North Fork of the Flathead
Fifty-eight designated miles from the Canadian border down to Blankenship, most of it along a gravel road on the Glacier boundary. Scenic above the Camas Road bridge, Recreational below it. Generally Class II at summer flows.
Wind 2 mph SSW
- FR 91° 60° Fri: high 91 degrees, low 60 degrees, Overcast.
- SA 94° 58° Sat: high 94 degrees, low 58 degrees, Overcast.
- SU 75° 50° Sun: high 75 degrees, low 50 degrees, Clear.
- MO 65° 43° Mon: high 65 degrees, low 43 degrees, Overcast.
- TU 79° 42° Tue: high 79 degrees, low 42 degrees, Clear.
58.3 miles, site by site
872 ft of drop · 14.9 ft per mile
Ford
RM 44 · 3,712 ft
Scene 12 · at the water
Polebridge River Access (Upstream)
RM 33.9 · 3,544 ft
Scene 11 · at the water
Coal Creek
RM 24.5 · 3,419 ft
Scene 10 · at the water
Big Creek
RM 15.3 · 3,313 ft
Scene 9 · at the water
Great Northern Flats
RM 11 · 3,264 ft
Scene 11 · at the water
Glacier Rim
RM 3.8 · 3,152 ft
Scene 16 · at the water
Elevation sampled from USGS 10m along the Wild & Scenic centerline. Hover or focus a site to see the panorama closest to the water.
Access, to scale
River miles descend downstreamWild and Scenic designation
The Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead is designated for 58.3 river miles, from the Canadian Border to its confluence with the Middle Fork Flathead at Blankenship, but begins 31 miles upstream in Ktunaxa Nation, British Columbia, Canada. The river is designated Scenic from the Canadian Border to the Camas Road entrance to Glacier National Park, and Recreational from the Camas Road bridge to its confluence with the Middle Fork. The North Fork is generally Class II during summer recreational flows, though specific features may present higher risks at certain levels.
Designation language from the Flathead Rivers Alliance
Access sites, upstream to down
7 of 10 captured in 360
Capture coming
Canadian Border
The first access point for the Wild and Scenic North Fork Flathead River. Ramp accesses a side channel, requiring a swift entry at high water and…
VAULT TOILET · SURVEY SHEET
Ford
Located at the historic Ford Cabin, this river access is frequently shared with stock users or hunters. Larger stones embedded in bank can make footing uneven.
VAULT TOILET, USFS RENTAL CABIN NEAR SITE · 360° · SURVEY SHEET
Capture coming
Schnaus Cabin
This undeveloped, unofficial river access is employed by some users who want a primitive camping experience at their launch or takeout site.
NO FACILITIES · SURVEY SHEET
Polebridge River Access (Upstream)
This loop upstream of the Polebridge entrance to Glacier National Park hosts a vault toilet and at low water contains an even, step-like trail down the…
VAULT TOILET · 360° · SURVEY SHEET
Capture coming
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…
NO FACILITIES · SURVEY SHEET
Coal Creek
Undeveloped river access, with no vault toilet or site improvements. This site occasionally catches logs and wood floating downstream at high water, which can block or…
NO FACILITIES · 360° · SURVEY SHEET
Big Creek
This is a paid access site managed by a concessionaire, with users required to pay a cash user fee to camp hosts or a deposit box.
VAULT TOILET, POTABLE WATER, PAID CAMPSITES WITH FIRE RING AND PICNIC TABLE, BEAR-RESISTANT FOOD STORAGE LOCKER · 360° · SURVEY SHEET
Great Northern Flats
This access is located at a National Forest camp site and features a vault toilet and designated trailer parking but no vehicle access to the river.
VAULT TOILET · 360° · SURVEY SHEET
Glacier Rim
The last river access prior to the confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead at Blankenship. Seasonal high-water cycles can create variable cross…
VAULT TOILET · 360° · SURVEY SHEET
Wurtz
A North Fork launch upstream of Ford, on the North Fork Road. Captured in 360; no measured survey published yet.
360°The road up
North Fork Road · July 2026The North Fork Road is gravel for most of its length and slower than the mileage suggests. Budget more time than the map tells you, especially with a trailer.
Terrain360, July 2026
Plan a float
Distances from river miles · times estimated at today's flowPick a put-in and a take-out. Conditions change rapidly on this water; check the gauge the morning you float, not the night before.
| Put in | Take out | Miles | Est. time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Border RM 58 | Ford RM 44 | 14.0 | 4-7 hr | Class II |
| Ford RM 44 | Schnaus Cabin RM 39.3 | 4.7 | 1¼-2¼ hr | Class II |
| Schnaus Cabin RM 39.3 | Polebridge River Access (Upstream) RM 33.9 | 5.4 | 1½-2¾ hr | Class II |
| Polebridge River Access (Downstream) RM 33.8 | Coal Creek RM 24.5 | 9.3 | 2¾-4¾ hr | Class II |
| Coal Creek RM 24.5 | Big Creek RM 15.3 | 9.2 | 2¾-4½ hr | Class II |
| Big Creek RM 15.3 | Great Northern Flats RM 11 | 4.3 | 1¼-2¼ hr | Class II |
| Great Northern Flats RM 11 | Glacier Rim RM 3.8 | 7.2 | 2-3½ hr | Class II |
Distances are exact, from the river miles FRA recorded at each access. Times are an estimate only: 2.0-3.5 mph of travel at today's flow, before you stop to fish, scout, or eat. A loaded raft is slower than a kayak. Class ratings are the fork's overall rating and shift with flow. Always recreate within the ability level of everyone in your float party.
The Three Forks flow through the homelands of the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ktunaxa peoples, frequented by the Amskapi Piikani. About the homelands