Prepare wisely to float the Priest River

There is great fun and adventure in floating the Priest River on a hot summer day. Please prepare wisely if you plan this trip.

Each summer poorly prepared people who float the river are stranded when they meet the unforgiving rapids and rocks they did not anticipate, and they need assistance.

Two deaths have occurred due to drowning in rapids in the Priest River since 2006, people not prepared for the swift water.

Two popular sections to float are from “The Steps” (at the pullout near 3 mile marker on Highway 57) to the Mudhole, an easy float. The longer and more challenging float is from the bridge at McAbee Falls on Peninsula Road to The Steps. The only public locations for easy put in OR take out on this stretch of the river are McAbee Falls and the Steps.

If you choose to float the section from McAbee Falls downstream, please be prepared for sustained Class II rapids (Medium) with short sections of Class III (Difficult) for 2 miles in the 8 mile canyon. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are necessary for all people in the rapids, especially for children! Flat water boats (canoes or kayaks) are not suitable craft for Class II or III water! Plastic rafts, tubes and “floaties” will be torn open on the rocks in the rapids. Heavy duty white water rafts, pontoons, or white water craft (canoes or kayaks) are recommended. Heavy duty truck inner tubes are a blast when the water level has dropped, which is now since the Outlet Dam is maintaining summer levels at Priest Lake! Wear shoes/river sandals as bare feet on river rocks in the rapids are dangerous.

Also plan enough time. In summer, allow 4 to 5 hours to float from McAbee Falls to the Steps. At least 2 to 3 more hours to the Mudhole from the Steps. If you want a lazy and safe float put in at Steps and float to the Mudhole!

Two excellent resources are available on the internet to help in planning your float trip on Priest River. The Idaho Paddlers Website has a very good guide for the float from McAbee Falls to the Mudhole http://www.grc101.com/IdahoPaddling/GIPPriestBelowMcAbee.html. There is a USDA pamphlet with information on floating the entire Priest River is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_018811.pdf.

Please be prepared and have a safe trip when floating the Priest River!

JON QUINN-HURST

Priest River