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RIVERBETA · pocket sheet

West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge

Middle Fork Flathead · II+ (III) · 5.4 mi · 8 ft/mi · ≈2 hrs · May–October
NO541 cfs
steady over 24h
prime 1,500–12,000 cfs
sunset 6:43 PM

Mile by mile

  • 1Devil's ElbowIII · RM 14.1 — A few hundred yards downstream of the jump rock at the McDonald Creek confluence. Enter center-right and work right to avoid flippy rocks at the end on river-left of the turn. The only significant rapid on this run.

Emergency

  • Emergencies. Dial 911. Cell coverage is limited throughout the corridor — plan to be self-reliant between accesses.
  • Primary rescue. North Valley Search & Rescue covers all three forks of the Flathead.
  • Nearest hospitals. Logan Health Whitefish and Logan Health Medical Center (Kalispell) are the primary regional facilities; serious trauma is flown to Kalispell or Missoula.
Field notes
West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge river map
P West GlacierT Blankenship Bridgeshuttle 10.6 mi · ≈22 min
Last 7 days · USGS 12358500678598504659MONWEDFRISUN

USGS 12358500 · Conditions as of Oct 18, 2026, 11:45 PM · Mostly Sunny, 65°F. Printed Oct 19, 2026, 12:58 AM— levels swing, wood moves. Verify the gauge and scout anything you can't read from upstream.