Moyie

Ran this at about 2000 cfs on a beautiful sunny Saturday. What a delight this run is, and I am amazed it is not more popular. At this level, it's a little boney in the upper part, but not discouragingly so. It just keeps you busy dodging around a bit. I really like the nearly constant Class II and III action from the put-in all the way down to about a half mile above the take out, where the river is dammed. Eileen Dam at this level is pretty mellow, and you can actually pause mid-rapid to admire the lovely waterfall coming down river left. Hole in the Wall is a riot- with the rapid building over a couple hundred yards into a torrent between cliffs on either side. But really a pretty friendly rapid- kind of like a fat black lab barking at you because she wants to play. Anyway, easy put in at a random dispersed campsite at the top and even easier take out at the dam.

Pretty sure this is just a May river. Usually too cold earlier than that and not enough flow after. But you're really missing out if you live around here and don't do it at least once in the early season.

There was a 2' diameter log blocking the entrance to the rapid at Eileen Dam on 5/5/12. This log crossed the entire channel and was impassable. Please scout the dam before floating this river.

You can call the Moyie dam at 208-267-4377 to get river elevation only. It's best to run the river above 4' at the dam else Hole in the Wall becomes very deep. When the river is over 6' at the dam the river is pushy, has big wave trains, and the chance for eddying out is slim.

Have fun and be safe!

This is an amazing river and one of my personal favorites. Pretty continuous, class 2-3 whitewater that keeps all boaters on their toes through the entire ride.
I'd use USGS's CFS ratings to determine run-ability instead of the feet gauge. Anything above 5,000 CFS is pretty high for this river and boaters should use caution going through the Dam and Hole in the Wall as logs have historically become wedged in these narrow canyons.
Between 3-5,000 CFS is my personal favorite levels. Most rocks are covered, waves get big and it's a fun ride. Careful at the dam, the lateral and boil lines can flip a 14 foot boat.
More rocks and holes start to come out below 3,000 CFS but Eileen Dam becomes more manageable.
1,000 CFS and below is really bony.
Avoid swimmers above and immediately below Eileen Dam at all times. The river flows underneath it and there are strong under-currents.

The AWA gauge link does not correlate with the actual dam guage. We have been putting of running the Moyie this spring due to high water levels and we just realized that it has been runnable for quite some time. The level reported by the dam today is 3.8', whereas the online guage says 6.44. Some folks are probably missing out on a good run b/c of the mix up...

Ran the Moyie today at approx. 3.5'. Good level...high enough for most rocks to still be under water. 'Hole in the Wall' is a fun little rapid...look for the mountain peak staring you in the face when you round a bend...then you know you're getting close to it.

Busy water under the bridge on May 4th 2008. Appox. 1,300 cfs.

Class III-IV waypoints

48.819400,-116.146750,Meadow Creek CG USFS

48.778640,-116.161490,Eileen Dam access

48.731350,-116.183100,Moyie Springs Gas

48.736670,-116.175630,Flowage access

Go south from US-2 at gas station to get to flowage takeout.

Approaching the dam: kind of intimidating.
Going through the failed dam.
Looking back up through the breach in the dam.

Eileen dam. Passage is on the river LEFT.