RIVERBETA · pocket sheet
Polebridge to Big Creek
North Fork Flathead · I-II · 18.5 mi · 10 ft/mi · ≈5 hrs · June–August
NO851 cfs
The run
Long scenic float, not whitewater. Glacier NP boundary on river-left. Best as part of a multi-day. Wood hazards are the main concern.
No named rapids on record — read and run, but wood moves.
⚠ Wood & hazards
- May 26, 2026 — New wood buildup around Home Bottoms Ranch. It looks river-wide from upstream, but there's a gap on the inside corner to navigate through. (Trevor)
- May 25, 2026 — Watch for strainers near Coal Creek. (Same report: everything ran clean at 6,000-7,000 cfs before the early-June rise.) (James)
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
P PolebridgeT Big Creekshuttle 17.5 mi · ≈39 min
Last 7 days · USGS 12355500
USGS 12355500 · Conditions as of Sep 1, 2026, 1:45 AM · Partly Sunny, 85°F. Printed Sep 1, 2026, 2:38 AM— levels swing, wood moves. Verify the gauge and scout anything you can't read from upstream.