Metaline Falls (PnP)

This section ranges from a massive class IV with 15 foot standing exploding waves to class II swirly water depeoding on water levels of the lake and river. Metaline Falls is an oddity because it is not always present. This rapid and the park and huck or park and play depends on releases from Box Canyon Dam and the poll height behind Boundary Dam. When Boundary Dam has full pool this rapid is just moving whirlpools and boils. When Boundary Dam has minimal pool the rapid comes to life. It is likely in the spring when pool is low and Box Canyon is pumping water due to snowmelt and power demands. If the pool is high or Box Canyon is not releasing much water you might be unimpressed. The Pend Oreille river makes a cut through the mountains just north of town. The canyon has seen some landslides dropping large blocks of limestone into the river. Lucky for boaters intending to run this big water rapid there is a nice park at the river. A fairy flat trail system allows access to the cove just above the falls. You can also scout all the various routes while on the trail. The takeout if you just plan to run the rapid or to do laps of it is just downstream on river right. A nice trail comes back up to the parking lot. Depending on flow the massive boulder in the middle of Metaline Falls can produce a huge hydraulic when at 50,000 cfs or form waves to either side. Apparently at very low flows there are some creek lines on river left through the landslide debris. This gets moved by the water however and might clear out.