Basics
- River:
- Flathead River
- Class:
- Class I to II+
- River Length
- 58 miles
- Time:
- 1/2 day - 5 days
- Season:
- May to August
Description
Flowing from headwaters deep in the Flathead Range of British Columbia, the Wild & Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River enters the United States and forms the western boundary of Glacier National Park. Fed by snowmelt from the Canadian Flathead Range, the Livingston Range and the Whitefish Range, the North Fork of the Flathead has some of the most spectacular scenery of any river in Montana, offering unparalleled vistas of the jagged peaks located within Glacier National Park.
The North Fork of the Flathead features miles of scenic water, interrupted by occasional bouncy wave trains and several sections of braided channels. Emerald green waters course past riverbanks covered with pastel colored gravels. Thick pine forests mixed with broad meadows line the banks and wildlife viewing is superb, with frequent sightings of elk, deer, moose and occasional sightings of black bears, grizzly bears and wolves. With only minor development along the non-park side of the river, the North Fork keeps a near-wilderness feel for most of its length.
Due to its free-flowing, snow-fed nature, the boatable season on the upper reaches of the North Fork is limited to late spring through mid-summer. The lower stretches of the North Fork can be floated well into early fall. Commercial trips ranging from a half day to 5 days in length are offered on the North Fork.
