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Idaho | North Idaho / Bonner County

Pack RiverUpper Slides

A 2.3-mile Class III-IV+(V) Upper Pack River section from a Pack River Road access to the second bridge, combining bedrock slides with continuous boulder drops and straightforward roadside portage options.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 2.3 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 1-2 hours plus scouting and shuttle
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 2.3 river milesUpper Slides
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 shuttleShort Pack River Road shuttle between the downstream second bridge and the upper roadside access. Stage the take-out vehicle first and keep boats clear of traffic and bridge approaches.
PermitsNone notedNo special river permit is listed. Follow Idaho AIS/PFD rules, Forest Service and county road restrictions, fire closures, private-property boundaries, and 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 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

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A 2.3-mile Class III-IV+(V) Upper Pack River section from a Pack River Road access to the second bridge, combining bedrock slides with continuous boulder drops and straightforward roadside portage options.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Pack River Road Slides 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 second bridge 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

  • bedrock slides and portages
  • continuous Class III-IV boulder drops
  • logs and sweepers
  • downstream Gorgette transition
  • 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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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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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 Slides; About 2.3 river miles

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

    Source

  • Public access controlPack River Road Slides put-in to Pack River Road second bridge 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

    Use a proven Class IV crew with cold-water protection, throw bags, and a plan to portage the larger bedrock slides. The route is short but consequential, with continuous boulder drops and limited recovery between features. American Whitewater describes the Slides as popular partly because the major slides are easy to portage, but the final 1.5 miles becomes continuous Class III-IV boulder water. Scout the line and every portage from legal Pack River Road access before launching. Use the direct Pack River near Colburn gauge with 500 cfs as the AW lower runnable shoulder and 2,000 cfs as the upper correlation. Current wood, bridge approaches, road conditions, and the downstream Gorgette transition override the numeric cue.

    Source

  • Camping classificationnearby_basecamp

    No on-route camping is assumed. Use a lawful Sandpoint-area or Forest Service basecamp; do not camp at 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

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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.

More in Idaho

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All 3
Upper GorgetteNorth Idaho / Bonner CountyHard · About 4.7 river milesUpper GrottosNorth Idaho / Bonner CountyHard · About 1.9 river miles

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Quick answers

Pack River paddling FAQ

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

This route starts at Pack River Road Slides put-in and ends at Pack River Road second bridge take-out, about 2.3 river miles on the water.

Is the Upper Slides 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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