Selway River - Paradise to Selway Falls

The put in is by the Paradise Campground where White Cap Creek meets the Selway. Since the bank is steep there is a launch ramp to get gear down to the river. 

The drive to the put in is very long, but the road is either paved or dirt road in excellent condition so it isn't too bad.

From Darby Montana on US93, drive south until you reach the West Fork Road - it is just before a bridge over the Bitterroot River.  Head west, and then turn right onto the Nez Perce Pass Road.  Go over te pass to the Magurder Rnager Station and the Selway River.  Turn right to reach the Paradise Ranger Station.

Don't panic when the Selway looks like a creek when you first see it.  Many side streams increase the volume as you make your way towards Paradise, and White Cap Creek at Paradise effectively doubles the volume of the river.

As an alternative to the steep boat ramp at Paradise, you can launch right from the campground on White Cap Creek.  There is a small dirt boat ramp with no eddy right in the campground. 

If you choose this option, scout White Cap Creek carefully all the way to the confluence with the Selway.  White Cap Creek is almost the same size as the Selway before the confluence, but it is stlll fast and low volume.  At lower water levels it is continuous class III-IV, and it is probably exciting at high water.

This is a rocky rapid that at high water creates holes. 

Read and run or scout from river right trail.

Run left center to avoid boulders and holes. 

Scout is river right and hard to access due to brush. 

Boulder blocks the flow. Careful how to pick the route

The current pushes to the right.

River bends to the left and then there is a rocky area to be aware of.

This is a wide area of the river. It is a shallow rock garden area and will get worse in lower river levels.

A large boulder garden that requires scouting.

Scout this rapid on the left.

A short section where the river drops over a boulder at the end.

The current pushes toward the left. There are holes and boulders at the end of the rapid.

It is a read and run rapid

A read and run rapid.

Rapid has huge boulders on the left side of the river. 

 There are large boulders that block the channel.

Scout from the left.

Read and run.

Read and run.

Read and run.

Read and run.

Has two parts to this rapid. The upper has boulders on the right. The lower has a boulder drop. 

A larger camp on river left. 

Large beach site on river right with minimal shade. 

On River right. Good size camp with nice shade in the afternoon. 

On river left. Located upstream from Running Creek Ranch. It is a large campsite with trees.

Located river right past the pack bridge. There are three possible campsites. All sites are large with a beach and trees. The farthest camp has a lower bank and is easiest to carry gear.

Located river left and below Ping Pong Alley. There is a large beach and a lot of areas with trees.

On river left. It is a small sandy camp that is located in a wooded area. A great campsite.

Located river left. A large campsite with a lot of trees and shade.

Located river left next to the airstrip. It is a large campsite with grassy areas and some trees.

Located river right. A large campsite with trees.

Located river right. This camp is right next to the forest. It is large and has trees.

On river left. This campsite was burned recently. It has a few trees but is a large camp.

Located river left. It is a similar camp to Mills camp.

Located river right. A small camp but it has pleny of tent sites and is very shady.

On river left. Has a few trees and is a larger campsite.

Located river right. It is a large camp with a lot of pine trees.

On river left. It has a large beach with trees.

This came is on the right after Pettibone Creek. It has a few trees and is a small camp

A large camp on river right. Has several trees and a good beach.

On river left. Located downstream of two large trees with roots hanging form the river bank. It is a small camp.