About
Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone — Beartooth Frontier. Wild & Scenic since 1990, the Clarks Fork Yellowstone cuts a 20-mile technical gorge through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Park County. At 1,600 CFS average flow (optimal 800–3,000), this is legitimate Class IV-V whitewater that builds through an upper canyon of Class IV drops before entering The Box — a technical Class V gorge requiring mandatory scouting. The lower canyon eases to Class III-IV as it approaches the town of Clark. Beartooth Whitewater runs commercial trips through the corridor, though private boaters with advanced skills make up most of the traffic. The USGS gauge 06207500 tracks flows that can swing dramatically with snowmelt and weather — essential information for a river where high water turns challenging rapids into genuinely dangerous ones. This is backcountry whitewater in designated wilderness, with logistics and commitment to match the technical demands.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.