Packrafting for Beginners. Backpack and packraft across the Bob the easy way. South Fork Flathead Trip Report. Our group of five hiked in fifteen miles and launched on Youngs Creek, a tributary of the Flathead. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. South Fork Flathead Itinerary Day 1 – Pack Up and Ride. Plan to spend a quiet day, beginning with breakfast at your leisure. The South Fork of the Flathead in One Minute on Vimeo In addition to guided fly fishing, we offer drop float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. It’s basically a large loop starting at the Benchmark TH in the Bob. The South Fork only flows for 5 miles below Hungry Horse Dam before the river ends at the confluence of the Flathead River. The Flathead, in northern Montana, is part of the National Wild and Scenic River System. I’ll admit that the first time I picked up a packraft, I had a hard time trusting it. Float the south fork of the flathead. It is also very remote. South Fork Flathead Trip Report. 8-Day South Fork Fly-fishing Trip ~ $5900.00 South Fork Flathead DATES: For information on scheduling a South Fork Flathead trip in 2020, inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Beautiful scenery and a little bit of whitewater made for a fun, relaxing trip. REI • ZPacks • Hyperlite • Patagonia • Arc'teryx • RBTR • Drop • Backcountry • Feathered Friends • CampSaver • Gaia • Mountain Hardwear. 1 post • Page 1 of 1. We pack you, your gear and your float equipment to the confluence of Young’s and Danaher Creeks where the South Fork of the Flathead River begins. Six Montana paddlers took a five day backpacking and packrafting trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to float about 56 miles of the South Fork of the Flathead River in We had camped at the confluence that forms the South Fork and as we ate fish tacos and smoked pipes, we pondered what might lie down-river. The route was almost identical to a trip T and I did back in 2012 except this … After 15 miles of hiking, it’s time to put in to the South Fork of the Flathead. Post by ChadL » Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:21 am My buddy Peter and I were looking for an achievable packrafting objective that fit within (his) timeframe between grad school and his first year teaching middle school. This summer a packrafting adventure in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness Area […] Music: Josh Leake - … 2. ChadL Posts: 9 Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:31 pm. 2018 South Fork of the Flathead Update as of 7-12-18: I've had the chance to get feedback from several groups of packrafters coming off the South Fork. The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. video summary: […] The South Fork the Flathead River, a great wilderness float and home to some sublime under-river cobbles. We planned a nice 172km hiking/packraft loop on the classic South Fork Flathead and North Fork Sun Rivers. Last weekend (Friday-Sunday) I took three full days and traversed the Bob Marshall via the fastest and easiest route: hiking in from the Lodgepole TH near Ovando over Youngs Pass, down Youngs Creek and the South Fork, packrafting as much as possible, and fishing along the way. SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL BY CHECKING OUT THE GEAR: https://www.degreeswest.co SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE South Fork of The Flathead River in September of 2017. July.1.2015 July.1.2015 DaveC 2 Comments on South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork Flathead flow guide This was originally posted almost three years ago, but I’m bumping and updating it in light of record-setting low flows which will seriously effect packrafting this summer and fall. Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total) Forums are supported by our merchant partners . With a packraft, you can enter endless possibilities for extended adventures on both land and water. What: Packrafting, fishing, backpacking and hiking Danaher creek, South Fork of the Flathead River, the White River, and West Fork of the Sun River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. Variable weather, excellent fishing, and fantastic scenery. The fishing in this stretch, however, has a chance to become a much better fishery in the years ahead. South Fork Flathead Packraft. Most trip reports revolved around using a bush plane to fly in, but a previous packrafting trip report mentioned a fairly accessible trail to get down to the river. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. Youngs creek has some incredible fishing. We had camped at the confluence that forms the South Fork and as we ate fish tacos and smoked pipes, we pondered what might lie down-river. Here's the gist: 1) Hike 16 miles into the wilderness with a very heavy pack. South Fork Flathead River July 13-24. 5 days down the South Fork of the Flathead. May 20, 2020 - Updated 7/15/20 Ready to book your packraft rental? Class I-II / PR 1-3. Bob Marshall Packrafting 2016. by dandurston July 14, 2016 Leave a Comment on Bob Marshall Packrafting 2016. Then we could have floated out to Gibson Reservoir on the Sun River. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. It's a long journey to get there. Successful maiden packrafting voyage on the South Fork of the Flathead river in Montana. The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the best packraft river in the lower-48. This will be an epic trip during the perfect time, where the flows will be good, the trout hungry, and before wildfire season kicks off! Three days of up-stream hiking set the stage for four days of floating back to the trailhead with the unexpected twist of needing to escape a rapidly growing wildfire by foot. For the drop floats we usually depart from the Owl Creek Trailhead located next to Holland Lake. Day 2 – Relax. The South Fork of the Flathead River in Montana is one of those classic packrafting trips my husband and I had been scheming about for years. Variable weather, excellent fishing, and fantastic scenery. Bull trout, although plentiful, have been protected since 1993. 7/23/2018 0 Comments Last week Nate and I took a week off of work to spend 5 days in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Fishing the South Fork Flathead River Below Hungry Horse Dam. The Middle Fork of the Flathead had never been on my radar before, but a quick Google revealed a gem of a river that actually inspired the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act back in 1968. The Legends Packraft the South Flathead(MT) ... Our likely candidates were the South Fork of the Flathead and the South Fork of the Sun. Additionally, I wanted to link the valleys together with interesting passes to add a challenge with the potential reward of a short cut if successful. The day after tomorrow I’m headed into the Bob for a trip I’ve wanted to do for years, but was skeptical would ever happen; a pre-melt packraft on the South Fork of the Flathead. Taken as a whole the South Fork is without question the best packraft in the Bob, but which section you prefer will always be a good subject for debate. Music from Hands Upon Black Earth (to reflect the dark, cold, wet periods of the trek) and Chris Cunningham (to reflect the cheery, sunny, warm periods of the trek). Unlike the other forks of the Flathead River, the South Fork fishery is not a migratory fishery owing to the completion of Hungry Horse Dam in 1952. Seeing the South Fork of the Flathead River for the first time in 2011, was really where the idea of starting a packraft rental company began. These little boats are a fantastic way to explore hard to access rivers. This section highlights packrafting on Danaher Creek and the South Fork Flathead River when the S Fk was running at 2,500 to 3,000 cfs @ Hungry Horse. Book online now! Post by Tori.newburn » Tue May 12, 2020 3:11 pm I’m looking for partners to join me Packraft and fly fish the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness this July! Seeing the South Fork of the Flathead River for the first time in 2011, was really where the idea of starting a packraft rental company began. At the moment Alpacka packrafts are the only game in town. 4: South Fork of the Flathead, Big Prairie to the White River. Leave from Benchmark Trailhead to Youngs Creek and Danaher River confluence for 2 nights. Home › Forums › Campfire › Post-Trip Reports › South Fork Flathead Packraft. In addition to the world class cutthroat trout fishing, the South Fork of the Flathead is also one of the few areas in the lower 48 states where you can legally fish for bull trout. Plan A was start at Lodgepole TH on the south side, hike to Youngs Creek, float to White River then hump back over White River Pass. It is very scenic. Expect to catch cutthroats averaging 8 to 10 inches. Trusting your entire expedition to a thin rubber boat might sound like a recipe for disaster. A week long self-supported trip along the South Fork of the Flathead River. Kayaking for dummies and old folks. However, a weather forecast for substantial precipitation over the first two days put all that into jeopardy. The South Fork of the Flathead, located in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, is a horsepack in/float out trip of 5-7 days, putting you over feisty Cutthroats to 22″ and “Bull Trout” to 15 pounds. The South Fork in March: a route planning case study. Here is the (high concept, ohhh!) Other packrafts exist, but they are either too fragile for moving water use in a wilderness setting, or too heavy. 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