See all 4 routes on Teton River
Idaho | Eastern Idaho / Teton Valley
Teton River
Fox Creek East to Highway 33 Bridge (Upper Teton)
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.

Need to know
Why this call
Safety
Route safety
CautionThis route has hazards or access considerations that require extra verification.
Safety details
American Whitewater describes no sustained whitewater, but shallow braided channels and overhanging bushes can still pin or strand an unprepared boat. Use a craft appropriate for shallow water and wear a PFD throughout.
- The 240 cfs American Whitewater reading is a low-runnable reference for this reach, not a guaranteed minimum. Channel depth, weed growth, debris, and the usable branch can change within the same flow band; inspect the first mile and turn around before committing to a braid.
- Use only designated access parking. Teton County restricts roadside parking near Fox Creek East, South Bates, and Bates/Buxton, and the old south-side Bates access was decommissioned; confirm the current public-side entrance and daylight rules.
- The upper Teton is a long, exposed day with limited convenient exits between access points. Carry communication, water, warm layers, and a shuttle plan; do not assume every bridge or private bank is a legal landing.
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge note
Proxy gauge: Teton River above South Leigh Creek near Driggs, ID. Regional signal only; verify local water.
Gauge context
This route uses Teton River above South Leigh Creek near Driggs, ID as a proxy gauge. It is a regional signal, not a measurement of this reach. Verify local water and hazards before launching.
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A 21-mile Class I-II Upper Teton float from Fox Creek East to the Highway 33 bridge, with shallow braided channels, five named access points, and a direct Driggs-area gauge.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Fox Creek East accessUse only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
Take-out
Highway 33 Bridge take-outConfirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
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
- shallow braided channels
- overhanging bushes and strainers
- cold water
- fast weather rise
- designated parking only
- private or sensitive banks
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Teton River above South Leigh Creek near Driggs, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 240 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater reach cue: 240 cfs was labeled low runnable; the reach is described as boatable at all flows, so this is a planning cue rather than a hard cutoff |
| 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 corridorFox Creek East to Highway 33 Bridge (Upper Teton); About 21 river miles, with shorter public-access segments available
American Whitewater Upper Teton reach record identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlFox Creek East access to Highway 33 Bridge take-out
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13052200 - Teton River above South Leigh Creek near Driggs, ID
Gauge is on the named waterbody and supplies context only.
- 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
American Whitewater describes no sustained whitewater, but shallow braided channels and overhanging bushes can still pin or strand an unprepared boat. Use a craft appropriate for shallow water and wear a PFD throughout. The 240 cfs American Whitewater reading is a low-runnable reference for this reach, not a guaranteed minimum. Channel depth, weed growth, debris, and the usable branch can change within the same flow band; inspect the first mile and turn around before committing to a braid. Use only designated access parking. Teton County restricts roadside parking near Fox Creek East, South Bates, and Bates/Buxton, and the old south-side Bates access was decommissioned; confirm the current public-side entrance and daylight rules. The upper Teton is a long, exposed day with limited convenient exits between access points. Carry communication, water, warm layers, and a shuttle plan; do not assume every bridge or private bank is a legal landing.
- Camping classificationnearby_basecamp
No overnight camping is assumed on the route. Big Eddy has a campground in the American Whitewater description, but verify current reservation, day-use, fire, sanitation, and private-bank rules before relying on it.
- Image decisionTeton River southeast Idaho corridor photograph
Approved route-area or same-river context; it does not depict every endpoint or current conditions.
- 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 Upper Teton reach record
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13052200 monitoring location
- USGS 13052200 current conditions
- Additional threshold support
- American Whitewater Fox Creek East access
- American Whitewater South Bates Bridge access
- Idaho Fish and Game Bates Bridge access site
- American Whitewater Bates Bridge access
- American Whitewater Packsaddle Bridge access
- American Whitewater Highway 33 take-out access
- USGS Teton River above South Leigh Creek gauge
- Teton River public-access map and rules
- Teton County river parking and access ordinance
- Teton River southeast Idaho corridor 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.
More level reports needed
Only a low-water floor is known.
We can tell when this route is likely too low, but we do not yet have enough reports to define a best range. If you paddled it recently, send a condition report with how the level felt.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Teton River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Teton River?
Paddle Today watches Teton River above South Leigh Creek near Driggs, ID and uses 240 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Teton River route start and end?
This route starts at Fox Creek East access and ends at Highway 33 Bridge take-out, about About 21 river miles, with shorter public-access segments available on the water.
Is this Teton River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.
