See all 2 routes on Potlatch River
Idaho | North-Central Idaho / Latah-Nez Perce counties
Potlatch RiverLittle Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek
A roughly 16-mile early-season Class IV-V canyon run from Little Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A roughly 16-mile early-season Class IV-V canyon run from Little Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek.
Access map
Put-in
Little Boulder 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
Cedar Creek Take-OutConfirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
Road shuttle
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
- Coleman Falls and Class IV/V lines
- wood and ice during early season
- unmarked mid-canyon exits
- muddy 4WD access roads
- cold water and remote rescue
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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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.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Potlatch River below Little Potlatch Creek near Spalding, ID. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
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 corridorLittle Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek; About 16 river miles
American Whitewater Potlatch Little Boulder-to-Cedar reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlLittle Boulder Campground Put-In to Cedar Creek Take-Out
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Defensible proxy gaugeUSGS 13341570 - Potlatch River below Little Potlatch Creek near Spalding, ID
Gauge is downstream on the same river system and must not be treated as a local measurement.
- 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
North Idaho Rivers identifies Coleman Falls, multiple Class IV rapids, wood, and difficult unmarked mid-canyon exits. The upper 4.5-ft local stick-gauge level increases the run to Class IV+/V; do not substitute the downstream USGS cfs value for a local level check. American Whitewater trip reports describe enjoyable local conditions around 325-1,000 cfs at the Spalding gauge, while the guide warns that the old 1,000-8,000 cfs range is misleading. Retain 300 cfs as a conservative planning floor and 1,000 cfs as a rough upper planning cue only. The route commits to a remote canyon. Carry rescue equipment, cold-water protection, satellite communication, and a portage plan; confirm road and campground status after rain or snowmelt.
- Camping classificationendpoint_campground
Little Boulder Campground is the practical endpoint basecamp at the put-in when open. No informal canyon camping or unmarked mid-run camp is assumed; use established sites and current Forest Service rules.
- Photo contextClearwater basin context photograph; not a Potlatch 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.
- 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 Potlatch Little Boulder-to-Cedar reach record
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13341570 monitoring location
- USGS 13341570 current conditions
- Additional threshold support
- North Idaho Rivers Potlatch guide and local stick-gauge notes
- RiverFacts Potlatch access map
- Little Boulder Campground information
- USGS Potlatch River below Little Potlatch Creek gauge
- American Whitewater Potlatch reach
- Clearwater basin context photograph; not a Potlatch endpoint image
- 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
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Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
Potlatch River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Little Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek route on the Potlatch 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 Little Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek route on the Potlatch River start and end?
This route starts at Little Boulder Campground Put-In and ends at Cedar Creek Take-Out, about 16 river miles on the water.
Is the Little Boulder Campground to Cedar Creek route on the Potlatch 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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