Beyond the slot, the river is calm and serene. Very much a feast or famine float environment. A buddy and I are planning on a low-water trip to the South Fork Flathead in mid-August. You can go in from Holland Lake or reach Young’s Creek from Ovando area trailheads. The Middle Fork of the Flathead won't have much water in it this time of year. Far below a pack bridge, the South Fork of the Flathead River courses through a narrow gorge. Meadow Creek Gorge on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in Montana USA. Download high-quality Meadow Creek Gorge on South Fork Flathead River images, illustrations and vectors perfectly priced to fit your projects budget. Meadow Creek gorge is pretty fun packrafting at low water, and the silver lining of 2015 is that it’s in good runnable shape right now, and should remain so all summer. Continue to Mobile Site The South Fork of the Flatheads headwaters are located deep within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, one of the largest Wilderness areas in the country. Float the south fork of the flathead. An open Meadow with Creek near McCall, Idaho, Sawtooth Range Reflection, Meadow Creek, Stanley, ID, Deep Green Pool of still water in Meadow Creek Gorge in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in Montana USA, Icelandic mountains and green lush meadow and creek and blue sky, Meadow Creek - Wild Mountain Trout Stream, Wooden Bridge over Meadow Creek Gorge for hiking and horseback packing trail in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in Montana USA, Meadow Creek Gorge on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in Montana USA, Sunset over the South Fork of the Flathead River at Meadow Creek Gorge in the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex - Montana USA, Wooden Bridge over Meadow Creek Gorge for hiking and horseback packing trail in the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex Montana, Meadow Creek Gorge on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area during the 2017 fall fires in Montana United States. ). Your email and your recipient's email will NOT be shared with anyone. Our two riverside camps were adjacent to stunning river rock formations. The bridge was a good spot for Jared White to pose for … 2. This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue The narrow, limestone gorge allows only paddleboats on this section of the river and for six miles the water crashes through a series of class III to V rapids (this section is optional). Only a handful of visitors run this stretch of river a year, and wildlife are sighted than other people during an average trip. Return to Main Site. The entrance to Meadow Creek Gorge is the take out for normal floats down the wilderness section of the South Fork. It is also very remote. All Rights Reserved and. Mid Creek Takout – This is where you will takeout from the Wilderness float. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. Deer, Elk, Moose, Eagles, Osprey and Bear are all commonly seen during a trip down the South Fork of the Flathead. In 1976, Congress added 219 miles of the Flathead River to the nation’s Wild and Scenic River Systems , so they will remain in their pristine, free-flowing state for … Copyright © 2000-2020 Dreamstime. Packrafting Adventure on the South Fork of the Flathead I glanced down off the trail and noticed a deep pool with a strong current going through it. Wilderness access – You will need to hike or horse pack a good 25+ miles regardless of trailhead choice here. It's a rapid leading into a slot between two cliffs. Travel articles related to Flathead Lake…. The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the most popular packraft rivers in the lower-48. Meadow Creek gorge bears caution and a helmet, but at low water isn’t as formidable as is commonly portrayed. Meadow Creek Gorge on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area during the 2017 fall fires in Montana United States Flathead National Forest Supervisor's Office 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 758-5208 (406) 758-5379 (fax) Office Hours: The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the best packraft river in the lower-48. The South Fork of the Flatheads headwaters are located deep within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, one of the largest Wilderness areas in the country. … The primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve goals within our mission. Once at the river, trips along the South Fork meander through several days of rippling scenic water interspaced with beginner to intermediate level rapids. Complete the form below to email this page to a friend or family member's email. Searchable list of Flathead Lake tour companies, guides and outfitters, rental companies and more. A summary of what Flathead Lake has to offer. Re: Meadow Creek Gorge. To request your selected free visitor guides, please fill out the form below and click "Submit". The South Fork of the Flathead, located in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, is a horsepack in/float out trip of 5-7 days, putting you over feisty Cutthroats to 22″ and “Bull Trout” to 15 pounds. Click on any state to see what's available. The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. We want to run Meadow Creek Gorge if doable. In this final wilderness stretch the South Fork equals is not exceeds anything on the Middle Fork in depth and profundity, and forms a truly impressive valley with rapids, huge pools, hanging gardens, and some fantastic campsites. The Middle Fork and North Fork form the southern and western boundary of Glacier National Park. We also have visitor guides available in states highlighted in blue below. The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. Searchable listings of Flathead Lake hotels, motels, resorts, bed & breakfast, and more. The South Fork Flathead is one of the most beautiful and productive trout streams in North America. The gorge below this is insane. It's a long journey to get there. The Flathead River System includes three forks (the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork), which flow into the Flathead River. This amazing tract is the source of the South Fork of the Flathead River - probably our best paddle in Montana. Meadow Creek Gorge on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in Montana USA. 2. Commercial Trips down the South Fork of the Flathead are eight days in length and are offered during early to mid summer. Click on any additional guides you would like to receive. Due to its remote nature and severe whitewater, the South Fork of the Flathead is recommended only for hearty adult visitors with previous intermediate to advanced level whitewater experience. With this modificationt, the dam now releases water that has the same temperature as the Flathead River five miles downstream. Full information on Flathead Lake Tourist Attractions, Scenic Drives and other easy vacation activities…. Wilderness River Outfitters offers hiking and rafting wilderness trips on the South Fork and Middle Fork of the the Flathead Rivers. Photo about evening, america, green, burnt, complex, area - 104966242 Most of it is pleasant looking, and most of the rapids look pretty runnable. Sunset over the confluence of the South Fork of the Flathead River and Lost Jack Creek at Meadow Creek Gorge in the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex during the 2017 fall fires in Montana United States Historical Weather. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is SWAN L which is approximately 20 miles away and has an elevation of 3,100 feet (765 feet lower than Meadow Creek Gorge). For nearly 40 miles the river flows freely north-northwest, meandering through a forested and undeveloped roadless valley that forms the core of the 1.5 million acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. We left our vehicle near Meadow Creek Gorge and followed the extensive horse / walking trails below Black Bear. We pack you, your gear and your float equipment to the confluence of Young’s and Danaher Creeks where the South Fork of the Flathead River begins. Normal July packraft trips in the Bob often involve hiking into and floating either Youngs or Danaher Creek down into the South Fork. The South Fork of the Flathead River is one of the three main forks of the Flathead River and begins at the confluence of Danaher Creek and Youngs Creek. Detailed overview for Flathead Lake, with custom maps, points of interest, and helpful things to know before you go. Top. Flathead Lake weather report, historic temperatures and climate info,…. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. For the first few days of the trip, the water meanders lazily through a sweeping glacial valley and grand Ponderosa Pines. During the final miles of the trip adventurous visitors tackle Meadow Creek Gorge, an expert level steep limestone sluice featuring big hydraulics, large undercuts and a pinch where the entire river piles through a channel only five feet wide! See our full. The South Fork Flathead River drainage contains 355 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat. Photo about charred, flathead, 2017, hike, burn, confluence - 104966297 One day of the South Fork’s whitewater is enough adrenaline for the whole trip! Copyright © 1997 - 2020 The Go Travel Sites. The South Fork Flathead River is unique in that, with few exceptions, it supports an intact native fish assemblage. We offer a compact version of Go-Montana for mobile users, allowing you to access just the information you need on the road. Perhaps the most technical commercially run river in Montana, a trip down the South Fork of the Flathead is a wilderness adventure to top all other. Bob Marshall Wilderness and. Of course, you can still use the full version of Go-Montana on your mobile device just as you can on your desktop. Acclaimed as one of Montana’s most pristine and remote rivers, the Wild and Scenic South Fork of the Flathead River originates in the south end of the flows northward to Hungry Horse Reservoir. We also have the following visitor guides in Montana. It is very scenic. Middle Fork of the Flathead River - This 5-day river trip is accessible only by air, horse, or foot. Any beta from someone who has run the Gorge in a packraft would be appreciated!! Requiring a multi-day backpack or horsepack to reach the put in, the South Fork is about as remote a river trip can get in the United States. Rapids range from beginner to advanced expert in difficulty along the South Fork, with a class V-V+ finale through incredible Meadow Creek Gorge. The takeout on the South Fork of the Flathead River above Meadow Creek Gorge and a warning sign on the rocks above. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. This cold water pretty much killed off the fishing in the South Fork below the dam during the summer, and greatly affected the aquatic hatches on the main stem of the Flathead as well. On the third day of the float, we enter Meadow Creek Gorge and the character of the river changes dramatically. Canyon Tributary of the South Fork Flathead River Watch Queue Queue. We dedicate our river time on this trip to fishing for one of the purest strains of Westslope Cutthroat trout in the world. So forget those imported browns and rainbows, and come prepared to battle a native Montanan, the westslope cutthroat trout, in the solitude of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Transportation companies, driving directions and more for Flathead Lake. Searchable listings of Flathead Lake RV parks and campgrounds. Boats and supplies are generally packed in on mules or horses over mountain passes to reach the headwa- ters and then packed again from the take-out just above … You can send yourself an email as well. Bob Marshall Wilderness and Great Bear Wilderness. Floating the South Fork out of the Bob Marshall is pretty much out of the question with Meadow Creek Gorge making the last several miles impassible. Rapids range from beginner to advanced expert in difficulty along the South Fork, with a class V-V+ finale through incredible Meadow Creek Gorge. It is very scenic. It was a steep downhill slide to the pool, but if I had learned anything about backcountry fishing, it was that pools like this are worth fishing. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. The South Fork. You get glimpses of Meadow Creek Gorge on the way out. These photos were taken when the river was running about 900cfs at the gauge near Spotted Bear. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. South Fork Flathead River Access. Contact Information. All rights reserved. In addition to guided fly fishing, we offer drop float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Download high-quality Sunset over confluence South Fork Flathead River images, illustrations and vectors perfectly priced to fit your projects budget. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. And there are some places where it looks like you can get out. Request these additional visitor guides selected below. 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Streams, and more for Flathead Lake tour companies, driving directions more. Have the following visitor guides in Montana USA these waterways, the River is calm and.! A friend or family member 's email will NOT be shared with anyone bears caution and a helmet, at... Bears caution and a warning sign on the South Fork Flathead River access bed!, 2012 7:31 pm wilderness float you to access just the information you need on the Fork. / walking trails below Black Bear access just the information you need on the.. A rapid leading into a slot between two cliffs horse / walking trails Black. Request your selected free visitor guides, please fill out the form below click.