See all 2 routes on Bear River
Idaho | Southeast Idaho / Caribou County
Bear River
Grace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon)
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A roughly 6-mile Class IV-V Bear River canyon run below Grace Dam, with negotiated PacifiCorp/American Whitewater releases and a Grace Powerhouse take-out.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Grace Dam Bridge / Grace Dam Road put-inUse only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
Take-out
Grace Powerhouse take-outConfirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
- Confirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
- Private banks are common. Do not land, scout, portage, or camp outside a signed public site or manager-designated corridor.
Watch for
- release timing and ramp-rate changes
- Class V Boo Boo and other rocky rapids
- powerhouse restrictions and mandatory take-out
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Bear River below Grace Dam, near Grace, ID |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 450 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater/PacifiCorp release context: 900 cfs or inflow on release days, about 200 cfs between releases; 900-1,200 cfs planning window for the current flowline project |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route corridorGrace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon); About 6.2 river miles
American Whitewater Black Canyon of the Bear reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlGrace Dam Bridge / Grace Dam Road put-in to Grace Powerhouse take-out
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 10080000 - Bear River below Grace Dam, near Grace, ID
Gauge is on the named waterbody and supplies context only.
- Threshold postureGauge-linked range used for live scoring
The cited route guidance is tied to this gauge and reach; hazards, closures, weather, and local inspection still override the score.
- Safety and land managementCurrent manager notices override this record
Class IV-V canyon water includes long rocky rapids and significant hydraulic consequences; use a proven expert crew, helmet, rescue kit, and a craft appropriate to the release level. PacifiCorp and American Whitewater release operations can change during the Grace flowline replacement. Confirm the current flow forecast, release window, road status, and event instructions immediately before traveling. PacifiCorp's recreation plan documents a maintained Grace Dam put-in and Black Canyon take-out with parking and hand-launch facilities. Confirm current legal staging, road status, facility restrictions, and a safe river entry; Grace Powerhouse remains the required downstream take-out.
- Camping classificationnearby_basecamp
No on-route camping is assumed. Use a lawful Grace/Lava Hot Springs-area basecamp; the canyon access points are day-use staging locations.
- Image decisionBear River regional context photograph
Approved route-area or same-river context; it does not depict every endpoint or current conditions.
- Overlap decisionRetained as a distinct access-to-access itinerary
Adjacent cards use different public endpoints and provide a different trip length, hazard set, skill tier, or operating boundary.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- American Whitewater Black Canyon of the Bear reach record
- Official access/map control
- USGS 10080000 monitoring location
- USGS 10080000 current conditions
- Additional threshold support
- PacifiCorp Bear River release information
- American Whitewater 2026 flowline update
- PacifiCorp Grace Dam and Last Chance recreation site plan
- Idaho Fish and Game Black Canyon public-access description
- USGS Grace Dam gauge
- Bear River regional context photograph
- Idaho boating and invasive-species requirements
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Bear River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Bear River?
Paddle Today watches Bear River below Grace Dam, near Grace, ID and uses 450 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Bear River route start and end?
This route starts at Grace Dam Bridge / Grace Dam Road put-in and ends at Grace Powerhouse take-out, about About 6.2 river miles on the water.
Is this Bear River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.