Crooked Fork (Lochsa trib)

We ran the lower 7 miles along Higway 12 as a big group of over a dozen people separated into pods at an optimal flow. The Lochsa was 11,000 cfs at Lowell which was a great flow for this run. There are eddies, mostly just two-boat eddies but a few larger ones, at this flow but it is continous class II and III with swift current. There were a few pieces of wood extending out from the shoreline that was easily avoided by attentive paddlers. The most significant rapids are visible along the highway and readily visible on the shuttle. Once the river leaves the highway it is class II down to the White Sands Campground. You can take out at the bridge or at one of the sites in the campground which is a couple hundred yards downstream on river right.

Fun boogie water and classs III from the Highway 12 Bridge down to the Lochsa. Lochsa at Lowell was 5500 cfs which is the low end for this run. We were able to scout it on the way up and thought it might be too low but it flows were adequate.

This run is not suitable for humans.

After putting on you will face 20-25 portages, with an additional 10 sweepers - If the water is anywhere above absolute bare minimum those 10 sweepers will be portages. During the 7 or so miles above confluence of boulder creek you will face about 7 rapids of very low quality. After Boulder creek comes in volume doubles/triples and you will have one fairly cool class V- gorge, not at all worth your very serious efforts upstream. The bottom half of the gorge has a log which makes it a rather arduous portage. Following this disappointingly short gorge you will have about 4 miles of class II water to the highway 12 bridge.

Tell your enemies Crooked Fork above highway 12 bridge is super sick.