Disclaimer

There are significant dangers associated with both Open Water and Moving Water canoe outings.  Units undertaking a Scouting Adventure on either a large body of water or moving water need more than just the basic skills and knowledge required by the BSA to conduct such a trip.

The following lists places that Scouts and others have gone canoeing.  Our Troop has several adults with extensive experience and professional training in watercraft use, sailing and whitewater.  If you are planning a Canoe trip and do not have an experienced adult leader able to assess flow rates, wind and "read water", you should reconsider a water outing until you have the proproper resources and people to make your trip safe. 

Eastern Washington Lakes

• Bear Lake

• Bonnie Lake

• Fish Lake

• Horseshoe Lake

• Lake Spokane (Long Lake

• Liberty Lake

• Medical Lake

Eastern Washington Lazy Rivers

NOTE: per www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss02/:

• Before a unit using human-powered craft controlled by youth embarks on a float trip or excursion that covers an extended distance or lasts longer than four hours, each participant should either receive a minimum of three hours training and supervised practice or demonstrate proficiency in maneuvering the craft effectively over a 100-yard course and recovering from a capsize.

• Self-guided unit trips on Class III whitewater may only be done after all participants have received American Canoe Association or equivalent training for the class of water and type of craft involved. Unit trips on whitewater sections of rivers rated Class IV are only allowed in rafts with a professionally trained guide in each raft. Trips above Class IV are not allowed.

Winchester Wasteway

• south of Moses Lake

• Launch on road connecting I 90 to 26

• Requires adult support

Yakima River

• Ellensburg to base of canyon at Roza Dam to camp

• Ringer to Roza - 15 miles

• It’s about a 17 mile trip – with flowing water to help

Snake River

• Lewiston to Columbia River

• Difficulty I

• Length 140 mi

• Avg Gradient 2 fpm

• americanwhitewater.org

Eastern Washington Exciting Rivers

NOTE: per www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss02/:

• Before a unit using human-powered craft controlled by youth embarks on a float trip or excursion that covers an extended distance or lasts longer than four hours, each participant should either receive a minimum of three hours training and supervised practice or demonstrate proficiency in maneuvering the craft effectively over a 100-yard course and recovering from a capsize.

• Self-guided unit trips on Class III whitewater may only be done after all participants have received American Canoe Association or equivalent training for the class of water and type of craft involved. Unit trips on whitewater sections of rivers rated Class IV are only allowed in rafts with a professionally trained guide in each raft. Trips above Class IV are not allowed.

Palouse River

• Palouse River - II

• Palouse Falls State Park to Lyons Ferry State Park

• Class II, 4 miles

• 500 – 6,000 cfs

Palouse River - III+(V)

• Hooper to Palouse Falls State Park   

Spokane River

• Harvard Park to Mirabeau Park (The Upper)

• Class II, 5.5 miles

• 1,000 – 40,000 cfs

Twisp River

• Buttermilk Creek to Twisp

• Class III, 10 miles

• 600 – 2,000 cfs

Wenatchee River

• Leavenworth to Cashmere

• Class III, 18.6 miles

• 2,500 – 20,000 cfs