Selway - 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls


Selway, Idaho, US

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1 - Paradise to Selway Falls

Usual Difficulty IV (for normal flows)
Length 47 Miles
Avg. Gradient 28 fpm

The Gorge


The Gorge
Photo by Kevin Colburn taken 06/10/06 @ 8 ft at lowell

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
SELWAY RIVER NR LOWELL ID
usgs-13336500 700 - 35000 cfs IV 00h37m 1000 cfs (rc= 0.1 )
These flows are cool for kayaks. Rafts want at least 1200-1500 to navigate the river Many paddlers use the foot gage at the Paradise Boat Launch, though this gage is not on-line.


River Description

SEASON: Most dependable flows typically occur during late June. Snow often prevents access through May, peak snow melt in early June may make the river dangerously high, and flows are often too low by mid-July. Those looking to access the river before the control season may be able to do so by hiring transport by snowmobile. Flying in to Shearer airstrip, 15 miles downstream from the put-in, is also a possibility.

DESCRIPTION:
The Selway River is a designated Wild and Scenic River flowing through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. It is considered by many to be one of North America's premiere wilderness whitewater trips and groups typically spend 3-5 days on this 47 mile run.

The classic drops include Ham, Double Drop, Ladel, and Little Niagra.

 

Permit Information

http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/recreation/4rivers/index.shtml

All boaters must have a permit. There is one launch per day during the controlled season - May 15 through July 31 - and these are assigned through the 4 Rivers Lottery System. Application due January 31.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2010-12-01 07:22:38

Selway take-out

Detail Trip Report  Selway take-out  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.66MB .jpeg)

Forest fires above the Selway

Detail Trip Report  Forest fires above the Selway  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.13MB .jpeg)

Tee Kim Falls (aka Jims Creek)

Detail Trip Report  Tee Kim Falls (aka Jims Creek)  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.61MB .jpeg)

Bottom Hole at Wolf Creek

Detail Trip Report  Bottom Hole at Wolf Creek  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.22MB .jpeg)

Wolf Creek Rapid

Detail Trip Report  Wolf Creek Rapid  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.65MB .jpeg)

Tango Creek Rapid

Detail Trip Report  Tango Creek Rapid  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.85MB .jpeg)

Miranda Jane Rapid

Detail Trip Report  Miranda Jane Rapid  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.81MB .jpeg)

Puzzle Creek Rapid

Detail Trip Report  Puzzle Creek Rapid  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.54MB .jpeg)

Ladle

Detail Trip Report  Ladle  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.92MB .jpeg)

Double Drop

Detail Trip Report  Double Drop  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.67MB .jpeg)

Moose Creek Pack Bridge

Detail Trip Report  Moose Creek Pack Bridge  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.86MB .jpeg)

Green Eggs

Detail Trip Report  Green Eggs  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.70MB .jpeg)

Selway Lodge Pack Bridge

Detail Trip Report  Selway Lodge Pack Bridge  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.64MB .jpeg)

Ping Pong Alley

Detail Trip Report  Ping Pong Alley  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.64MB .jpeg)

Running Creek Pack Bridge

Detail Trip Report  Running Creek Pack Bridge  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.47MB .jpeg)

Cougar Bluff

Detail Trip Report  Cougar Bluff  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.83MB .jpeg)

Lowell Put-in

Detail Trip Report  Lowell Put-in  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(4.76MB .jpeg)

little niagra, about 7.5'

Detail Trip Report  little niagra, about 7.5'  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(2.25MB .jpeg)

Somewhere in ladel, about 7.5'

Detail Trip Report  Somewhere in ladel, about 7.5'  @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, ID(947.63KB .jpeg)

Unloading gear at Shearer airstrip

Detail Trip Report  Unloading gear at Shearer airstrip  Selway River, ID(1.47MB .jpeg)

Rock Island Rapid

Detail Trip Report  Rock Island Rapid  Selway, ID(4.75MB .jpeg)

Selway Take-out

Detail Trip Report  Selway Take-out  Selway, ID(4.90MB .jpeg)

The Low Water Diet

Detail Trip Report  The Low Water Diet  Selway, ID(2.92MB .jpeg)

Selway at Base Flow

Detail Trip Report  Selway at Base Flow  Selway, ID(2.84MB .jpeg)

Double Drop Rapid at Base Flow

Detail Trip Report  Double Drop Rapid at Base Flow  Selway, ID(2.99MB .jpeg)

The Gorge

Detail Trip Report  The Gorge  Selway, ID(2.88MB .jpeg)

Selway above Moose Creek

Detail Trip Report  Selway above Moose Creek  Selway, ID(2.83MB .jpeg)

Ladle

Detail Trip Report  Ladle  Selway, ID(2.92MB .jpeg)

Morning on the Selway

Detail Trip Report  Morning on the Selway  Selway, ID(2.87MB .jpeg)

Put-in on the Selway

Detail Trip Report  Put-in on the Selway  Selway, ID(2.86MB .jpeg)

Selway River in August

Detail Trip Report  Selway River in August  Selway, ID(2.86MB .jpeg)

Camping on the Selway

Detail Trip Report  Camping on the Selway  Selway, ID(1.45MB .jpeg)

Rafting Selway at Low Flow

Detail Trip Report  Rafting Selway at Low Flow  Selway, ID(2.89MB .jpeg)

Selway

Detail Trip Report  Selway  Selway, ID(5.75MB .tiff)

Shearer Airstrip Selway

Detail Trip Report  Shearer Airstrip Selway  Selway, ID(1.57MB .jpeg)

ELF Flows on Selway

Detail Trip Report  ELF Flows on Selway  Selway, ID(1.37MB .jpeg)


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Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

Paddlers typically refer to the staff gauge at Paradise (the put-in). At 1' to 3' the run is III/IV, 3' to 6' the run is IV , and above 6' the run begins to take on a class V character. Call the river office for current information 406-821-3269. The USGS realtime gauge is near Lowell (the take-out)

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
SELWAY RIVER NR LOWELL ID
usgs-13336500 700 - 35000 cfs IV 00h37m 1000 cfs (rc= 0.1 )
These flows are cool for kayaks. Rafts want at least 1200-1500 to navigate the river
Many paddlers use the foot gage at the Paradise Boat Launch, though this gage is not on-line.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
700 -2000 cfs barely runnable-perfect runnable IV These flows are cool for kayaks. Rafts want at least 1200-1500 to navigate the river
2001 -16000 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable IV Very rough estimate of high water division
16001 -35000 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable IV High Water!

Report - Reports of Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Selway River [ID] Unloading gear at Shearer airstrip 420cfs - too low n/a
187d10h36m @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls [ID] Selway River Trip 1800 cfs Thomas O'Keefe
1y152d13h00m @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls [ID] little niagra, about 7.5' n/a team 85
1y152d13h05m @Selway 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls [ID] Somewhere in ladel, about 7.5' n/a team 85
3y186d00h36m Selway [ID] Camping on the Selway n/a Dave Steindorf
3y187d00h36m Selway [ID] Put-in on the Selway 1100 cfs Dave Steindorf
4y153d00h36m Selway [ID] Shearer Airstrip Selway 420 cfs jerry spence
4y266d00h36m Selway [ID] Selway 4.9 ft Dustin Prinzing
4y282d08h36m Selway [ID] Rock Island Rapid 8700 cfs Thomas O'Keefe
5y127d08h36m Selway [ID] Double Drop Rapid at Base Flow 550 Kevin Colburn
5y127d08h36m Selway [ID] The Low Water Diet 550 Kevin Colburn
5y244d08h36m Selway [ID] Morning on the Selway 8 ft at Lowell Kevin Colburn
5y245d08h36m Selway [ID] Ladle 8ft at Lowell Kevin Colburn
5y246d08h36m Selway [ID] The Gorge 8 ft at lowell Kevin Colburn

WXPort

News





User Comments


2012-01-11 05:01:49 (30 days ago)
If you would like to float the Selway between April 1 and May 14 (pre-permit season) you can hire
over the snow shuttle sevice for $550 per vehicle (2-4 boaters or 4-6 kayakers) Call Jason
Clinkenbeard (406) 239-3529 he has taken our party over for the last 7 years without fail and has
been providing the shuttle since 1997. He is permitted with the USFS and insured. Early floats are
a blast with not so high of water as seen in peak run off although it can be bit colder, have good
dry gear. Garrett Hobbs Edit
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Descriptions

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General Nonmember Message

Associated News

New Online Reservations Coming for Four Idaho Rivers

Selway Bridge Replacement a Post-Permit Season Hurdle (ID)



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 1 - Paradise to Selway Falls, Selway Idaho, US (mobile)