This is one of the most exciting trips on the river, and designed for the more adventurous paddler! Brave the rapids in a single or double inflatable kayak. The waves are much bigger when you are sitting at water level!

The trip starts with a short ride to Mocassin Creek, eight miles upstream of West Glacier. (The west entrance to Glacier National Park) From there, your guide will instruct you on river safety and proper paddling technique as you paddle your way to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. There are about four miles of calm water for you to perfect your technique and learn to paddle together if you are in a double. Along the way there are incredible views into Glacier National Park's dramatic terrain. 

Once you get to John Stevens Canyon the river picks up speed and your adventure really begins. You'll need all of that practice from upstream to take on the whitewater. With rapids like Bonecrusher, Jaws and the Notch (to name a few) you are sure to have an exciting time.

Once you see the Old Bridge, (The original route in to Glacier National Park) you are nearly there. There's about a mile left to the take out, followed by a short ride back to the Great Northern Resort where Ed's Barbeque is sure to be smoking and the ice cream is nice and cold on a hot summer's day. Make sure to check out the photos of your run through Bonecrusher in our main Chalet!

Wet suits and booties are included.

This trip is for the daring paddler that wants a smaller boat and crew to make for a wilder whitewater experience! Our guides love to take on the big waves and more exciting lines are possible in our smaller sport raft.

With a smaller, narrower boat the waves feel much bigger as they crash over the top of the crew. If you are looking for a rowdier ride then you should definitely consider the sport raft option. Available for all of our whitewater launches.

Make sure to check out the photos of your run through Bonecrusher when you get back to our main Chalet!

Great Northern Whitewater Resort, home of the Great Northern Kayak School, is situated on one of the greatest rivers to learn to kayak in the Northwest; the Middle Fork of the Flathead has been the first run for hundreds of kayakers since the sport started. The sixty-mile stretch of river between Bear Creek and the town of Columbia falls, including the Middle Fork of the Flathead and the rest of the Flathead river system, offers some of the most featured yet friendly and enjoyable runs in the country. This provides the perfect environment in bringing people along from the point of being a beginner kayaker to an intermediate level and beyond.

Great Northern Whitewater Resort has been in operation since 1977 and our river staff has set the standard for professionalism on the Middle Fork of the Flathead for the last several decades. Our staff’s experience paddling rivers across the world has left us well prepared to start your paddling career.

Growth in each individual student/client is our primary goal. At the Great Northern Kayak School we strive to instruct at the highest level in order to create boaters who are strong, who are confident, and who value good judgment above all else.

Our number one concern is for the safety of our students. That is why we take pride in providing the best trained staff of instructors and guides in the industry. Our kayak instructors are certified by the American Canoe Association as (ACA) Whitewater Instructors and also receive training as Swift-Water Rescue Technicians in addition to advanced first aid, such as, Wilderness-First Responder and Wilderness EMT.