North Fork Flathead River
Encyclopedia
The North Fork Flathead River is a 153 miles (246.2 km) river flowing through British Columbia
(BC), Canada
south into the U.S. state
of Montana
. It is one of the three primary forks of the Flathead River
, a tributary of the Pend Oreille River
, via Clark Fork
. The river is sometimes considered the upper headwaters of the Flathead River, although the North Fork is its official name in the U.S. Other naming conventions for the river include Flathead River - North Fork, North Fork of Flathead River, and North Fork of the Flathead River.
The river originates in a valley northeast of Lake Koocanusa
in the Clark Range
, and flows west. It then meets the Continental Divide
and turns south, winding through a broad glacial valley. The river then crosses the U.S.-Canada border into the state of Montana, where it begins to delineate the western boundary of Glacier National Park. Roughly following Montana State Route 486, the river winds southwest past Kintla Lake
, Bowman Lake, Quartz Lake
, Logging Lake
, and Lake McDonald
, then turns west and south into a narrower valley before joining the Middle Fork Flathead River
near the southwestern entrance of the national park, several miles northeast of Columbia Falls
. Less than 6 miles (9.7 km) below this confluence, the combined river joins the South Fork Flathead River
, forming the main Flathead River.
(1975) in the United States, its greater length in BC (31 miles (49.9 km), not including headwaters forks) is not. Water in the BC section remains relatively pure as there are no permanent residents or livestock in this drainage north of the border.
was proposed, which would have flooded much of the river's valley between Glacier View Mountain and the Canadian border. Supported by Flathead Valley interests, the dam and reservoir were opposed by the National Park Service
, as between 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha) and 20000 acres (8,093.7 ha) of park lands would have been flooded. The proposed dam was cancelled by 1950.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(BC), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
south into the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. It is one of the three primary forks of the Flathead River
Flathead River
The Flathead River, in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana, originates in the Rocky Mountains near Glacier National Park and flows southwest into Flathead Lake, then after a journey of , empties into the Clark Fork. The river is part of the Columbia River drainage basin, as the Clark...
, a tributary of the Pend Oreille River
Pend Oreille River
The Pend Oreille River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington in the United States, as well as southeastern British Columbia in Canada. In its passage through British Columbia its name is spelled Pend-d'Oreille River...
, via Clark Fork
Clark Fork (river)
The Clark Fork is a river in the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho, approximately long. The largest river by volume in Montana, it drains an extensive region of the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and northern Idaho in the watershed of the Columbia River, flowing northwest through a long...
. The river is sometimes considered the upper headwaters of the Flathead River, although the North Fork is its official name in the U.S. Other naming conventions for the river include Flathead River - North Fork, North Fork of Flathead River, and North Fork of the Flathead River.
The river originates in a valley northeast of Lake Koocanusa
Lake Koocanusa
Lake Koocanusa is a reservoir in British Columbia and Montana formed by the damming of the Kootenai River by the Libby Dam in 1975....
in the Clark Range
Clark Range (Canada)
The Clark Range is a mountain range that forms part of the Continental Divide and also the boundary between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. A small portion of the range extends into the far northwestern section of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. It is the easternmost of...
, and flows west. It then meets the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
and turns south, winding through a broad glacial valley. The river then crosses the U.S.-Canada border into the state of Montana, where it begins to delineate the western boundary of Glacier National Park. Roughly following Montana State Route 486, the river winds southwest past Kintla Lake
Kintla Lake
Kintla Lake is a lake in the northwestern portion of Glacier National Park in Montana. The lake is located in a rather remote portion of the park, close to the Canadian border. The lake is a drive from the west entrance along bumpy dirt roads, but the scenery on the way is spectacular...
, Bowman Lake, Quartz Lake
Quartz Lake
Quartz Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Quartz Lake is only east of Middle Quartz Lake. Quartz Lake is a hike from the Bowman Lake Picnic Area. The historic Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin is on the western shore of Quartz Lake....
, Logging Lake
Logging Lake
Logging Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Logging Lake is one of the longest lakes in Glacier National Park at in length. The Lower Logging Lake Snowshoe Cabin and Boathouse are two structures located near the southwestern end of Logging Lake, and are on the...
, and Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. It is located at in Flathead County in the U.S. state of Montana. Lake McDonald is approximately 10 miles long, and over a mile wide and 472 feet deep, filling a valley formed by a combination of erosion and glacial activity...
, then turns west and south into a narrower valley before joining the Middle Fork Flathead River
Middle Fork Flathead River
The Middle Fork Flathead River is a river in western Montana in the United States, forming the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. Its drainage basin lies to the east of the South Fork Flathead River and the Hungry Horse Reservoir...
near the southwestern entrance of the national park, several miles northeast of Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls, Montana
Columbia Falls is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,645 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Columbia Falls is located at ....
. Less than 6 miles (9.7 km) below this confluence, the combined river joins the South Fork Flathead River
South Fork Flathead River
The South Fork Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana in the northwest United States. It is one of the three main forks of the Flathead River, a tributary of the Clark Fork River...
, forming the main Flathead River.
Wild and Scenic River designation
Although the North Fork is designated as a National Wild and Scenic RiverNational Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
(1975) in the United States, its greater length in BC (31 miles (49.9 km), not including headwaters forks) is not. Water in the BC section remains relatively pure as there are no permanent residents or livestock in this drainage north of the border.
Dam proposal
In the 1940s the Glacier View DamGlacier View Dam
Glacier View Dam was proposed in 1943 on the North Fork of the Flathead River, on the western border of Glacier National Park in Montana. The tall dam, to be designed and constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the canyon between Huckleberry Mountain and Glacier View Mountain, would...
was proposed, which would have flooded much of the river's valley between Glacier View Mountain and the Canadian border. Supported by Flathead Valley interests, the dam and reservoir were opposed by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, as between 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha) and 20000 acres (8,093.7 ha) of park lands would have been flooded. The proposed dam was cancelled by 1950.