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RiverBrain

Idaho – US

Class
IV+ to V
Length
6 Mile(s)
Gradient
160 FPM
Put-in elevation
5,503 Feet
Take-out elevation
4,734 Feet
Typical season
May to September

Current Flow

644 CFS

Gauge height: 6.81 FT

Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:30 PM

0.50/hr (12h) 0.25/hr (24h)

High

Get out there

Primary gauge
BLACKFOOT RIVER NR SHELLEY ID Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗

Recommended levels

Minimum350
Average500
Maximum800

Recommended use

  • Kayaking
  • Rafting
  • Canoeing
  • SUP
  • Packrafting
  • Fishing

Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.

Flow history — last 6 days

Photos

No photos added for this run yet.

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Description

This run is dependent on the Blackfoot reservoir for good boating flows.  This can be hit and miss but it also allows for after season runs when other rivers have dried up.

Wolverine canyon is a harder run with lots of Class IV and several V's. Beware on any portages you may do, the banks are known to contain poison ivy and rattlesnakes.  This is not a beginner or intermediate run.  Know what you are doing before descending this canyon. Fatalities have occurred on this stretch of river.

Rapids

# Rapid Class Recommended flow Description Scout
1 Teller Tube Rapid V 350–750

As the river makes a sharp left, it constricts down to a tube like feature.  Run this and then get ready to hit a long boulder run after that.  This is a rapid you don't want to swim.  Fatalities have occurred here.

Scout on the talus slope on the right hand side of the river.

Access

Type Name Elevation Camping Water Boat ramp Vehicle access Description
Put-In Trail Creek Road Bridge 5,503 Feet No No No All Vehicles

From Blackfoot, ID, find 600 N (Wolverine Road) off of Highway 91 (Yellowstone Highway).  Follow Wolverine Road east for several miles.  Turn right on Blackfoot road and follow that for several miles as it winds around next to the canyon.  When the Blackfoot River Road merges/turns into Trail Creek Road, follow it to the bridge that crosses the river and put-in here.  

Take-Out Blackfoot River Road 4,734 Feet No No No All Vehicles

From Blackfoot, ID, find 600 N (Wolverine Road) off of Highway 91 (Yellowstone Highway).  Follow Wolverine Road east for several miles.  Turn right on Blackfoot road and follow that for a couple of miles until you see a dirt road on the right side of the road heading down to the river.  You can take out here.

Camps

No river camps added yet.

Permit

No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.

Fishing

No fish species have been associated with this run yet.

Community Run Notes

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