Polebridge To Big Creek
Another class I to II+ section similar to above polebridge. This section is worth floating if you are doing a multi-day trip. There are not a lot of rapids here but plenty of class V scenery. Watch for wood hazards and shallow sections at lower flows. At higher flows expect lots of swift water and very few eddy's.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Flathead, North Fork are between a bare minimum of 1,000cfs and a high of 11,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 12362500, the S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Polebridge to Big Creek.
Run Stats
| Status | Runnable |
| Class Level | II to III- |
| Elevation | 3,049 ft |
| Run Length | 20.0 Mi |
| Streamflow Discharge | 13200 cfs |
| Gage Height | 11.4 ft |
| Air Temperature | 70° |
| River | Flathead, North Fork |
| Reporting Streamgage |
S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12362500 |
|
Log jam
Class II to III- |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Swiftcurrent Creek At Many Glacier Mt
USGS 05014500 |
685 cfs | 3.3 ft |
|
Flathead River Near Bigfork Mt
USGS 12369000 |
4,310 cfs | ft |
|
Swan River Near Bigfork Mt
USGS 12370000 |
5,950 cfs | 6.0 ft |
|
Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12363000 |
42,400 cfs | 13.1 ft |
|
N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12355500 |
13,700 cfs | 7.8 ft |
|
Flathead River At Flathead British Columbia
USGS 12355000 |
3,170 cfs | 7.5 ft |
|
Swiftcurrent Cr Ab Swiftcurrent Lk At Many Glacier
USGS 05014300 |
113 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt
USGS 12358500 |
15,200 cfs | 7.1 ft |
|
S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
USGS 12362500 |
13,200 cfs | 11.4 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman Lake - Glacier National Park | 50 | 4,065 ft | |||
| Moose Lake | 7 | 5,680 ft | |||
| Quartz Creek - Glacier National Park | None | 3,516 ft | |||
| Kintla Lake - Glacier National Park | None | 4,027 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Mountain Resort | " | ° | " |
| Whitefish Mountain Resort | 25" | 62° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polebridge to Big Creek | 4590.0cfs | 20.0 Mi | II to III- |
| Border to Polebridge | 3170.0cfs | 24.2 Mi | II to II+ |
| Glacier RIm to Blankenship Bridge and Confluence | 4590.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II |
| Big Creek to Glacier Rim | 13200.0cfs | 8.0 Mi | III- to III |
| West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge | 4310.0cfs | 5.5 Mi | II+ to III |