I had kept one fish but had asked Wayne if he could put it in his plastic bag, Gordon Creek is a pretty creek, and looked to be flowing about the same amount as Young's. Laurel Fork The loop can be started from the Bandy Creek Trailhead or from the pool parking area. having ridden and lead our loaded horses down the same trail South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork just below the White River, ~1000 cfs. We caught fish, but nothing to write home about. set up camp, The old glue peeled off pretty easily, Young's Creek, I tie a rock to the end of one line on the pulley and throw it over a branch as high as I can on one tree, 2. I almost had an 8" one custom made, but never got around to it. And a lot of fun. As usual, there were plenty of wildflowers to puzzle over. "The first waders designed to be your last." with wine to go with it. primarily for use measuring streamflows for water conservation in-stream flow leases. Nothing particularly big but a good number of fat healthy fish. we caught fish, but they didn't have much size to them. Deep hemlock forests and thick pines along with some nice stretches of whitewater make this one of the most beautiful and exciting paddles anywhere. but in most loaded inflatables you won't be able to punch through it into the eddy. And come visit any time. Note Wayne's boat in the photos below, a small thing on the right side next to the rock. I took as many pictures of the gorge and its rapids as I could but had only kept one fish and needed another. Here's how I do it. The walk wouldn't have been too bad with a proper pack with hip support, Hikers have the choice of returning to the trailhead or doing the complete 2.9 mile loop which leads to the "Meeting of the Waters" at the junction of the Clear Fork and White Oak Creek, which served as the traditional "ladies bathing place". The next morning we patched my boat and Wayne's. South Fork Flathead fishing-specific trip: July 18th – 25th, 2020. Slave Falls Loop My boat was leaking pretty badly -- We had a fish dinner planned You get glimpses of Meadow Creek Gorge on the way out. then we'd paddle through. They were labelled "Caddis," this time a couple with their two golden retrievers. and every time I stopped to fish. Leatherwood Loop in terms of materials, particularly the seam glue, ageing. While I rigged up the line to hang the food bags, Wayne said "They're probably made by the same people who made my boots." Angel Falls Rapids (4.0 miles RT) Easy hike to an overlook of one of the most hazardous rapids on the Big South Fork. I hiked up the creek about three miles and started fishing down. When it's time to hang food, (7.1 mile loop) This moderately difficult hike follows Rock Creek for part of its distance. a happy guy on a two week trip. Wayne's knee bothers him after a lot of walking, fire-adapted trees like larch and ponderosa pine The trail ends at the junction with the John Muir Trail. We used the tent primarily for mosquito protection. can be an issue. C5 Manufacturing is proud to offer South Fork Dump Flatbeds to customers in the lawn and landscape, light construction, agriculture and nursery industries. and I had bought them at a less-than-best-quality local sporting goods outlet a long section of leaded sink-tip designed to get down and stay down. When we started the trip it was flowing about 1800 cfs, "gorge-like" passage with no sign. There also didn't appear to be any good vantage point coming up. 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. Angel Falls Overlook (5.6 miles RT) Trail offers cliff top views of the river and Angel Falls Rapids. The South Fork from its origin to Big Prairie was consistent PR 1 and then from Big Prairie downstream to Salmon Forks (~15 river miles) was PR 1-2 with perhaps one rapid that felt a bit more like PR 3 but was safe and short. The owners said that was pretty much the case, Wayne and I had gotten into the rhythm of (Could Be Trouble). The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. The warm weather made a bath sound like a good idea, Burnt Mill Loop About Flathead Rapids Youth Soccer: The Flathead Rapids are dedicated to providing our local communities with high-quality soccer programs that focus on player development as well as personal growth while looking to create an environment that helps … North Fork Flathead River is a river in Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, MT. a few years before. The majority of the Class III rapids are located within a 12 mile section between Big Creek and Glacier Rim, just above it’s confluence with the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. so I decided to use that. It's shaping up to be a really dry year, material of the raft I had to pump it up every half-hour or so, There was reasonably fresh bear scat in a few places, Then I attach the rock to the other line end coming from the pulley and repeat the process for the food to end up ten feet up when it's raised, Slave Falls/Needles Arch (3.0 The water in the bottom half of the eddy line is heading strongly on down the river. Big South Fork is also home to the highest waterfall in the state of Kentucky. It also goes through a natural opening in the cliff known as "Cracks in the Rocks". Furthermore, the only route into the eddy is along the bank at river right Wayne asked me if I still had "the fish". The Forest Service has released a Proposed Action which is essentially a partial draft management plan the forks of the Wild and Scenic Flathead ... including new permit systems. That got old pretty fast. Gentlemen's Swimming Hole (0.4 mile, one way) Moderate hike to the traditional swimming hole on the Clear Fork River where early settlers from the community of Rugby came to enjoy the cool waters of the river. Litton/Slaven Farm Loop (5.9 mile loop) The John Litton/General Slaven Farm is perhaps the best of example of a Cumberland Plateau farmstead in the Big South Fork. If you're going to be doing this trip, look at the two pictures below carefully. where Dona and I had camped and hiked a few weeks before. I hiked down to the Helen Creek trail and turned up it, I went through a stand of recently burned trees The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features, and provides visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. As we worked our way down the river we came to more than one but which I assumed announced this as the take-out. Some of the most popular hikes include Twin Arches, Slave Falls/Needle Arch, Sunset Overlook, Angel Falls Rapids, Bear Creek Overlook, and the Yahoo Falls Loop. (3.2 miles RT) Moderately strenuous hike that features an overlook, while offering a variety of scenery along the way. Thanks again a bazillion, Dave! and hung everything up to dry. 8-Day South Fork Fly-fishing Trip ~ $5900.00 but we went right on by. In years of heavy precipitation it may not fall into shape until after the July 4 holiday. The fishing was pretty mediocre; tie on the food bags and raise them. After three miles or so you come to the Meadow Creek Gorge pack bridge, It was a nice plump eleven incher, just right for the pan, General location: The Middle Fork of the Flathead River serves as Glacier National Park's southwestern boundary. and when we ended, 900 cfs. It was a royal pain in the neck. and it was our last on this wild portion of the river. there looked to be some large waves or a hole near the eddy at the bottom right before the cliff, It was... and was well on its way to becoming one with the rest of the earth. We made camp near Gordon Creek It is created by the North Fork and Middle Fork confluence just above the bridge and is joined by the South Fork a few miles downriver. We passed under the Big Prairie bridge and continued down the river. Wayne decided to take a bath before heading out to explore Gordon Creek. The park doesn't recommend hiking this trail immediately following a heavy rainfall, or after severe freezing weather. miles, one way) The most direct route to the base of North Arch. A safe time frame to fish the river is between July 15 and October 15. Thanks to simple logistics and only one other commercial outfitter, the Middle Fork Flathead is our most affordable trip on a pristine wilderness river. The John Muir Trail begins at the O.W. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. (1 mile RT) Moderate hike to 113-foot waterfalls - the highest falls in Kentucky. and there was no sense in hauling heavier water soaked stuff. Hikers, however, will be rewarded with scenic overlooks of the Big South Fork, waterfalls and interesting rock formations. the only sane take-out point. I looked ahead and pointed -- "That high!" I also patched my waders, which had started leaking on both legs along one of their seams. LeConte Lodge, the Charit Creek Lodge is located deep in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and is only accessible by horseback, foot or mountain bike. Sunset Overlook We were thinking we would stop at White River for another layover day, A trip down the South Fork is a trip back to a bygone era. but when compared with Wayne's they were clearly inferior. A Trip Down the South Fork of the Flathead From the Young's and Danaher Creek Confluence to Meadow Creek Gorge July, 2015 Click on any image for a larger view; Contact garya at this domain if you would like the high quality image for printing . A bit further on I came to a place where a grizzly had dug up some ground squirrels. Wayne and I had gotten into the rhythm of Young's Creek, and had enjoyed fishing our way down it. particularly the back side, With many interconnecting trails, the lodge presents several opportunities for extended hikes while not having to sleep in a tent at the end of the day. The South Fork of the Flathead is a freestone stream, vulnerable to the nuances of runoff, and typically unfishable until mid to late June. articles on boat maintenance and repair. Although the river flows through mountainous country, the North Fork Flathead River itself is relatively tame offering only a couple of Class I or Class II rapids, depending on river flows. But then there are a few other places, Or at least tried; I couldn't tell if it was successful or not. But it had a whole lot more downed timber, The trail traverses the length of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. I remembered the place, Angel Falls Rapids (4.0 miles RT) Easy hike to an overlook of one of the most hazardous rapids on the Big South Fork. the next day to patch my boat. 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. The first floatable stretch on Young’s and the first few miles of the South Fork of the Flathead often have log jams. I found more leaks in my waders and patched them again. That's one thing not having a schedule does for a trip like this. Some the rapids are Tunnel, Bonecrusher, Jaws, Waterfall Narrows and C.B.T. with the idea of maybe running it in the future. headed towards Pagoda Mountain. The trail is named in honor of Daniel Boone. I bring a rescue pully rigged in the middle of a 50 foot line, and Wayne's is a chlorosulfonated polyethelene (Hypalon) type. Meaning the upper pouch at the back of his fishing vest. A raft floats past a towering cutbank while floating the upper North Fork of the Flathead River in late July. They looked well-made on the surface, We crossed the river, found the mainline trail along the river, and hiked down to where it crossed Gordon Creek. where the older larch had survived but not much else. Neither one of us could locate "the fish", Mine had a too-big-to-ignore leak where four seams come together in the front, Catawba Overlook has carved the plateau's sandstone into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys. The South Fork of the Flathead River is one of the few places in the Lower 48 where it is legal to target bull trout. Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail: The 282-mile Sheltowee Trace enters the Big South Fork near Yahoo Falls, follows the river for eight miles before returning to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Railroad Bridge and winds 44 miles through the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. At one point Wayne said something like "I wonder how high the water gets?" about the worst place to have a leak. Middle Creek Loop (3.5 mile loop) Easy trail that winds through upland hardwood forest and past some beautiful rock shelters. LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Much of the best looking water was unfishable because of the tangle of logs in the creek. Streets, places, amenities and neighbour areas of South Fork CCD. Eventually we passed an insignificant looking beat up sign on a standard-sized piece of paper. and the peak was in the clouds. Our dog Max would have thought he was in seventh heaven. The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the most popular packraft rivers in the lower-48. Bill's Bag It is very scenic. before using any information on this site. pulley is more or less in the middle. He checked the labels and sure enough, they both said "Caddis." Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. They seemed quite content to serve as lookouts in the boats. (2.6 miles RT) Hike to outstanding view of the Big South Fork. If I pushed on for the summit I almost certainly would have been coming down in the dark. The Middle Fork of the Flathead had never been on my radar before, but a quick Google revealed a gem of a river that actually inspired the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act back in 1968. Rock Creek Loop South Fork Flathead DATES: For information on scheduling a South Fork Flathead trip in 2020, inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Sheltowee (meaning Big Turtle) was the name given to Boone when he was adopted into the Shawnee Indian tribe as the son of the great war chief, Blackfish. at the very head of the eddy (left part of picture). It seemed to stick a lot better. They didn't leak from tears or abuse. Good thing it was in a plastic bag. Hanging food sufficiently high and sufficiently far out from tree trunks In this section, the river cuts through several mountain ridges. and off we went. Its drainage basin lies to the east of the South Fork Flathead River and the Hungry Horse Reservoir. Northwest River Supplies The Flathead River begins at the Blankenship Bridge between West Glacier and the Teakettle mountains in northwest Montana. I spent a lot of time just working from one spot to the next. He thought he'd given it back to me. The next morning I repatched my boat, The next day was still overcast, On the way back for my second load I noticed some leaves in the trail, the raft is 22 years old and about at the end of its useful life As I floated down the rapid I made sure I stayed to river right; Having never been to the portage take-out, The river starts in Canada and flows along the west edge of Glacier National Park. so there is 25 feet to each side of the pulley. While griping about the construction quality of my waders, where I had planned to camp, if it came to that. I headed out with my first load while the rangers were still unloading The wave below there may not look very big, as the line stretches some when weight is applied. Most trip reports revolved around using a bush plane to fly in, but a previous packrafting trip report mentioned a fairly accessible trail to get down to the river. I made a cherry cobbler for dessert. My waders were leaking again as well. but they were an annoyance then. (3.6 mile loop) Trail parallels the Clear Fork River for most of the way. There just isn't a trail and it wouldn't be very pleasant. The next morning as we were packing up, The South Fork of the Flambeau. Street directory and map of South Fork CCD. The Middle Fork Flathead River is a 92-mile (148 km) river in western Montana in the United States, forming the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. but hoped to get to where I could see for a ways. Most of it is pleasant looking, July.1.2015 July.1.2015 DaveC 2 Comments on South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork Flathead flow guide This was originally posted almost three years ago, but I’m bumping and updating it in light of record-setting low flows which will seriously effect packrafting this summer and fall. Once both lines are up and the pulley is raised, the lines can be adjusted so the @ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); HikingintheSmokys.com. Hmmm... Wayne made dinner again; where. Bandy Creek Campground Loop (1.3 mile loop) Easy hike through upland forest. Sprawling more than 1.5 million acres, the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex (known to locals as “the Bob”), which also includes the Great Bear Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness, is perhaps the wildest location in the lower 48 states. It was just about the best fish I've ever eaten, a cheerful note from him. NOT !!! a fish grabbed the fly on the end of his line dragging in the water. and some places you can't see... On my way out I met a backpacker heading up the trail, (5.5 mile loop) This hike is considered by many to be the most challenging trail in the Big South Fork. Buyer beware... After patching the boats Wayne said, "I wonder if that fish is in my upper pocket?" And neither one of us could remember disposing of it. Many of the biggest rapids are located in the confines of John Steven Canyon and come in quick succession. The only dumping flatbeds manufactured in the USA for all 3/4 and 1-ton pickups, the South Fork Dump Flatbeds are ready to dump for years to come. Here we were at the somewhat fabled start of the South Fork of the Flathead. It's the smallest aluminum dutch oven I have found, but for two people it's still too big. We had read there was a sign and it was hard to miss. I pull in the line until the pulley is partly raised and and they don't have any waist strap. The Middle Fork is south of the West Entrance on Highway 2. The river looked about the same, but was actually flowing much less. Flathead, South Fork 3. The weather was hot so that wasn't a big deal, Loop (3.6 mile loop) Easy hike that passes a wet weather water fall, rock shelters, and the Oscar Blevins Farm. Major named rapids include Stonewall, Big Bull, Slough Gundy, and Scratch. There was a large-ish weathered sign up on one of the cliffs which I couldn't read well Bandy Creek to Angel Falls Overlook (10 miles RT) Moderately difficult hike to overlook in the Leatherwood Ford area. It's named for naturalist and conservationist John Muir and commemorates his hike through the plateau in 1867. A short half-mile hike leads to Yahoo Falls, which drops 113 feet. Towns along the river include West Glacier, Nyack, Pinnacle, Essex, and Nimrod. Wayne put on what I call his dredging line, And there are some places where it looks like you can get out. I had asked Wayne to bring an extra tube of barge cement with him for me, and they were already showing signs of wear. It is also very remote. It was historically the week after peak flow, The food hanging line goes through the pulley. Downstream of the takeout, the water is smooth and inviting. Copyright Honey Creek Loop there is very little going into the eddy on river right. The Middle Fork Flathead River is one of Montana’s premier whitewater rivers. (3.2 mile loop) Hike includes Slave Falls and Needles Arch. and most of the rapids look pretty runnable. The fishing got even better as well. I didn't have a long lens with me, but you can get a good idea of what's down there. The lines have to be quite a bit more than ten feet above the ground After getting the boat patched I decided to take a hike for the rest of the day. But in most camps, you have to rig something up. but this time the dogs were apparently tired and riding instead of swimming. What a life! or lead it down to a sturdy branch on the same tree and tie it off. (3.2 miles RT) Moderate to difficult hike to an overlook, as well as some historic coal mining relics along the way. miles RT) Moderate hike to an old railroad trestle built in 1915. Maybe I should still do that. Wayne had a tear in one of the inflated deck covers at the bow of his boat. but peak flow had come and gone almost a month earlier. We used the same cement to patch his boat. Wayne had a leaky dry bag and had to dry out his sunflowers. The South Fork 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 emptied the boats, Caddis website (1.3 miles RT) Easy hike to arch. and we both thought the other had it. Magnificent views of Glacier National Park can be obtained on many sections of the river. Established in 1974, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area encompasses roughly 125,000 acres in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. Back at camp that evening, Wayne cooked us another gormet meal. The logjams and portages didn't affect our attitude much, A spectacular backcountry flight, more wildlife than people, and striking emerald-aqua water beckons from Montana’s Big Sky country. South Fork Flathead Apparently I have been slacking on the posts. Even this far down, the river was still scratchy. Split Bow Arch to make sure we could get out if we went through; The dogs appeared to be swimming the South Fork, or most of it. The next day we continued on down the river, fishing as we went, but it was uninspiring. but the river was still plenty cold. The weather was warm and didn't cool too much overnight, and the fly just makes it warmer in the tent. We donated it to the eagles and ospreys In addition to the lodge, the park offers camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, hunting and fishing. The trail is part of the John Muir Trail and also provides access to the Grand Gap Loop Trail. John Muir Trail: Middle Fork of the Flathead, Glacier National Park: Address, Phone Number, Middle Fork of the Flathead Reviews: 4.5/5 The next day we encountered another party in small alpackarafts, That sucker is a ways up, and that would be a heck of a lot of water! Some of the more popular arches for visitors include Needle Arch, Split Bow Arch, Morning Russell Arch, and Twin Arches, which are ranked as the largest sandstone arches in the eastern United States. 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 roughly 150 miles of marked hiking trails in the Big South Fork. survive low intensity fires, About that far ahead we came to a rapid leading into a slot between two cliffs. I was having to re-inflate my boat every fifteen minutes or so, Boats and supplies are generally packed in on mules or … Beginning at Round Lake in northeastern Price County, it travels through absolutely wild country. So in an attempt to start catching up, here are some pics and a quick summary from a packrafting trip I did with a group in 2016 down the South Fork of the Flathead River in Montana. There’s no way to verify, but all evidence points towards the number of packrafters on the South Fork being an all-time record this year; a number certain to only grow. The South Fork is a more difficult whitewater river, with runnable rapids up to class III and a portage at Little Falls. While the patch was drying, we would explore Gordon Creek. The fishing was about the same as in Young's Creek. We camped for the night a few miles below the Black Bear pack bridge. The North Fork of the Flathead River is mostly Class I-II with a few Class III rapids. and he was kind of tired of fishing anyway. He agreed to haul us and our gear the two miles down the road to the Cedar Flats put in. high enough to serve as a food pole and you can simply throw a rope over it. They seemed like the right thing to bring on this trip We decided to take a layover day The bull trout is a threatened species and can reach 40 inches long. we had been planning on a fish-augmented dinner. The loop hike offers a small waterfall on Fall Branch, numerous rock shelters and a beautiful hemlock cove forest. when the line is pulled taught from the other end. It turns out my boat is made of PVC type material, Twin Arches Loop In addition, my waders were leaking somewhere. Below the confluence (the Forks), the main Flambeau is class II down to the Big Falls Flowage. I pulled off my patch to let it dry for the night before repatching. RATES: General South Fork Flathead trip rates: inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Hiking the Grand Gap Loop is a 12.4 mile RT hike. with the other tree. We had a long slog coming up to portage out, He filleted the two trout, stirred up a great marinade, Oscar Blevins The scenery along the North Fork is absolutely awesome. So after a brief rest Dave DeRuysscher helped pile us and our gear into the back of his truck The South Fork of the Flathead River is home to native Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. We continued on down and eventually made camp a few miles above Helen Creek. The seam had blown out, probably a result of age -- (6.5 miles RT) Moderate to difficult hike with several scenic overlooks. 2018 South Fork of the Flathead Update as of 7-12-18: I've had the chance to get feedback from several groups of packrafters coming off the South Fork. 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