The river forms the southwestern border of Glacier National Park, offering spectacular vistas and opportunities to see grizzlies.
The Flathead is not one river, but a sprawling, cold-water empire that drains the western slopes of the Continental Divide. It comes in three distinct flavors, all of them spectacular.
The North Fork forms the western boundary of Glacier National Park. It is remote, impossibly clear, and choked with logjams that will wrap a canoe around a sweeper faster than you can shout a warning. It is wild country, grizzly country, and the water is cold enough to stop your heart.
The Middle Fork is the adrenaline factory. From Schafer Meadows down through the Great Bear Wilderness, it is a burly, technical run that demands absolute respect. As it parallels the highway toward West Glacier, it serves up continuous Class III and IV whitewater that draws rafters from across the country. It is loud, chaotic, and joyous.
The South Fork is the crown jewel. Winding through the Bob Marshall Wilderness, it offers some of the stoutest, most committed whitewater in the state, culminating in the terrifying and beautiful Meadow Creek Gorge. If you do not know exactly what you are doing, stay out of the gorge.
Put-in / access: Wayfarers State Park, Bigfork (48.0519, -114.0753) or West Shore State Park (47.9411, -114.2186)
Difficulty: Flatwater to open-water extreme (depending on wind)
Mileage: 200+ miles of shoreline
Season: June through September.
Hazards: Sudden, violent storms and massive wind waves. Cold water temperatures.
Permits: CSKT Recreation Permit required for the southern half of the lake (within the Flathead Reservation).
Guided trips: Yes, sea kayaking tours available.
Camping: Multiple state parks around the lake. Wild Horse Island is day-use only.
Visitor Access
- Nearest town: West Glacier
- Difficulty: Class I-II+(III)
- Season: May-August, with peak flows in early June.
- Mileage: 58 miles
- Permits & fees: A free launch permit is required for all watercraft in Glacier National Park. A backcountry permit is required for overnight camping within Glacier National Park boundaries. No permits are required for river use outside of GNP, but regulations apply for human waste, campfires, and stay limits.
- Hazards: Wood in the river, large log jams, braided channels, Fool Hen Rapids (Class III), Lower Fool Hen Rapids (Class III), The Ledge (Class III pour-over), and bridge pylons at Blankenship Bridge.
- Guided trips: Yes - Glacier Raft Company, Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, River Wild.
- Camping: Camping is unregulated along much of the route outside of Glacier National Park. For camping within Glacier National Park, a backcountry permit is required. Dispersed camping requires packing out human waste and a fire pan/blanket is recommended. Confirm current flows, closures, AIS inspections, and land-manager rules before you put in. Cold water and wood hazards kill—this guide is informational, not instruction.