Coeur d'Alene, North Fork, Idaho, US

Babins Jct to Little North Fork

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43078.jpeg
Photo of North Fork CDA below Bumblebee Bridge by Mike Manning taken 07/19/08 @ 1500 cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

This is a mostly class I float at summer flows but it becomes more technical durning runoff periods. In late summer or low water years, you will drag bottom in several of the riffles.

Put-in is down river from Prichard near the steel bridge. After crossing the bridge going upriver, take the frontage road turnoff. There is an easy trail to the river off the frontage road, river right, next to the rock outcropping. The take out is just past the Little North Fork Road Bridge. Pass the confluence of the Little North Fork and pull out on river right. There is a small parking area and a short trail down the hill to the river.

There is one required portage around the huge log jam about 3 miles into the trip. There is a big caution sign on river right about 100 yards upriver. Pull out at the base of the log jam on river right and portage over the little knoll. UPDATE 2008:  I have been told the log jam is gone.

An alternative trip is to start the float down river at the "pack-it-out" campsite about 3.8 highway miles downstream. This reduces the length of the trip to 11.5 miles. There are a few small class I(+) rapids and eddies. There are several channels with overhanging brush to be aware of.

The river front property along this stretch is mostly private above the high water mark. The area is popular with rafts and tube floaters on warm weekend days.

Shuttle is all paved roads.