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Idaho | North Idaho / Bonner County

Pack RiverUpper Gorgette

A 4.7-mile Class III-IV+ Upper Pack River reach from the second Pack River Road bridge through the Gorgette to a roadside take-out, with continuous boulder water, logs, and a committed Class IV-V pinch.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 4.7 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 2-3 hours plus shuttle and full scouting
ShuttleCar shuttle
A forested northern Idaho river corridor in the Panhandle.
River contextNorth Idaho watershed context; not a Pack River endpoint or current-conditions photograph 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.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 4.7 river milesUpper Gorgette
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 shuttlePack River Road shuttle from the downstream roadside take-out to the second bridge. Stage the take-out vehicle first, expect narrow shoulders and seasonal road conditions, and keep boats clear of traffic.
PermitsNone notedNo special river permit is listed. Follow Idaho AIS/PFD rules, Forest Service and county road restrictions, fire closures, private-property boundaries, and any temporary Pack River access notices.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is assumed. Use a lawful Sandpoint-area or Forest Service basecamp; do not camp at informal bridge pullouts or on private Pack River frontage.
SeasonApr-JunLate 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 4.7-mile Class III-IV+ Upper Pack River reach from the second Pack River Road bridge through the Gorgette to a roadside take-out, with continuous boulder water, logs, and a committed Class IV-V pinch.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Pack River Road second bridge / Gorgette 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

Pack River Road roadside Gorgette 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

  • Gorgette Class IV-V pinch
  • logs and sweepers
  • few recovery eddies
  • roadside bridge access
  • cold spring runoff

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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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

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

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

A forested northern Idaho river corridor in the Panhandle.
North Idaho watershed context; not a Pack River endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Forest Service 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 corridorUpper Gorgette; About 4.7 river miles

    American Whitewater Pack Upper Gorgette reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.

    Source

  • Public access controlPack River Road second bridge / Gorgette put-in to Pack River Road roadside Gorgette take-out

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

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 12392300 - Pack River near Colburn, ID

    Gauge is on the named waterbody and supplies context only.

    Source

  • Threshold postureNumeric cue retained for planning

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

    Source

  • Safety and land managementCurrent manager notices override this record

    This is an expert Class III-IV+ reach with a rapidly tightening Class IV-V Gorgette section. Use a proven whitewater crew, rescue hardware, cold-water protection, and a plan for portage or retreat before entering the gorge. American Whitewater describes logs in the upper stretch, few eddies near the Gorgette, and a sharp canyon turn requiring an immediate scout. Inspect the entire rapid sequence from Pack River Road or legal shore access before launching. Use the direct Pack River near Colburn gauge with 600 cfs as the AW lower runnable shoulder and 1,500 cfs as the upper correlation; the broader 500-2,500 cfs local context is not a substitute for current wood, road, and channel inspection.

    Source

  • Camping classificationnearby_basecamp

    No on-route camping is assumed. Use a lawful Sandpoint-area or Forest Service basecamp; do not camp at informal bridge pullouts or on private Pack River frontage.

    Source

  • Photo contextNorth Idaho watershed context photograph; not the Pack River endpoints

    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.

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Quick answers

Pack River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Upper Gorgette route on the Pack 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 Upper Gorgette route on the Pack River start and end?

This route starts at Pack River Road second bridge / Gorgette put-in and ends at Pack River Road roadside Gorgette take-out, about 4.7 river miles on the water.

Is the Upper Gorgette route on the Pack 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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