees.

All in all a beautiful wilderness run. one of my favorites. The strainers are a bit of a worry, so make sure you have a competent group and dont let your gaurd down.

I am making it sound nastier than it is, the Deadwood is certainly not nearly as difficult at the NF Payette. Just dont underestimate the trees.

Have fun and let me know how it went.

Road washed out - can only be run now with the upper stretch. See comments there.