Current River Conditions & Levels (USGS & NW River Forecast Center)

Current Snowpack Conditions- Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)

Flathead National Forest Alerts & Notices

Flathead River Patrol Reports start mid to late June and early July.

www.fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/safety-ethics/river-conditions

Glacier National Park trail, road, fire, and other condition and closure reports.

Montana Department of Transportation Alerts, Closures, & Incidents

This is your one stop for all restrictions, closures, and reopenings of FWP managed lands and waterbodies that may be affected by floods, fire, drought or major maintenance activities.

Missoula Office

Great Falls Office

Columbia Falls

Essex

Hungry Horse

Marias Pass

Polebridge

West Glacier

Fernie, British Columbia

Glacier National Park Webcams

Montana Department of Transportation Cameras

Visit Flathead Rivers Alliance’s Facebook and Instagram for photos and videos of current river conditions from Flathead Rivers Alliance staff and river users.

Interactive map displays the dates of most recent trail clearing for Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex trails. Trail condition reports are provided by the USFS and are updated bi-weekly June to October.

Bear Creek River Access - R.M. 53.4

Essex River Access - R.M. 48.7

Paola River Access - R.M. 41.6

Cascadilla River Access - R.M. 30.6

Moccasin Creek River Access - R.M. 23.0

West Glacier River Access - R.M. 14.9

Blankenship River Access (East) - R.M. 9.5

Blankenship River Access (West) - R.M. 9.5

House of Mystery River Access - Main Flathead River

Canadian Border River Access - R.M. 58

Ford River Access - R.M. 44

Schnaus Cabin River Access - R.M. 39.3

Polebridge River Access (Upstream) - R.M. 33.9

Polebridge River Access (Downstream) - R.M. 33.8

Coal Creek River Access - R.M. 24.5

Big Creek River Access - R.M. 15.3

Great Northern Flats River Access - R.M 11

Glacier Rim River Access - R.M. 3.8

Cedar Flats River Access - R.M. 55.5

South Fork River Access - R.M. 46.5

Billy Garrett Memorial Bridge Access - R.M. 44.5

Twin Creek River Access - R.M. 44.5

PFD/Life Jacket

Proper Clothing (Weather, Location, & Activity) *Dry Suit, Splash Top, Wet Suit, etc

Warm Layers (Avoid Cotton)

Proper footwear

Drybag

Helmet (Activity Dependent)

Gloves

Bear Spray

Satellite Communication Device *Expect limited to no cell service coverage on the Three Forks of the Flathead River

River Partner

Food

Drinking Water

Water Treatment/Filtration System

Headlamp

First Aid Kit

Throw Bag

Whistle

Phone/Communication Device (cell service limited)

Bear Spray

IGBC Approved Food Storage Device

Fire Starter, Fire Pan, Fire Blanket, Cook Stove

Sun Protection

Groover, Rocket Box, Wag Bags, etc (proper human and pet waste disposal)

Repair Kit

Three Forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River Float Guide -

Purchase Online at: www.flatheadrivers.org/fra-shop

Purchase In-Person at:

• Hungry Horse Ranger Station: 10 Hungry Horse Dr, Hungry Horse, MT 59919

• Flathead National Forest- Supervisor’s Office: 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901

• Local sporting/outdoor goods stores

• Flathead Rivers Alliance Events

Flathead National Forest River Corridor Regulations & Brochures

• Middle Fork of the Flathead River Regulations

• North Fork of the Flathead River Regulations

• South Fork of the Flathead River Regulations

Flathead National Forest Alerts & Notices

NCDE Special Food Storage Order

Glacier National Park River Regulations

Montana Boating Regulations

Montana Fishing Regulations (Western District)

Map/GPS

Motor Vehicle Use Maps: Spotted Bear Ranger District, Glacier View Ranger District, Hungry Horse Ranger District (FREE)- Available at:

• Hungry Horse Ranger Station: 10 Hungry Horse Dr, Hungry Horse, MT 59919

• Flathead National Forest- Supervisor’s Office: 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901

A Plan (Make sure to share with someone not on trip too)

Know Your Skill Level

American Whitewater

How to Fit a Life Jacket

• An overnight backcountry camping permit.

• Boaters must have their non-motorized watercraft inspected for AIS by an NPS inspector prior to river camping on the Glacier side, even if they are launching from the Flathead National Forest.

• Personal flotation device (PFD). Must be carried on board the vessel. All children 12 and under must wear a PFD when the vessel is underway.

• Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) approved bear resistant food container.

• A self-contained human waste disposal system. (groover, rocket box, WAG bags, etc.)

• All attractants (food, beverages, garbage, pet food) need to be stored in a manner that bears cannot access them.

  There are several ways river users can meet this regulation:

  1. Store all attractants inside a hard sided vehicle when not using them or when more than 100 feet away from camp,

  2. Hang all attractants between two trees at least 10 feet high and 4 feet away from the trunk of the tree,

  3. Store all attractants in an approved bear resistant container; most coolers and traditional dry boxes are not approved bear resistant containers, OR

  4. Keep a person in camp. At least one adult person must be physically present within 100 feet of the attractants who is awake and alert and in immediate control of attractants. All attractants must be stored as mentioned in 1-3 above at night, unless they are being immediately used.

• River users must have all attractants stored within IGBC bear-resistant containers on their boats, removed from the boat and stored properly on shore, or have a person attending attractants during daylight hours.

• Solid human waste containment systems are required on the Middle Fork and North Fork; they are recommended on the South Fork, see regulation tables.

• Minimize campfires by using a camp stove whenever possible.

• Fire pans or fire blankets are required or recommended.

PFD/Life Jacket Rental Locations:

• Glacier Guides & Montana Raft Co.

• Glacier Raft Co.

• Montana Kayak Academy

• Sportsman & Ski Haus

Loaner Life Jacket Station Locations (Memorial Day-Labor Day):

• West Glacier River Access Boat Launch

• Glacier Rim River Access Boat Launch

IGBC Approved Bear Resistant Food Storage Devices Retail Locations:

Can be purchased at most rafting companies, fly shops, and outdoor retail shops in the Flathead Valley.

Loaner Location:

Flathead Rivers Alliance has a limited number of IGBC approved YETI Tundra 65 Coolers for loan. *More information coming

Self-contained human waste disposal system. (groover, rocket box, WAG bags, etc.)

River Toilet System Rental Locations:

Glacier Guides & Montana Raft Co.

Glacier Raft Co.

*Don’t forget to contain pet waste and dispose of properly. Pack it out.

Fire Pan and Grill Rental Locations:

Glacier Guides & Montana Raft Co.

Glacier National Park River Camping Permits

Glacier National Park Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection

Montana Fishing License

Glacier National Park Bear Safety

Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee

Food/Wildlife Food Attractant Storage Order

There is limited emergency communication services in the river corridors and limited to no cell phone coverage. Flathead County Sheriff’s office is responsible for river rescue. For emergencies or to report lost/overdue persons DIAL 911.

North Valley Rescue is the primary response agency for the northeastern half of Flathead County, is based out of Columbia Falls, and was founded in 1972. Its response area includes the North, Middle, and South fork drainages of the Flathead River.

If you have possible information regarding natural resources crimes such as poaching, vandalism, littering, cultural resource theft, or other resource crimes.

Call 1-800-TIP-MONT

Report a Violation Online

Contact your local warden Warden District Map

North Fork of the Flathead River- Tyler Melville tyler.melville@mt.gov (406) 249-6231

Middle & South Forks of the Flathead River- Ben Chappelow BChappelow@mt.gov (406) 250-2097

If you see an unoccupied boat (any watercraft) call 911 as soon as possible. Provide them with these details:

+Where you saw it
+What time you saw it
+What you saw in it
+Did it look like it flipped or floated away from a “lunch stop”

If you had to abandon your boat (any watercraft) please contact Flathead National Forest Supervisor Office (406) 758-5208 as soon as possible. They will contact the appropriate resources for recovery. That way they have details that persons are safe and accounted for and it is not an active emergency.

Glacier Guides & Montana Raft Company

Glacier Raft Company

Great Northern Whitewater Raft

Wild River Adventures

Snowy Springs Outfitters (upper Middle Fork only)

Wilderness River Outfitters (upper Middle Fork only)

*We try our best to keep list updated.

Glacier Guides & Montana Raft Company

Glacier Raft Company

Wild River Adventures

*We try our best to keep list updated.

406 Wilderness Outfitters

Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters

Diamond R Guest Ranch

Mills Wilderness Adventures

Montana Wilderness Lodge

Rich Ranch Outfitting

Spotted Bear Ranch

South Fork Outfitters

Wilderness River Outfitters

*We try our best to keep list updated.

Backcountry Flying Experience (406) 890-3419

Glacier Jet Center (406) 755-5362

Minuteman Aviation (406) 728-9363

Mission Mountain Flying Service (406) 240-0395

Piedmont Air Service (406) 442-8108

Red Dog Flying Service (907) 205-7383

Red Eagle Aviation (406) 755-2376

*We try our best to keep list updated.

Great Northern Whitewater Raft- River Training & Safety Courses

Flathead Valley Community College- Outdoor Recreation Courses

Montana Kayak Academy

Montana Rescue

Glacier Raft Co & Glacier Anglers- Rowing & Fishing Courses
*Call for course info 1.406.888.5454

Wild River Adventures/Montana River Guides- Swiftwater Technician Training Course

Flathead Raft Company- River Skills Courses

Aerie Backcountry Medicine

Crested Butte Outdoors

Flathead Valley Community College

Flathead Wilderness Medicine

Idaho Rescue Training

NOLS Wilderness Medicine

CPR & FIRST AID

Anytime Anywhere CPR