Teton
Teton Dam site to Teton Forks
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 6.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 21, 2022 |
River Description
Data from Pacific NW Rivers Study, Stan Allen, Idaho Coordinator
The Teton Dam is a famous study of poor civil engineering feeding pork-barrel politics. As the project was reaching completion and the reservoir was being filled, a large leak formed...and, on June 5, 1976, the developing project came to an abrupt, and tragic, end. Two bulldozers were used in trying to stem the developing leak; they both were swallowed by the flood. Fourteen people downstream lost their lives. The project is described in Marc Reisner's excellent book, Cadillac Desert. Click here for a recriminating description of the failed project; click here for a more academic description, complete with some excellent pictures by Mrs. Eunice Olson.
Put in just above the old spillway.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportgreat river very mild good place to learn to eddy and fairy very fun chill river
Floated it early this year (2010). Gorgeous views through the area. You cannot drive down to the water. Bureau of Reclamation has a gate across the road. You can hike down several hundred yards to the waters edge. I think there were only two patches that could have been called rapids, but they weren't an issue. We pulled out just after the bridge on 2750 E and on river right. There's a great place there to park the take out vehicle. I think we floated it with the water at about 500cfs.
Took 2 guys that had never been in kayaks on moving water down it May 28, 2012 at just about 500cfs again. Perfect little stretch to let them have fun and try out a new sport. Nothing wild- no strainers, just a good safe run even if you need to swim.
For the full-sized version of this picture, click here.
Photo used with permission from the Teton Dam Failure site.
The brown streak running down the river-right part of the dam is the harbinger of a failure to come. It took about an hour from the time this photo was taken until the dam was breached. Photo used with permission from the Teton Dam Failure site.
The works at the base of the dam are now flooded; the flow has taken on a violent character. Most observers must have known at this point that there would be no saving the new dam. Photo used with permission from the Teton Dam Failure site.
As the leak grew, it reached the crest of the dam. Photo used with permission from the Teton Dam Failure site.
Everything's flooded. Your tax dollars at work!
Photo used with permission from the Teton Dam Failure site.