Blackfoot, North Fork
Foot Bridge to Road Bridge (Hike In)
Jun 4, 2025
Had a great evening run. Heads up, there's a head-height 8' to 12' diameter log sticking halfway across Six Pin from river right, about halfway through the rapid, with most of the river pushing you into it. There are also a few other high consequence strainers in that area (river right) if you were to take a good swim and get flushed over there.
Other than that, the run is pretty clear of wood, though stay alert, there are a few other places where logs are sticking out around waterlevel.
May 22, 2024
Great evening run! We saw some wood in pinball rapid and chose not to portage it.
Jun 20, 2023
Great day on the North Fork at a pretty ideal low side of medium flow. Lots of good boofs, eddies, and pillows to play off of. Great level for packrafting and intermediate kayaking.
Jul 7, 2020
Ran this at ~750 on the gauge on 7/3/2020. One tiny piece of wood in play in the runout of 6-pin, but otherwise clean as a whistle. Great little run, high bang for the hiking buck.
May 23, 2018
Has anybody been up to look at the river this year? With this new gauge and the statement that it can be run at 210 I am wondering how the new gauge correlates to the old. Any Beta would be appreciated.
May 14, 2012
Ran the upper stretch on 5/12/2012 at 1300 cfs or so. Six Pin has some new wood (at least new to me) stacked up above the crux on the river right side that significantly restricts the line. It's still runnable, but basically zero room for any error going into the crux move at the end of the rapid and the wood hangs out right where the flow pushes you off the right bank. It wouldn't be as big of an issue at lower flows - say around 1000 cfs or below. The log jam mentioned below a ways down from Six Pin is still there, but has an open line on the left side that you can't see until you're right on top of it - we verified it's wide open after portaging though.
May 18, 2011
A relatively high-water early-season romp down the North Fork of the Blackfoot. Trailside scouting made it feel reasonable, and the wood situation in the lower canyon was OK too. We did not go all the way up to the bridge this day.
Jun 2, 2008
Just ran the NF from above the bridge all the way down, only significant wood was a riverwide log about 1/4 mile below six pin... hard to see comming up, but eddy out on left. 2200 CFS... great ride!
May 12, 2008
Were you in the Subaru, New hampshire plates? I was there on the 11th too. I hiked in at least 4-miles past the trailhead (which still has snow slides blocking the last 1/2 mile of the road leading to the trailhead). True, there is wood scattered about, but nothing out of the ordinary for this run. The lines are still clear--just don't swim! I saw big cat tracks off the beaten path.
Feb 3, 2006
The upper run is very much worth your while. Don't be put off by the 'I-III' rating, as that only applies to the lower reaches several miles below the campground. Hike in above campground about 3miles or so to about a 1/4mile past the bridge. You will be rewarded with several class IV drops, and one V-, depending on flows of course. Flows above 650 or so are OK, but I prefer around 900 or so for a creeky feel, big water feel anything above 1200 or so. WATCH FOR WOOD, also be aware this is Grizzly country.
