Essex to Moccasin Creek
Montana – US
- Class
- II+
- Length
- 26 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 20 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 3,747 Feet
- Typical season
- May to September
Current Flow
4,220 CFS
Gauge height: 3.84 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM
▼ -10.83/hr (12h) ▼ -5.42/hr (24h)
Get out there
- Primary gauge
- M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 1,000 |
| Average | 4,000 |
| Maximum | 9,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
Another good scenic family float section of the middle fork. This can be combined with parts of the upper or the John Stevens Canyon portion downstream.
If you are wanting to take out at Moccasin Creek you will need to navigate through many river braided channels to find the ramp. This can be tough at certain water levels or if you are unfamiliar with the river. If you miss the take out your next option would be to continue through John Steven's Canyon and take out in West Glacier, MT
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Browns Hole Rapid | III- to III+ | 1,000–10,000 |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Essex | 3,747 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | See description here. |
| Put-In | Moccasin Creek | 3,309 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | This is a putin only. On Highway 2 where the road crosses Moccasin Creek there is a pullout with parking and a ramp between the road and the railroad. This is a popular area as there is a lot of commercial activity here. |
| Put-In | Paola | 3,591 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Another putin option for this stretch of river. This is a good fishing section and many anglers putin here. |
| Put-In | Cascadilla | 3,388 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | This is another good angler putin or takeout if your are on this stretch for fishig. |
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.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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