Priest River
Bonner Co. · 45 mi · Class I
1,410CFS/ 2.32 ft
Optimal
→Stable
Optimal: 500–3000 CFS · USGS #12395000
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
45 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
500–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,500 cfs
Avg Flow
1,350 cfs
Hist. Median
#12395000
USGS Gauge
Idaho Panhandle National Forests

The Priest River connects Priest Lake to Lake Pend Oreille in the panhandle of North Idaho — a gentle Class I float through dense cedar and hemlock forest in one of the most scenic corridors in the inland Northwest. The river drains the Selkirk Mountains and offers outstanding wildlife viewing, with moose, osprey, and occasional woodland caribou sightings.

Trip sections
Priest Lake Outlet to Dickensheet — Class I, upper forest float
Dickensheet to Priest River town — Class I, middle section
Priest River town to Pend Oreille — Class I, lower river to lake
Outfitters
Idaho Canoe Adventures
Priest River canoe and kayak rentals, shuttle service
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
Loading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.