Bear Creek To Essex


This is a scenic run that follows Highway 2.  This is a good stretch of river to extend the upper stretch or the stretch to Mocasin Creek.  At higher flows this run can get pushy with lot's of continous waves throughout.

Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Flathead, Middle Fork are between a bare minimum of 1,000cfs and a high of 10,000cfs. River conditions sourced from USGS 12359800, the S F Flathead R Ab Twin C Nr Hungry Horse Mt Remember only watercraft are permitted at Bear Creek to Essex.

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Whitewater Rapids

Obstacles on the river run
Bear Creek Rapid
Class II to III
Staircase Rapid
Class III- to III+
Goatlick Rapid
Class III- to III

Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Swiftcurrent Creek At Many Glacier Mt
USGS 05014500 		29 cfs 1.6 ft
Swiftcurrent Cr Ab Swiftcurrent Lk At Many Glacier
USGS 05014300 		439 cfs 2.9 ft
St. Mary River Near Babb Mt
USGS 05017500 		915 cfs 3.1 ft
Two Medicine River Bl South Fork Nr Browning Mt
USGS 06091700 		154 cfs 2.3 ft
Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12363000 		6,770 cfs 4.9 ft
South Crow Creek Near Ronan Mt
USGS 12375900 		9 cfs 1.9 ft
Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt
USGS 12358500 		1,890 cfs 2.9 ft
S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12362500 		3,010 cfs 6.3 ft
N F Milk River Ab St Mary Ca Nr Browning Mt
USGS 06133500 		19 cfs 1.8 ft
N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12355500 		1,530 cfs 2.7 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Many Glacier
SNOTEL 613 		21" -1"
Badger Pass
SNOTEL 307 		76" -1"
Emery Creek
SNOTEL 469 		23" 1"
N Fk Elk Creek
SNOTEL 657 		31" -2"
Moss Peak
SNOTEL 646 		84" 0"
Kraft Creek
SNOTEL 562 		17" -1"
Flattop Mtn.
SNOTEL 482 		105" -1"
Bisson Creek
SNOTEL 346 		19" -1"
North Fork Jocko
SNOTEL 667 		85" -1"
Stuart Mountain
SNOTEL 901 		77" -2"
Pike Creek
SNOTEL 693 		2" 1"
Noisy Basin
SNOTEL 664 		92" -1"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Devil Creek 14 4,392 ft
Peters Creek 6 3,595 ft
Devils Corkscrew 11 3,604 ft
Spotted Bear 13 3,734 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Schafer Meadows to Bear Creek (Upper) 4310.0cfs 26.0 Mi III+ to IV+
Bear Creek to Essex 1570.0cfs 4.71 Mi II to III+
Moccasin Creek to West Glacier (John Stevens Canyon) 4310.0cfs 9.0 Mi II+ to III+
Essex to Moccasin Creek 1570.0cfs 26.0 Mi II+