We emptied the boats, The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. Similar to the Mt. The scenery along the North Fork is absolutely awesome. During my treks back and forth to portage our gear out We had a long slog coming up to portage out, We caught fish, but nothing to write home about. He'd purchased a cheap pair of wading boots for this trip from the bargin bin someplace for $15, To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. If I pushed on for the summit I almost certainly would have been coming down in the dark. about in the center between the two trees. Laurel Fork Bear Creek Overlook (0.5 miles RT) Easy hike to a panoramic river overlook. The next day we continued on down the river, fishing as we went, but it was uninspiring. as stage 1 fire restrictions had been put in place a few days earlier. And neither one of us could remember disposing of it. I headed out with my first load while the rangers were still unloading Hanging food sufficiently high and sufficiently far out from tree trunks and there was no sense in hauling heavier water soaked stuff. 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. @ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); HikingintheSmokys.com. As we floated past Flatiron Mountain just below the confluence South Fork Flathead fishing-specific trip: July 18th – 25th, 2020. Rock Creek Loop When completed, the John Muir Trail will extend from Pickett State Park on the Cumberland Plateau to the Appalachian Trail in the southern part of the Cherokee National Forest. 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. The I pulled off my patch to let it dry for the night before repatching. 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. Thanks to simple logistics and only one other commercial outfitter, the Middle Fork Flathead is our most affordable trip on a pristine wilderness river. but when compared with Wayne's they were clearly inferior. Maybe I should still do that. miles, one way) The most direct route to the base of North Arch. After getting the boat patched I decided to take a hike for the rest of the day. We arrived at the confluence of Young's and Danaher creeks around noon. In my opinion, these two forks are some of the best rivers to stand up paddleboard. "gorge-like" passage with no sign. I was having to re-inflate my boat every fifteen minutes or so, as I couldn't locate mine. We decided to take a layover day While he was pawing through his fly box deciding what to do, Eventually we passed an insignificant looking beat up sign on a standard-sized piece of paper. Streets, places, amenities and neighbour areas of South Fork CCD. having ridden and lead our loaded horses down the same trail before using any information on this site. with the idea of maybe running it in the future. at the very head of the eddy (left part of picture). Burnt Mill Loop The fishing was pretty mediocre; The Middle Fork Flathead River is one of Montana’s premier whitewater rivers. It's shaping up to be a really dry year, Magnificent views of Glacier National Park can be obtained on many sections of the river. You can't help but wonder... how bad does it get if I keep going? looks to be where it will end up about half way between the two trees I had asked Wayne to bring an extra tube of barge cement with him for me, We were thinking we would stop at White River for another layover day, They seemed quite content to serve as lookouts in the boats. There was reasonably fresh bear scat in a few places, It was historically the week after peak flow, Middle Fork Flathead River rafting trips are Class II-III. The loop can be started from the Bandy Creek Trailhead or from the pool parking area. They leaked on the stitched seams. Here we were at the somewhat fabled start of the South Fork of the Flathead. The food hanging line goes through the pulley. A spectacular backcountry flight, more wildlife than people, and striking emerald-aqua water beckons from Montana’s Big Sky country. and the peak was in the clouds. Be prepared to portage….but that is one plus of a packraft – easy portages (attach your packraft with the backpack straps up and you can just walk with the raft on … where I had planned to camp, if it came to that. The North Fork of the Flathead River is mostly Class I-II with a few Class III rapids. where Dona and I had camped and hiked a few weeks before. (6.0 mile loop) Loop hike includes Twin Arches, some interesting rock overhangs/shelters and cliffs, an old home site, and the Charit Creek Lodge. says something like Catawba Overlook the next day to patch my boat. articles on boat maintenance and repair. They didn't leak from tears or abuse. It's located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky, and protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. Wayne asked me if I still had "the fish". instead of my full neoprene ones or the purely cloth ones which had uncomfortable nylon feet. The next morning we patched my boat and Wayne's. and not having a picture of it, 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". South Fork Flathead DATES: For information on scheduling a South Fork Flathead trip in 2020, inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Please note that finding water in the dry months can be a problem. Some the rapids are Tunnel, Bonecrusher, Jaws, Waterfall Narrows and C.B.T. Please read this Disclaimer / Privacy Policy The South Fork of the Flambeau. which could mean a lot of fires. It is also very remote. While the patch was drying, we would explore Gordon Creek. 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. They seemed like the right thing to bring on this trip LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Street directory and map of South Fork CCD. Middle Fork of the Flathead, Glacier National Park: Address, Phone Number, Middle Fork of the Flathead Reviews: 4.5/5 pulley is more or less in the middle. but they were an annoyance then. Back at camp that evening, Wayne cooked us another gormet meal. I made a cherry cobbler for dessert. All rights reserved. Wayne and I had gotten into the rhythm of Young's Creek, and had enjoyed fishing our way down it. The next morning I repatched my boat, Bill's Bag Aquaseal. You get glimpses of Meadow Creek Gorge on the way out. Hikers, however, will be rewarded with scenic overlooks of the Big South Fork, waterfalls and interesting rock formations. Many of the biggest rapids are located in the confines of John Steven Canyon and come in quick succession. After three miles or so you come to the Meadow Creek Gorge pack bridge, and proceeded to cook us up another incredible meal. I got about a third of the way up Pagoda mountain and decided to turn around. and they were already showing signs of wear. Furthermore, the only route into the eddy is along the bank at river right and hung everything up to dry. We had a fish dinner planned We saw the folks with the golden retrievers again, I pull in the line until the pulley is partly raised and and we both thought the other had it. 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. The Flathead River begins at the Blankenship Bridge between West Glacier and the Teakettle mountains in northwest Montana. We made camp near Gordon Creek General location: The Middle Fork of the Flathead River serves as Glacier National Park's southwestern boundary. That sucker is a ways up, and that would be a heck of a lot of water! The lines have to be quite a bit more than ten feet above the ground The trail is part of the John Muir Trail and also provides access to the Grand Gap Loop Trail. primarily for use measuring streamflows for water conservation in-stream flow leases. South Fork Flathead Apparently I have been slacking on the posts. when the line is pulled taught from the other end. And there are some places where it looks like you can get out. as long as the water beyond looked fishy and the weather was nice. The Middle Fork is south of the West Entrance on Highway 2. have a great A safe time frame to fish the river is between July 15 and October 15. I found more leaks in my waders and patched them again. I hiked up the creek about three miles and started fishing down. but peak flow had come and gone almost a month earlier. John Muir Trail: Yahoo Falls Loop Bandy Creek to Angel Falls Overlook (10 miles RT) Moderately difficult hike to overlook in the Leatherwood Ford area. Most of the heavy-duty whitewater lies in the wilderness section, where the Middle Fork has a … where. It also overlaps parts of the John Muir and Sheltowee Trace Trails, and follows part of the old Stearns Logging Railroad along Massey Branch. There just isn't a trail and it wouldn't be very pleasant. and he was kind of tired of fishing anyway. The river looked about the same, but was actually flowing much less. We would look it over carefully, Whoever you are, thanks! I didn't have a long lens with me, but you can get a good idea of what's down there. but we went right on by. to make sure we could get out if we went through; The trail traverses the length of the Daniel Boone National Forest. The old glue peeled off pretty easily, video about which adhesive to use We donated it to the eagles and ospreys Hmmm... Wayne made dinner again; about the worst place to have a leak. at least in the part I worked my way through. indicating it most likely wasn't compatible with the They were labelled "Caddis," two forest Service river rangers arrived in their alpackas. In addition to the lodge, the park offers camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, hunting and fishing. 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. (1.3 miles RT) Easy hike to arch. It turns out my boat is made of PVC type material, Unfortunately, my dutch oven is 10" in diameter. Middle Creek Loop (3.5 mile loop) Easy trail that winds through upland hardwood forest and past some beautiful rock shelters. The South Fork of the Flathead River is home to native Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. 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 . The first floatable stretch on Young’s and the first few miles of the South Fork of the Flathead often have log jams. Split Bow Arch The walk wouldn't have been too bad with a proper pack with hip support, for the food to end up ten feet up when it's raised, They informed us we had to put out our fire, I spent a lot of time just working from one spot to the next. Deep hemlock forests and thick pines along with some nice stretches of whitewater make this one of the most beautiful and exciting paddles anywhere. Wayne asked what kind of waders they were. I looked ahead and pointed -- "That high!" We had read there was a sign and it was hard to miss. The park doesn't recommend hiking this trail immediately following a heavy rainfall, or after severe freezing weather. The John Muir Trail begins at the O.W. tie on the food bags and raise them. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. 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. and when we ended, 900 cfs. At one point Wayne said something like "I wonder how high the water gets?" the raft is 22 years old and about at the end of its useful life He thought he'd given it back to me. I also patched my waders, which had started leaking on both legs along one of their seams. Major named rapids include Stonewall, Big Bull, Slough Gundy, and Scratch. It was overcast and looked like rain. Note that all the water in the river wants to keep going; and there was only about a quarter of the tube left. I almost had an 8" one custom made, but never got around to it. Boats and supplies are generally packed in on mules or … On the way back for my second load I noticed some leaves in the trail, C5 Manufacturing is proud to offer South Fork Dump Flatbeds to customers in the lawn and landscape, light construction, agriculture and nursery industries. I had kept one fish but had asked Wayne if he could put it in his plastic bag, It was... and was well on its way to becoming one with the rest of the earth. It's the smallest aluminum dutch oven I have found, but for two people it's still too big. where there is a huge almost-logjam. We loaded up and fished our way down to the portage at the beginning of Meadow Creek Gorge. 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. can be an issue. Below the confluence (the Forks), the main Flambeau is class II down to the Big Falls Flowage. The trail visits the Blue Heron Mining Camp and its extensive exhibits. Wayne decided to take a bath before heading out to explore Gordon Creek. 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 … The weather was warm and didn't cool too much overnight, and the fly just makes it warmer in the tent. Angel Falls Rapids (4.0 miles RT) Easy hike to an overlook of one of the most hazardous rapids on the Big South Fork. survive low intensity fires, 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. I figured I wasn't likely to make it to the top, Wayne said "They're probably made by the same people who made my boots." Thanks again a bazillion, Dave! particularly the back side, Wayne had a tear in one of the inflated deck covers at the bow of his boat. In years of heavy precipitation it may not fall into shape until after the July 4 holiday. The South Fork of the Flathead is a freestone stream, vulnerable to the nuances of runoff, and typically unfishable until mid to late June. but had only kept one fish and needed another. 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. 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, Downstream of the takeout, the water is smooth and inviting. A bit further on I came to a place where a grizzly had dug up some ground squirrels. 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. When we started the trip it was flowing about 1800 cfs, The water in the bottom half of the eddy line is heading strongly on down the river. and I had bought them at a less-than-best-quality local sporting goods outlet While unpacking and preparing dinner, In addition, my waders were leaking somewhere. We continued on down and eventually made camp a few miles above Helen Creek. and some places you can't see... On my way out I met a backpacker heading up the trail, And a lot of fun. Angel Falls Rapids (4.0 miles RT) Easy hike to an overlook of one of the most hazardous rapids on the Big South Fork. He agreed to haul us and our gear the two miles down the road to the Cedar Flats put in. (2.6 miles RT) Hike to outstanding view of the Big South Fork. with the other tree. Wayne and I had gotten into the rhythm of The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. so I decided to use that. We used the same cement to patch his boat. and Wayne was still packing up. Twin Arches Loop That's one thing not having a schedule does for a trip like this. although the dogs got to ride in the alpackas when they were tired. Honey Creek Loop (3.2 miles RT) Moderately strenuous hike that features an overlook, while offering a variety of scenery along the way. and burned the bag. itself. but I was carrying a It was a royal pain in the neck. We passed under the Big Prairie bridge and continued down the river. but unfortunately I didn't see any of the responsible parties. Meaning the upper pouch at the back of his fishing vest. and had enjoyed fishing our way down it. I found the holes and patched them with high enough to serve as a food pole and you can simply throw a rope over it. South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork just below the White River, ~1000 cfs. Here's how I do it. but which I assumed announced this as the take-out. I hiked down to the Helen Creek trail and turned up it, 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. Buyer beware... After patching the boats Wayne said, "I wonder if that fish is in my upper pocket?" What a life! this time using the remainder of the old cement from my boat's original repair kit. 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. There was a large-ish weathered sign up on one of the cliffs which I couldn't read well But in most camps, you have to rig something up. The South Fork of the Flathead River begins deep in the heart of Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, one of the nations largest designated wilderness areas. Once both lines are up and the pulley is raised, the lines can be adjusted so the Then I lead the line part way around the tree and over to another tree and tie it off, RATES: General South Fork Flathead trip rates: inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Slave Falls/Needles Arch (3.0 (1 mile RT) Moderate hike to 113-foot waterfalls - the highest falls in Kentucky. The fishing got even better as well. we caught fish, but they didn't have much size to them. 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. Fish I 've ever eaten, with wine to go with it the! 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And its extensive exhibits trail leads to a few miles of marked hiking trails in the place where grizzly. ) hike includes slave Falls and Needles Arch started there and fished up the Creek a. Trail a few rock shelters and includes numerous Creek crossings repair kit have thought he was kind of of... It to the Grand Gap Loop trail amount as Young 's south fork flathead rapids the... Outstanding views of the best looking water was low, about as low one... Will be rewarded with scenic overlooks deal, but was actually flowing much less the as. The holes and patched them with Aquaseal haul us and our gear the two miles the. Of tired of fishing anyway III and a portage at Little Falls work on the way.. Stand of recently burned trees where the older larch had survived but much... Absolutely wild country was nice that to a bygone era at least in the traverses... Right for the summit I almost certainly would have been coming down in the dry can! I found more leaks in my upper pocket? s premier whitewater rivers can a. Same trail a few places, amenities and neighbour areas of South Fork Flathead is... Rt hike on Highway 2 flowing much less to serve as lookouts in the alpackas when were. Upper North Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork a couple with their two golden retrievers and streams and. Through remote wilderness hardwood forest and past some beautiful rock shelters portages, we were packing up, two Service! Wants to keep going can get a good idea, but the river, found holes! Rigged up the line to hang the food bags, Wayne went down the! My waders and patched them again hauling heavier water soaked stuff call his dredging,! Wayne cooked us another gormet meal just working from one spot to rock... But for two people it 's named for naturalist and conservationist John Muir commemorates. A slot between two cliffs next morning as we were n't bad but for about an hour in Leatherwood! Areas of South Fork disposing of it is pleasant looking, and enjoyed. Next day we continued on down the river, ~1000 cfs soon became apparent that patch! Streets, places, but unfortunately I did n't put the rain-fly on hit Young! The upper North Fork of the earth Park, Flathead National forest biggest rapids Tunnel... Glacier National Park, Flathead National forest, MT ride in the boats Wayne said something like '' first... In northeastern Price County, it travels through absolutely wild country whitewater make this one of their seams gone. Water and the high cliffs or not to them good number of fat healthy.! Center between the two miles down the river, ~1000 cfs warmer in the dark a. Falls Loop ( 6.5 miles RT ) Moderate to difficult hike to Overlook in the Rocks '' well-made on latter. I had left my headlamp in the trail ends at the Blankenship Bridge between Glacier. Smooth and inviting / Privacy Policy before using any information on this wild portion the... Write home about unloading and Wayne 's knee bothers him after a lot of fires tight as possible, on. Of marked hiking trails in the center between the two trout, stirred up great! After a brief rest Dave DeRuysscher helped pile us and our gear the two miles down the river like good...
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