Idaho | Southwest Idaho / Boise National Forest
Deadwood River
Deadwood Reservoir to Julie Creek
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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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 14-mile Class IV-V Upper Deadwood backcountry run below Deadwood Dam to the former Julie Creek Campground, with a direct release gauge and a mandatory continuation plan because the old vehicle access has washed 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
Deadwood Reservoir 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
Julie Creek Campground (former access; continue downstream)Confirm 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
- large wood and portage decisions
- Class V drops
- cold dam-release water
- former Julie Creek access
- remote shuttle
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 | Deadwood River below Deadwood Reservoir near Lowman, 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 |
| Target band | 700 cfs to 1,300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater direct-release runnable window: 400-2,000 cfs |
| 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 corridorDeadwood Reservoir to Julie Creek; About 14.3 river miles to Julie Creek; about 23 miles if continuing to Deadwood Campground
American Whitewater Upper Deadwood reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlDeadwood Reservoir put-in to Julie Creek Campground (former access; continue downstream)
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13236500 - Deadwood River below Deadwood Reservoir near Lowman, 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
The Upper Deadwood is continuous Class IV with Class V rapids and frequent large wood. Scout every horizon line, portage whenever wood or hydraulics are uncertain, and carry rescue gear and satellite communication. Julie Creek Campground is a former endpoint with no vehicle access. The practical exit is to continue through the Lower Deadwood to the existing Deadwood Campground take-out; do not plan a vehicle shuttle to Julie Creek. Use the direct Deadwood release gauge's 400-2,000 cfs runnable envelope only as planning context. Dam releases, current wood, cold water, and same-day inspection control the decision.
- Camping classificationon_route_campsite
Julie Creek is a possible primitive overnight camp; the practical developed endpoint is the existing Deadwood Campground on the lower reach. Verify Forest Service status and fire restrictions.
- Image decisionDeadwood / Boise National Forest 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.
- American Whitewater Upper Deadwood reach record
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13236500 monitoring location
- USGS 13236500 current conditions
- Additional threshold support
- American Whitewater Deadwood Reservoir put-in
- American Whitewater Julie Creek/Deadwood Campground take-out record
- USGS Deadwood release gauge
- Boise National Forest Deadwood Reservoir access
- Existing Lower Deadwood continuation route
- Deadwood / Boise National Forest 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.
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Quick answers
Deadwood River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Deadwood River?
Paddle Today watches Deadwood River below Deadwood Reservoir near Lowman, ID and treats 700 cfs to 1,300 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Deadwood River route start and end?
This route starts at Deadwood Reservoir put-in and ends at Julie Creek Campground (former access; continue downstream), about About 14.3 river miles to Julie Creek; about 23 miles if continuing to Deadwood Campground on the water.
Is this Deadwood 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.