Kayak Love

Idaho · river

Kootenai River Tribal Hatchery near Bonners Ferry

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

76of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Kootenai River Tribal Hatchery near Bonners Ferry
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Trailhead for Hidden Lake in Selkirk Mountains, Idaho (28763737724).jpg by David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

14 mph

gusting to 24 mph

Air temp

79°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

5,070 cfs

very low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Monday · 100

  • Today

    42

  • Sun

    85

  • Mon

    100

    Best

  • Tue

    99

  • Wed

    94

  • Thu

    84

  • Fri

    83

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
9a921
10a1625
11a1523
12p1724
1p1522
2p1624
3p1626
4p1727
5p1728
6p1627
7p1631
8p1536

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 5,070 cfs is 61% below the median for this date — which counts as very low water here.

The median flow on this date is 13,100 cfs, across 19 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind14 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-24
  • GustsGusting to 24 mph — 10 mph over sustained±0

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but 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

All paddling spots in Idaho