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Idaho | Southeast Idaho / Caribou County

Bear RiverGrace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon)

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.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 6.2 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 3-6 hours plus scouting and portage decisions
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Bear River below Alexander Reservoir in Idaho.
River contextBear River below Alexander Reservoir; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Steven J. Gerner / U.S. Geological Survey via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 6.2 river milesGrace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon)
DifficultyhardDifficulty follows the cited manager guide where stated and otherwise is deliberately conservative. Current flow, debris, diversions, weather, and party skill can materially change the trip.
ShuttleCar shuttleShort but road-condition-sensitive shuttle between Grace Dam Road and the Grace Powerhouse area; stage the take-out before any release-day launch.
PermitsNone notedNo special river permit is listed, but release-day instructions, PacifiCorp facility rules, Idaho AIS/PFD requirements, and current road/closure notices control access.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is assumed. Use a lawful Grace/Lava Hot Springs-area basecamp; the canyon access points are day-use staging locations.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through early fall is the normal planning window. Verify snowmelt, releases, fire or fish-protection closures, water temperature, weather, and access status immediately before travel.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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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.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Grace Dam Bridge / Grace Dam Road put-in
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.

Finish

Take-out

Grace Powerhouse take-out
Open mapDirections to take-out

Confirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

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

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Bear River below Alexander Reservoir in Idaho.
Bear River below Alexander Reservoir; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Steven J. Gerner / U.S. Geological Survey via Wikimedia Commons
U.S. government work / public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 10080000 - Bear River below Grace Dam, near Grace, ID

    Gauge is on the named waterbody and supplies context only.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • Photo contextBear River regional context photograph

    The gallery photo is visual context. It may show another part of the same river or watershed and does not show current conditions at every access point.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

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Photos

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Idaho

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Idaho route guideBrowse every tracked Idaho route.Southeast Idaho / Caribou CountyJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Bear River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Grace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon) route on the Bear River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Grace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon) route on the Bear River start and end?

This route starts at Grace Dam Bridge / Grace Dam Road put-in and ends at Grace Powerhouse take-out, about 6.2 river miles on the water.

Is the Grace Dam Bridge to Grace Powerhouse (Black Canyon) route on the Bear River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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