| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 11 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Nf Clearwater River Nr Canyon Ranger Station Id |
| Flow Rate as of 30 minutes | 994 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 20, 2026 |
This major tributary at the headwaters of the North Fork Clearwater is an Idaho classic, and one of the main reasons for kayakers to visit the NF Clearwater drainage (though the run could be done in a raft R2 style at healthy flows). The run starts off with some cruising floating through a meadow area, before things consolidate at the first and largest rapid of the run - Clayton Creek Rapid. This rapid can be partially scoped through the trees by walking along the road just upstream of the Clayton Creek sign, and if you are wearing good shoes you can scramble down to water level in places. The entry can be scouted from river-right while paddling downstream, but the crux is easiest to scout from the road, with a sneak option far right along the bank as the rapid bends right. Take a look wherever you can to get a sense of whether there will be any problematic wood.
Downstream is some easy boogey water before a nice long stretch of read and run class IV bouldery whitewater begins. There are breaks of easier whitewater here and there, but it all feels like one long stretch of whitewater. until things starts to ease off as the confluence with Barnard Creek is approached.
Downstream of the Barnard Creek confluence the run is mostly easier floating with the occasional class III rapid. Paddlers looking to maximize action may choose to do laps down to around Barnard Creek rather than go through the bottom portion of the run, while other boaters who aren't interested in the class IV can start there trip near Barnard Creek.
There are many places along the straight forward gravel shuttle road that can be used for access, pick and choose based on the length and difficulty of trip desired. You might just be able to find a good camping spot that doubles as your put in/take out.
Favorable first-time flows for learning the run are between 3,000-5,000 cfs on the NF Clearwater gauge.
Put-in at the Moose Creek confluence with Kelly Creek near the Old Kelly Work Center or anywhere in the flatwater along the road above Clayton Creek Rapid.
The most challenging rapid on the run comes at the start. Put in just above or a bit upstream depending on how many warm up strokes you need. Alternatively you can put in just below if you want to skip this drop. At high flows a river-wide hole forms at the entrance to the rapid.
Access point that avoids a take out in the middle of the campground and the last mile of flatwater.
Take-out at the campground at the confluence of Kelly Creek with the North Fork Clearwater. The campground has 14 fee sites, a group area, and campground host. Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Jun 23, 2026
My wife Priscilla, our friend Jesse and I paddled Kelly Creek a number of times between June 21-24, 2026. Flows dropped from 2,800-2,400 during our stay at Kelly Forks Campground. Our final lap at 2,400 felt like it might have been below what most people would enjoy. We were happy to camp at the take out, it was $5/night with our interagency pass, it was $10 without. Next time I'd consider one of the primitive camps upstream and skip some of the lower miles. There was one log where a move to the left bank was required to get past, but that was the only wood of note. We had a good time, the 3 miles starting with Clayton Creek rapid were the most enjoyable/engaging.
Jul 1, 2021
Beautiful run. We took out at the Junction Mountain Trailhead bridge, about a mile above the confluence. (No need to walk through anyone's campsite for that last mile, since it doesn't have much whitewater.)