See all 2 routes on Selway River
Idaho | North-Central Idaho / Selway-Lochsa
Selway RiverBelow Selway Falls to Wild Goose Campground
An 18-mile Class II-III lower Selway section below Selway Falls, with public road access and a developed Wild Goose take-out on the Clearwater.
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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
An 18-mile Class II-III lower Selway section below Selway Falls, with public road access and a developed Wild Goose take-out on the Clearwater.
Access map
Put-in
Put-In Below Selway FallsUse only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
Take-out
Wild Goose Campground AccessConfirm 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
- Selway Falls boundary
- long moving-water sections
- limited access and cold water
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.
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
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
Selway River near Lowell, 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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Selway River near Lowell, 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 1,000 cfs to 40,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 1,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 40,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater published runnable window: 1,000-40,000 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 corridorBelow Selway Falls to Wild Goose Campground; About 18 miles
Forest Service Selway River permit and access information identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlPut-In Below Selway Falls to Wild Goose Campground Access
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13336500 - Selway River near Lowell, 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 route begins below Selway Falls, avoiding the more technical wilderness section, but still contains long moving-water stretches and limited roadside recovery. Three Rivers access is constrained; Wild Goose Campground is the better public downstream landing and should be confirmed open before launch. American Whitewater's 1,000-40,000 cfs range is a broad runnable reference, not a novice recommendation or safety guarantee.
- Camping classificationnearby_basecamp
No overnight itinerary is assumed. Use only currently open Forest Service campgrounds and follow the Selway permit-season rules.
- Photo contextSelway-Lochsa watershed context photograph
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.
- Forest Service Selway River permit and access information
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13336500 monitoring location
- USGS 13336500 current conditions
- American Whitewater published runnable window: 1,000-40,000 cfs
- Additional threshold support
- Selway-Lochsa 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.
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Quick answers
Selway River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Below Selway Falls to Wild Goose Campground route on the Selway River?
Paddle Today watches Selway River near Lowell, ID and treats 1,000 cfs to 40,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Below Selway Falls to Wild Goose Campground route on the Selway River start and end?
This route starts at Put-In Below Selway Falls and ends at Wild Goose Campground Access, about 18 miles on the water.
Is the Below Selway Falls to Wild Goose Campground route on the Selway River suitable 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.
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