RM 33.8 · 48.7816° N, 114.2814° W

Satellite · Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics

360° capture coming

No separate downstream Terrain360 sequence is linked. The published Polebridge capture covers the upstream parking and launch loop.

Measured in the field by FRA

19.8%

steepest grade on the route to the water

Parking area to the water

Max grade: 19.80%
Max cross slope: 6.60%
Min tread width: 14.2ft
Hard surface: 10.1%

Polebridge River Access (Downstream)

This loop downstream of the Polebridge entrance to Glacier National Park features a vehicle-accessible packed-dirt launch ramp and a small, undeveloped tent site tucked into the woods. Users are reminded that a vault toilet facility is located 0.2mi away at the upper Polebridge access.

The survey

FRA field survey

Measurement	Average	Worst case
Running grade	3.90%	19.80%
Cross slope	2.40%	6.60%
Tread width	14.2ft	14.2ft
Elevation change, parking to water	+3.5ft	-8.4ft

Surface, parking area to river 89.9% firm 10.1% hard

View the original survey sheet

Access concerns

From Flathead Rivers Alliance

Embedded stones in the ramp with up to 6in of relief above ramp surface.
Steep slope down to turnaround loop from road.

Photographs

Terrain360 · July 2026

Field photography Terrain360, July 2026 · site photos courtesy Flathead Rivers Alliance

Getting there

Drive 25.8 miles north on the North Fork Road from its intersection with Blankenship Road. Turn right on Polebridge Loop, then left on Glacier Drive. In 0.5 miles, turn right to reach the boat ramp.

Open in maps

Access site lens

Supporting evidence · FRA access sheet · Jul 2026

Launch profile

FRA access description: Vehicle accessible ramp Packed dirt ramp
Kayaks + canoes: Good
Carry to the water: Under 50 ft
Carry terrain: Flat unpaved
Carry obstacles: Rocks

Safety + condition

Safety interpretation: Fair
Overall condition: Fair
Access hazards: Steep banks · Unstable footing · Submerged hazards likely
Water obstacles: Rocks
Deferred maintenance signal: Not observed

Accessibility observations

Mobility device interpretation: Not suitable
Designated accessible parking: None
Route shown in sheet: Not observed
Route obstacles: Steep grades, rough surface
Observed barriers: Steep grades, rough surfaces
Accessible water feature: Not observed

Visitor management

Parking estimate: 1–5 spaces
Simultaneous launch capacity: Single
Launch queue evidence: None
Designated camping indicated: Observed
Registration infrastructure: Registration kiosk or box · Information bulletin board

Experience indicators

Setting: Semi primitive
Recreation character: Lightly managed
Development in view: Minor
Social trails: Not observed
Informal campsite evidence: Observed
Use-conflict evidence: None observed in the source

Recreation profile

Observed recreation: Paddling, fishing shore, wildlife viewing
Water skill interpretation: Beginner
Physical ability interpretation: Moderate
Wear patterns: Light
Heavy-use signals: None observed in the source
Privacy: Semi private

Where this information comes from

You are here Open the full map

Audio description

A narrated walk-through of this site: the ramp, the gaps, the surfaces, and the hazards, read from the survey and the 360 imagery.

0:00 / 0:00

Read the transcript

Polebridge River Access (Downstream), on the North Fork of the Flathead, at river mile 33.8.

Upstream from here is Polebridge River Access (Upstream). Downstream is Coal Creek.

Drive 25.8 miles north from the intersection of the Blankenship and North Fork Roads. Turn right on Polebridge then left on Glacier 0.5 miles, turn right to access boat ramp.

The parking area is packed dirt, road shoulder.

There is no designated accessible parking.

The route from the parking area to the river averages 3.9 percent grade, steepening to 19.8 percent at its steepest point.

Cross slope, the sideways tilt that matters most in a wheelchair, averages 2.4 percent, with a maximum of 6.6 percent.

The path averages 14.2 feet wide, narrowing to 14.2 feet at its tightest.

Underfoot it is 89.9 percent firm, and 10.1 percent hard.

You drop about 8.4 feet on the way down to the water.

The launch itself is vehicle accessible ramp packed dirt ramp.

What to watch for, in the survey crew's own words:

Embedded stones in the ramp with up to 6in of relief above ramp surface.

Steep slope down to turnaround loop from road.

There are no facilities at this site.

This site has not been photographed in 360 yet, so there is no immersive imagery to accompany this description.

Conditions on the Three Forks change quickly. Check the gauge the morning you float.

Parking + facilities

No facilities
Packed dirt, road shoulder parking
No designated accessible parking
No accessible route to the water

Safety

The next take-out downstream is Coal Creek, 9.3 miles. Conditions change rapidly on all three forks.

Upstream and downstream access points

The river flows this way →

Upstream · RM 33.9 ← Polebridge River Access (Upstream)

POLEBRIDGE RIVER A.
RM 33.9 / 33.8 · you are here

Downstream · RM 24.5 Coal Creek →

‹ Upstream put-in Polebridge River Access (Upstream) 0.1 mi float · 4.5 ft min tread

Downstream take-out › Coal Creek River Access 9.3 mi float

North Fork · where this site sits

3,973 ft RM 58.2 872 ft of drop · 14.9 ft per mile average 3,102 ft confluence

Elevation sampled from USGS 10m along the Wild & Scenic centerline. Hover or focus a site to see the panorama closest to the water.

Homelands

The river system flows through the traditional homelands of the Ql'ispe (Kalispel or Pend d' Orielle) Ktunaxa/Ksanka (Kootenai), and Séliš (Salish or "Flathead") Nations, who have long cared for this landscape, and the Amskapii Pikuni (Blackfeet) Peoples who often traveled in the river corridor.

About the homelands