Idaho | North-Central Idaho / Clearwater corridor
Clearwater River
McKay's Bend to Pink House
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 20.5-mile mellow Clearwater float linking two developed BLM access sites with camping, concrete ramps, and Highway 12 shuttle options.
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
McKay's Bend Recreation SiteUse only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
Take-out
Pink House Recreation SiteConfirm 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
- cold water and wind
- strainers and changing channel edges
- ramp congestion and seasonal low-water access
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 | Clearwater River at Orofino, 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 | 1,700 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Partial source data |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | GoFloatThatRiver estimated kayak/canoe planning band: 1,700-6,900 cfs (not a scored cutoff) |
| 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 corridorMcKay's Bend to Pink House; About 20.5 river miles
BLM Clearwater River guide and maps identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlMcKay's Bend Recreation Site to Pink House Recreation Site
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13340000 - Clearwater River at Orofino, ID
Gauge is on the named waterbody and supplies context only.
- Threshold postureNumeric cue retained for planning
The route remains planning-only; no live go/no-go score is asserted.
- Safety and land managementCurrent manager notices override this record
This is moving water rather than a canalized lazy float; wear PFDs, keep a conservative shoreline plan, and be ready for cold-water immersion and changing wind. McKay's Bend and Pink House are public BLM sites, but ramps, parking, fees, seasonal closures, and shoreline conditions can change; confirm both endpoints before launch. The 1,700-6,900 cfs band is a secondary percentile-derived planning estimate. It is not a route-specific safety limit; current conditions, debris, weather, and craft choice control the decision.
- Camping classificationendpoint_campground
McKay's Bend and Pink House both provide developed endpoint camping under current BLM fees and rules; do not assume informal shoreline camping between them.
- Image decisionClearwater-Salmon watershed 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.
- BLM Clearwater River guide and maps
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13340000 monitoring location
- USGS 13340000 current conditions
- GoFloatThatRiver estimated kayak/canoe planning band: 1,700-6,900 cfs (not a scored cutoff)
- Additional threshold support
- BLM Pink House Recreation Site
- Idaho Fish and Game Clearwater flow links
- Clearwater-Salmon watershed 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
Clearwater River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Clearwater River?
Paddle Today watches Clearwater River at Orofino, ID and uses 1,700 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Clearwater River route start and end?
This route starts at McKay's Bend Recreation Site and ends at Pink House Recreation Site, about About 20.5 river miles on the water.
Is this Clearwater River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.