Flathead Whitewater River Rafting – Montana

Flathead Whitewater River Rafting – Montana

Montana is graced by the Glacier National Park which is designated as a World Heritage site. Adjacent to it lie the Great Bear and Bob Marshall Wilderness. Flanked by these magnificent landscapes, the Middle and North Forks of the Flathead River offer a wild route of over 275 miles of rafting. The river originates in British Columbia and is named after the Flathead Indians who lived around those regions. Flathead Whitewater rafting offers fly fishing and superb sightseeing options along the isolated river canyon apart from adventure rafting.

The Middle Fork has easy access from US Highway 2 and attracts a large number of visitors. The standard gradient of the Middle Fork is about 35 feet/mile and contains a plethora of Class II-IV rapids. The canyon of the Flathead River is unique in its own way and has been formed by the river chafing across the sedimentary rocks. Most rapids like Tunnel, Jaws, Waterfall Narrows, C.B.T (Could Be Trouble) and Bonecrusher are located in the John Steven Canyon. The Middle Fork Rafting season runs throughout summer. June is the time for thrill seekers when the melting of the snow rushes off excess water to the trail.

The South Fork offers pristine natural settings ideal for hiking; but a trip across the Meadow Creek Gorge drastically changes the notion. Six miles of the trail smashes through a narrow limestone gorge creating Class III-V thrilling rapids meant only for the experienced.

Glaciers of the Livingstone Range supply streams of water to the North Fork. The best time for rafting is from mid-May to mid-June when the water level increases. This section of the Flathead River offers intermediate level rafting around the rocky landscapes. The milder stretches offer wonderful views of the local flora and fauna. Quiet floaters would cherish the memories of watching an osprey catch its prey and the grazing deer, moose and bighorn sheep. The luckier ones might spot an enormous grizzly bear in this north western corner of the Glacier National Park.

The North Fork rapids are mostly of Class I-III types. The Class III rapids include the Great Northern, Upper Fool Hen and Lower Fool Hen in the narrow creeks and rugged canyons.