Spring river safety workshop

Flathead Rivers Alliance invites the public to a free spring river safety workshop to kick-off the 2025 float season.  

The event is Wednesday, May 14, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Sacred Waters Brewing Company, on the wild side and back lawn, at 3250 U.S. Hwy 2 E., in Kalispell.  

Experts from North Valley Search and Rescue and Glacier Raft Company will discuss cold water immersion, safety gear, river condition forecasts and handling spring river conditions. They will also talk about reading rivers, give K9 and safety gear demonstrations, and share river search and rescue stories. 

North Valley Search and Rescue serves the Flathead River watershed with an area that borders the west side of Glacier National Park and continues down to the Bob Marshall Wilderness.  

Glacier Raft Company operates in the remote Upper Middle Fork in the Great Bear Wilderness, the entirety of the North Fork, and have trips on the whitewater of John Stevens Canyon below Moccasin Creek.  

“We train intensely every spring during run off and our guides form a deep respect for the rivers and their challenges,” said Mike Cooney of Glacier Raft Co. “We are always willing to discuss current conditions and assist those if needed. Safety is our top priority, and we are honored to share our knowledge and experience.” 

Attendance is free and reservations are not required. Learn more about Flathead Rivers Alliance’s 2025 education, outreach and stewardship programming and events by visiting www.flatheadrivers.org.