to NF Clearwater

Skull Creek is a great little Class IV creek run if you are in the North Fork Clearwater drainage. The 4.5 mile run begin below the standard put-in for the Quartz Creek section of the North Fork Clearwater (the last run of the North Fork before the reservoir). You will cross the bridge over Skull Creek on the North Fork Clearwater Road (Forest Road 247) that parallels the North Fork Clearwater; this is the take-out (see picture). You can take-out here or turn the corner onto the North Fork Clearwater and use the Aquarius Campground take-out adding nice Class III big water style rapids to the end of your creek run. To get to the put-in, use the Forest Road 252 that parallels Skull Creek. Go about 4 miles until you cross Skull Creek. About 100 yards past this bridge is a nice put-in area with parking for a couple cars. All drops can be scouted from the road or from your boat if you have solid Class IV skills. The biggest drop is in the first mile, and may approach Class IV+ at certain flows. It has a tricky, rocky entrance and then goes into a twisting S-turn of froth by a big boulder. The river drops about 15 feet in this drop. Below that is a tricky slot rapid that likes to flip all boats that go through it. At about mile 1.5 there is a 4' ledge that can be boofed on river right. The rest of the run mellows a bit to fast Class III to the take-out.