Prospect Creek
Clear Creek to Clark Fork
| Difficulty | IV+ |
| Length | 2.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Prospect Creek at Thompson Falls Mt |
| Flow Rate as of 46 minutes | 90 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 6, 2025 |
Prospect Creek is an excellent bluewater creek run with a distinct upper gorge and lower gorge and a couple surprizes in the middle. A Montana rarity, Prospect has easy road access and a USGS gage on it. Bike shuttle is an option. The rapids in the upper gorge are powerful and stacked but well defined by large boulders, and are Class V at higher water. The lower gorge (just upstream of the Clark Fork) is a great bedrock flume rapid.
Keep your eyes peeled for wood on this run - and also for a bull trout monitoring sensor that is strung across the river on a piece of climbing rope. This wire sensor also runs along the river bottom. Use caution.
Easy put in parking where the Prospect Creek Road nears the creek above the gorge.
Very fun rapid that is easy to scout from the take out area. Lap it!
A nice public takeout. Paddle all the way to the Clark Fork, and walk up to your car.
Apr 26, 2017
ran this over the weekend and did not see any fish sensor or antenna. the flow was around 660 to 680 so i could have been underwater and was noticed. had a great run no real wood hazards! have fun and be safe
Jul 27, 2007
new online whitewater guide for montana area paddling - check it out!
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com
Apr 16, 2007
This was our first time down Prospect. Somehow I had never heard of the run even though it has classy bluewater rapids, a USGS gage, easy access, and is only 1.5 hours from Missoula. We had a blast and have gone back a few times. 350 was a great low side of medium flow. 400-450 is really nice. Ive heard of runs up in the 700-800 range, which would be fluffy.
