Canoeing & Kayaking the Yaak River
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When you're staying at Yaak River Base Camp,
paddling on the Yaak River is as easy as stepping out the door and hopping in one of our boats! The Yaak River is a diverse waterway with sections of slow moving current, calm spots and rapids (Class I-III). The 1,500 feet of river frontage that runs along Yaak River Base Camp is deep and calm, making it easy for kayakers and canoers to slip a boat in and explore the wilds of Northwest Montana.
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Boats AvailableYaak River Base Camp has various boats to get you on the water:
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Short Trips
It's always easy to take a short trip (1-2 miles) from Yaak River Base Camp, either upstream or downstream, in one of our kayaks or canoe to check out scenery, see some of the houses in the area and say hi to the neighbors if they're hanging out on the river. The Yaak River Mercantile is just a short ways upstream and has a boat ramp, so you can run in for a soda or quick snack.
Longer Trips
During the summer when the water level is just right, put in a kayak at the Camp and travel five miles down to Pete Creek Campground. Along the way, you'll be paddling through calm waters and pockets of rapids. Much of the waterway is through secluded areas filled with lush greenery where there's always a chance to spot wildlife -- beaver, muskrat, blue heron, even deer or moose (we've seen them all!). Depending on how fast you're paddling (or how many time you stop to fish for trout), you can get to the campground in about three hours. Remember to set up a second car or arrange a ride back to Yaak River Base Camp!
Beginner & Advanced Paddlers
Both beginners and advanced paddlers can enjoy many sections of the Yaak River. Above Seventeen Mile Bridge and extending up to the confluence of the east and north fork of the Yaak, the river has a mix of gentle to moderate flows. The river's width varies from quite narrow above the "town" of Yaak to medium width below. Paddlers may encounter occasional logjams, but they're easy to get around unless the water is very low.
Experienced whitewater boaters can also shoot Class II and Class III rapids below Seventeen Mile Bridge. The river picks up velocity (Class II-III rapids) for the four miles leading up to Yaak Falls and has numerous boulders to navigate. Yaak Falls is too treacherous for boating and must be portaged, if you choose to explore more of the canyon below.
Experienced whitewater boaters can also shoot Class II and Class III rapids below Seventeen Mile Bridge. The river picks up velocity (Class II-III rapids) for the four miles leading up to Yaak Falls and has numerous boulders to navigate. Yaak Falls is too treacherous for boating and must be portaged, if you choose to explore more of the canyon below.