South Fork of the Flathead
Sixty designated miles from the Youngs and Danaher confluence to the head of Hungry Horse Reservoir. Most of it is Wild and hard to reach. Below the Spotted Bear Ranger Station the designation changes to Recreational and developed ramps begin.
Wind 1 mph NE
- FR 92° 64° Fri: high 92 degrees, low 64 degrees, Overcast.
- SA 97° 63° Sat: high 97 degrees, low 63 degrees, Overcast.
- SU 76° 53° Sun: high 76 degrees, low 53 degrees, Clear.
- MO 71° 45° Mon: high 71 degrees, low 45 degrees, Drizzle.
- TU 80° 45° Tue: high 80 degrees, low 45 degrees, Overcast.
The South Fork contains primarily class II whitewater, with the exception of the class V/VI Meadow Creek Gorge just upstream of the Cedar Flats access. This 5 mile river segment is not recommended for floating, with narrows of less than 3 feet, powerful hydraulics, and undercut rocks. Users are advised to always plan ahead and to recreate within their ability levels, particularly in remote areas far from assistance.
Flows below Hungry Horse Dam are controlled by Reclamation releases, not by snowmelt alone. They can change fast and without local weather to warn you. Check the release schedule as well as the gauge.
60 miles, site by site
1,129 ft of drop · 19.3 ft per mileElevation 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 South Fork of the Flathead is designated for 60 miles, from the confluence of Youngs and Danaher Creeks to the head of the Hungry Horse Reservoir. The majority of this section is Wild designated, with very challenging, undeveloped backcountry access. Below the Spotted Bear Ranger Station, the designation changes to Recreational and several developed boat ramps allow for launches or take-outs.
Designation language from the Flathead Rivers Alliance
Access sites, upstream to down
2 of 6 captured in 360Cedar Flats
This site provides river access to the Wild section of the South Fork Flathead via a steep foot trail from a marked vehicle pull off/parking area…
NO FACILITIESSouth Fork
An undeveloped cobble and pebble boat ramp provides river access at the start of the Recreational section.
VAULT TOILETBilly Garrett Memorial Bridge
Vehicle accessible packed dirt and cobble river access.
VAULT TOILETUpper Twin Creek
The final take-out before the slack water of Hungry Horse reservoir.
NO FACILITIES
Hungry Horse HWY 2 Bridge
Launch at the US Highway 2 bridge over the main stem, just below the South Fork confluence.
360°
Reservoir Road River Boat Launch Below Dam
South Fork launch below Hungry Horse Dam. Flows here are set by dam releases, not snowmelt.
360°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Flats RM 55.8 | South Fork RM 46.5 | 9.3 | 2-3¾ hr | Class II |
| South Fork RM 46.5 | Billy Garrett Memorial Bridge RM 44.6 | 1.9 | ½-¾ hr | Class II |
| Billy Garrett Memorial Bridge RM 44.6 | Upper Twin Creek RM 40.8 | 3.8 | ¾-1½ hr | Class II |
Distances are exact, from the river miles FRA recorded at each access. Times are an estimate only: 2.5-4.5 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