| Middle Fork Clearwater River | |
| Map: | Clearwateridrivermap.png |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Idaho |
| Length: | 23miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Location: | Lowell |
| Discharge1 Min: | 260cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 6532cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Max: | 77200cuft/s |
| Source1: | Confluence of Lochsa River and Selway River |
| Source1 Location: | Lowell, Idaho |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 46.1403°N -115.5994°W |
| Mouth: | Clearwater River |
| Mouth Location: | Kooskia, Idaho |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 46.1456°N -115.9825°W[2] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 1224feet |
| Basin Size: | 3420sqmi[3] |
| Tributaries Left: | Selway River, Clear Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Lochsa River, Pete King Creek, Maggie Creek |
The Middle Fork Clearwater River is a short, but high volume river in Idaho County, Idaho, United States and is the major source of the Clearwater River, a tributary of the Snake River.
The Middle Fork flows west for 23miles[1] from the confluence of the Selway River and Lochsa River at Lowell, to the town of Kooskia where it joins with the South Fork Clearwater River to create the Clearwater River. The Middle Fork's entire length is within Idaho County, although a small portion of its watershed extends into Clearwater County.
The Middle Fork, along with the Selway and Lochsa Rivers, was among the original eight rivers designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It is a major migration route for Pacific chinook salmon that spawn in the Selway River.[4] Although the Middle Fork flows through a tight canyon, it is characterized by gentle Class I and II rapids suitable for floating, especially in late summer after the peak snow melt has decreased.[5]
U.S. Route 12 follows the entire length of the river.[1]