Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 5 routes on North Fork Clearwater River

Idaho | North-Central Idaho / Clearwater National Forest

North Fork Clearwater RiverHidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks

An approximately 11-mile Class III-V North Fork Clearwater section from Hidden Creek Campground through the Black Canyon corridor to Kelly Forks Campground.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

DistanceAbout 11 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 4-8 hours plus road scouting
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Clearwater River runs through a forested Idaho canyon corridor.
River contextClearwater watershed context; not the North Fork reach or current conditions river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Forest Service via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
View Primary Source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 11 river milesHidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks
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 shuttleForest Road 250 follows the corridor but is remote, slow, and seasonal. Stage Kelly Forks first, then road-scout the Hidden Creek access and carry recovery gear for the shuttle.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow Clearwater National Forest road/campground rules, Idaho AIS/PFD requirements, fire restrictions, and current closure notices. The downstream proxy gauge does not establish a safe local flow.
CampingOptions nearbyHidden Creek and Kelly Forks are named Forest Service campground options when open. Treat camping as endpoint logistics only; verify fees, water, fire rules, bear storage, and seasonal road access.
SeasonMay-JulLate 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

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

An approximately 11-mile Class III-V North Fork Clearwater section from Hidden Creek Campground through the Black Canyon corridor to Kelly Forks Campground.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Hidden Creek Campground
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

Kelly Forks Campground / river-left landing
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

  • Class III-V Black Canyon sequence
  • mobile wood and blind rapids
  • 3,800 cfs minimum proxy cue
  • downstream gauge mismatch
  • seasonal Forest Road 250
  • campground carry and river-left landing

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

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans

Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.

Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

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

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Route gallery

Photos

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

The Clearwater River runs through a forested Idaho canyon corridor.
Clearwater watershed context; not the North Fork reach or current conditions river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Forest Service via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons license on linked file page

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 corridorHidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks; About 11 river miles

    American Whitewater North Fork Clearwater Headwaters-to-Kelly reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.

    Source

  • Public access controlHidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks Campground / river-left landing

    Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.

    Source

  • Defensible proxy gaugeUSGS 13340600 - North Fork Clearwater River near Canyon Ranger Station, ID (downstream proxy)

    Gauge is downstream on the same river system and must not be treated as a local measurement.

    Source

  • Threshold postureNumeric cue retained for planning

    The route remains planning-only; no live go/no-go score is asserted.

    Source

  • Gauge check recorded during route reviewCurrent manager notices override this record

    This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.

    Source

  • Camping classificationendpoint_campground

    Hidden Creek and Kelly Forks are named Forest Service campground options when open. Treat camping as endpoint logistics only; verify fees, water, fire rules, bear storage, and seasonal road access.

    Source

  • Photo contextClearwater watershed context photograph; not a Hidden Creek endpoint image

    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

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

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

All 137 routes
Idaho route guideBrowse every tracked Idaho route.North-Central Idaho / Clearwater National ForestJump to routes in this region.

More on North Fork Clearwater River

All 5
Cedars to Elizabeth Creek (upper Black Canyon)North-Central Idaho / Clearwater National ForestHard · About 12.65 river milesElizabeth Creek to Kelly Forks (Black Canyon)North-Central Idaho / Clearwater National ForestHard · About 6.5 river milesKelly Forks to Aquarius CampgroundNorth-Central Idaho / Clearwater National ForestHard · About 44 river miles, multi-dayWeitas Creek Campground to Washington Creek CampgroundNorth-Central Idaho / Clearwater National ForestHard · About 10 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Kelly CreekMoose Creek to Kelly Forks Campground · about 9 straight-line mi awayHard · About 11 milesSt. Joe RiverHeller Creek Campground to Spruce Tree Campground · about 16 straight-line mi awayHard · About 18-20 river milesSt. Joe RiverSpruce Tree Campground to Turner Flat Campground · about 16 straight-line mi awayHard · About 35 river milesSt. Joe RiverSpruce Tree Campground to Gold Creek Meadows · about 16 straight-line mi awayHard · About 13.1 river miles

Quick answers

North Fork Clearwater River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Hidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks route on the North Fork Clearwater 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 Hidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks route on the North Fork Clearwater River start and end?

This route starts at Hidden Creek Campground and ends at Kelly Forks Campground / river-left landing, about 11 river miles on the water.

Is the Hidden Creek Campground to Kelly Forks route on the North Fork Clearwater 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.

Flag a change

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.

Report a changeEmail update