The Yaak River originates near Yahk Mountain, in the Yahk Range, part of the
Purcell Mountains, in southeast British Columbia. The river flows south, crossing into
Lincoln County, Montana. It receives the East Fork Yaak River, then the West Fork Yaak River (also called the West Yahk River). The West Fork originates in Montana near Rock Candy Mountain, flows northeast into British Columbia, then southeast back into Montana to join the main Yaak River. Below the West Fork confluence, the Yaak River receives the South Fork Yaak River before curving broadly west, then south, receiving numerous tributary creeks such as Spread Creek, Hellroaring Creek, and Burnt Creek (also called Burnt Grizzly Bear Creek), before flowing into the Kootenai River near Yaak Mountain and the small city of
Troy, Montana. In Montana, the Yaak River and its tributaries mostly lie within
Kootenai National Forest. The river has Class IV-V whitewater. The river is Class III-V from Yaak Falls to its confluence with the Kootenai River for the purposes of public access for recreational purposes. ==History==