See all 5 routes on Henrys Fork
Idaho | Eastern Idaho / Island Park
Henrys Fork
Upper Coffee Pot Campground to McCrea Bridge Campground
Check current paddling conditions for this Henrys Fork route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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 6-mile Class II-III Henrys Fork itinerary linking the Upper Coffee Pot campground access, the Coffee Pot Rapids, and the paved McCrea Bridge campground ramp.
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
Upper Coffee Pot Campground 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
McCrea Bridge Campground 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
- Coffee Pot Rapids continuous Class III chain
- dam-release changes
- wood or damaged footbridge debris
- Island Park Reservoir transition
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
Why this score
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 | Henrys Fork near Island Park, 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 | 1,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 1,000 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 | Upper Snake basin inventory planning band for Coffee Pot: 1,000-2,000 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 corridorUpper Coffee Pot Campground to McCrea Bridge Campground; About 6 river miles
American Whitewater Big Springs / Coffee Pot reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlUpper Coffee Pot Campground Put-In to McCrea Bridge Campground Take-Out
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13042500 - Henrys Fork near Island Park, 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
The first mile is a calm campground float before Coffee Pot Rapids become continuous Class III water; scout the whole rapid chain from the river-left trail before committing. American Whitewater reports occasional wood and warns that a damaged footbridge or plank can create a serious entrapment or puncture hazard. Carry rescue equipment and use a whitewater-capable craft. Use 1,000-2,000 cfs as a conservative planning band. Check the direct gauge, dam-release notices, campground openings, and the downstream mandatory take-out at McCrea before launch.
- Camping classificationendpoint_campground
Upper Coffee Pot and McCrea Bridge are developed Forest Service campgrounds when open; reserve or verify seasonal status and use designated sites only.
- Image decisionHenrys Fork / Henrys Lake 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 Big Springs / Coffee Pot reach record
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13042500 monitoring location
- USGS 13042500 current conditions
- Additional threshold support
- American Whitewater Big Springs/Coffee Pot reach
- Upper Snake basin boating inventory
- Henrys Fork Foundation upper-river access map
- USGS Henrys Fork near Island Park direct gauge
- Upper Coffee Pot campground information
- Henrys Fork / Henrys Lake 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
Henrys Fork paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Henrys Fork?
Paddle Today watches Henrys Fork near Island Park, ID and treats 1,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Henrys Fork route start and end?
This route starts at Upper Coffee Pot Campground Put-In and ends at McCrea Bridge Campground Take-Out, about About 6 river miles on the water.
Is this Henrys Fork 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.