Lochsa

For those who wish to enjoy the beauty of the Lochsa without the intensity of the more well-known sections downstream, you will not be disappointed. The entire run is roadside and most of it is visible on the shuttle drive making it easy to get an assessment of the character of the run.

From the start of the run where the Lochsa forms at the confluence of the Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creek, the river is mostly swift but straightforward class II. You will pass by a few cabins and the Powell Ranger Station complex in the first couple miles. In this upper segment, the river valley is a little wider and flatter than the downstream sections. About six miles in, you will encounter the first significant rapid known as Cold Storage. This drop is a class III+ rapid that is right along the road and can be easily scouted on the drive up. It is the biggest rapid on this segment where the river drops through a series of big waves in narrower section of the channel constrained by bedrock. The line is generally down the tongue to the right of center. The runout continues for at least another half mile downstream with lots of fun features.

The next 10 miles or so down to Colgate are full of fun class II with a few distinct rapids that are in the class II/III range that are relatively easy to boat scout. Although the current is swift throughout this reach during the spring snowmelt, all of the rapids have good recovery sections at the end.

From Colgate it's about a nine mile run down to White Pine and this run is a nice beginner whitewater trip that can be done on its own. Just downstream of the dispersed camping area at Colgate, the river flows over a fun class II/III rapid with a couple of waves at the top and a nice tongue right of center. Below here the river is mostly lively class II. Below the Mocus Point Pack Bridge, about halfway into the run, the river is punctuated by a few more distinct class II/III drops. The run finishes off with Indian Grave Ra

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