Potlatch

The upper and lower recommended flows of 1000-8000 (cfs) listed as the range for this section are misleading, and maybe even dangerously so. In fact, my preference is for flows under 1,000 cfs.

Here are a few of the levels we have run this section:
(gage at put-in, cfs at Spaulding): (2.4, 325), (2.9, 350); (3.1, 370); (3.15, 500), (3.3, 470), (3.3, 640), (3.55, 750); (3.7, 800); (3.725, 944); (3.8, 700); (3.8, 1200); (4.0, 1750).

Some may prefer higher levels than these, but even the lower levels in this range are delightful, though tight and ledgy in (many) spots. When it gets below about 2.8 expect a lot of bumper boating at the beginning and the end and where the riverbed is wide.

Riverwide logs in Coleman Falls, 10 April 2016. 3.32 ft, 470 cfs.

Big logs in Coleman falls main drop, river-wide. River left is blocked completely, and the river-right sneak is much dicier due to a log just below the drop.

370 cfs (USGS) and 3'1'' in the put-in gage

370 cfs (USGS), 3'1'' (put-in gage)

The Potlatch Canyon at 370 cfs on the USGS gage and 3'1'' on the Boulder gage is a great level. The drops are distinct, lots of eddies, lots of recovery time (relative to high water), and it is not too boney. The AW currently says that below 1000 cfs is too low, but this is not the case at all.

370 cfs (USGS) and 3'1'' at the put-in gage. This fun drop is usually log-infested, but was clean May 2014.

370 cfs (USGS), 3'1'' (put-in gage)

370 cfs (USGS), 3'1'' (put-in gage). Looking down toward Lower Coleman

These huge ice sheets littered the banks, made rapid features, redirected the river channel, and even dammed the whole river at one point. The ice was about 1 foot thick!

The preferred method for the uphill stretch of Potlatch canyon run (1.6 miles uphill)

Boulder campground gage (Potlatch Canyon put-in)

The rock slab to the boater's left is undercut. The rock to the boater's right creates a scary fan/rooster tail. The reversal is somewhat strong at ~4' and above on the put-in gage.
This splat wall is one of the only real points of interest in the long paddle-out of the Potlatch Canyon. I'm past the days where I'll take a playboat down that stretch (more due to comfort issues than anything), but if you're in a squirtable boat, you can spend a few minutes here enjoying yourself...