south fork fourche lafave

[Deeproots77]

anybody hit this river much,it seems to be rockin right now

[fallingwater]

I grew up on that river and its very continuous from the park on hwy7 down as far as you wanna paddle

[Tmuse]

Great run for sure! Watch for wood piles in the section below the hwy 7 Putin down to block head rapid, and be sure to be carefull at the deberrie low water bridge takeout! Have Fun!

[bird dog]

I like to hike down to block head and take pictures. Havent seen any boaters when i have been there in awhile.

[Barrett]

I should probably start a separate topic on this, but since it is related --- Does anyone have any info on Bear Creek in Perry County? I drove to Hot Springs on Thursday down Highway 7 and it rained that morning and it looked like Bear Creek was pumping and boatable. There is an easy access point there at Highway 7, but I don't know about any other access point. I am thinking it probably joins the south fork Fourche Lafave not too long after Hwy 7.

[bird dog]

Yes its a related float.
You can start out on the low water bridge on FS 45 which is actually trace creek. Another option is farther up stream at another low water bridge 100 feet off the highway , don’t remember the road number. (maybe 796)
Creek is narrow and usually has some timber across it somewhere. Best in winter with no leaves, the spring growth gets in the way in many places. Narrow and it keeps you busy watching ahead. There is a right turn and a sharp left with the water pushing you hard into the bank, almost in view of the highway (way above 45 still). The creek splits and I have gone both forks, must watch ahead for down trees here also. Fs 45 bridge can be a hazard at high water, best to mark it with a ribbon upstream. Trace creek runs into Bear creek about 3/4 - 1 mile below the 45 bridge, near the CCC camp. Some good waves below the CCC camp and then you reach hwy 7 bridge (another put in) and action slows a little then a willow thicket and some more curves ahead. 1/4 mile above the take out the creek splits again and if i remember correctly the right route is better but also has a sharp blind turn.
This creek is only floatable for short periods after good rain with a narrow window of opportunity, best about 6” to a foot over the bridge, for my experience level, class ll open boat.
Normally only floatable for 1 day, drops fast.
Below Bear creek bridge (fs 86) it slows some and there are some willows before joining south fourche about 200 yards below the FS camp ground, just out of sight of put in at the Forest Service camp ground on HWY 7.

[T Yamashita]

Yup, what he said. It's pretty quick and you gotta miss trees in the creek. Pretty fun when S Fourche is above 8 ft or so.
ty