Kayak Love

Idaho · river

Kootenai River at Porthill

USGS monitoring location. Launch access and paddling suitability have not been verified.

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

89

Favorable weather

Weather score out of 100

Weather only. This is a monitoring station, not a verified launch. Access, hazards and suitable flow are unknown.

Weather observation: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:15:00 GMT.

River observation: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:45:00 GMT.

Page checked: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:20:50 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Kootenai River at Porthill
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Kootenay River with Bonner's Ferry; Elmo Fire in the background.jpg by Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

2 mph

gusting to 3 mph

Air temp

53°F

1% chance of rain

River flow

4,760 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Monday · 97

  • Thu

    81

  • Fri

    23

  • Sat

    95

  • Sun

    95

  • Mon

    97

    Best

  • Tue

    95

  • Wed

    94

Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
11a23
12p12
1p22
2p13
3p23
4p45
5p47
6p610
7p510
8p38
9p819
10p29

Is this flow normal for October 22?

Today's 4,760 cfs is Right about the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 4,910 cfs, across 12 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind — 2 mph — light wind at the forecast location±0
  • Cold — 53°F air temperature — cool weather; water temperature is not measured-11

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, and uses available public readings. We haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

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