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 safely.

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 proper resources and people to make your trip safe. 

We are happy to talk to you if you have questions. 

Exciting Rivers

• Looking for something more exciting than flat water?

• 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.

Skykomish (Gold Bar)

• Skykomish at Gold Bar (Half Run)

• 9-mile

• Put-In: Big Eddy

• Take-Out: Sultan

• Class II

• beautiful scenery and wildlife

• Great Run

• Learn how to turn a canoe at Big Eddy

Skykomish - I-II

• Big Eddy to Monroe (Full Run)

• Difficulty I-II

• Length 19.3 mi

• Avg Gradient 18 fpm

• Option - stop at Sultan for a shorter trip (shown above)

Skykomish - II

• Railroad Bridge to Big Eddy

• Difficulty    II

• Length    3.5 mi

Skykomish, S. Fork - II

• Beckler River to bridge above Baring

• Difficulty II

• Length 11.2 mi

• Mellow river float with a few rapids

• Suitable for beginners with support from experienced paddlers

• Put In: Highway 2 bridge east of the town of Skykomish where the Beckler and Tye come together to form the South Fork Skykomish (Highway 2 mile 49.8). You can find parking on the upstream river left side of the bridge.

• Take out: Barclay Creek at mile 40 on Highway 2 or

• Bridge at mile 46 on Highway 2

• NOTE: unrunnable drops are only half a mile downstream - Know where Takeout is!

Skykomish, S. Fork - II(V+)

• Baring to Sunset Falls

• Three major waterfalls: Eagle Falls, Canyon Falls, and Sunset Falls

• Note: several fatalities along this stretch of river particularly during summer with swimmers or tubers who didn't realize the danger of the falls

Beckler - II-III

• Rapid River to S.Fork Skykomish

Skykomish - III+(IV)

• Index (Sunset Falls) to Split Rock

Silver Creek - IV-V

• Quartz Creek to North Fork Skykomish

Skykomish, N. Fork - IV

• Bear Creek (Drumb-beater) to South Fork confluence

Skykomish, N. Fork - II-V

• Jackson Wilderness to Bear Creek

Stillaguamish River (Arlington) 

• Stillaguamish, N. Fork - II

  • Moose Creek to Oso

• Stillaguamish, S. Fork - II

  • Granite Falls to Jordan (Lower)

• Stillaguamish, S. Fork - II+

  • Deer Creek to Mallardy Creek (Upper)

• Stillaguamish, S. Fork - III+

  • Mallardy Creek to Verlot (Middle)

• Stillaguamish, S. Fork - V

  • Verlot to Granite Falls (Robe Canyon Run)

• Stillaguamish, N. Fork - V

  • Confluence with S. Branch to bridge below Moose Creek

Snoqualmie River (North Bend to Carnation +)

• Snoqualmie, Middle Fork - II

  • Taylor River to Concrete bridge (Upper)

•  Snoqualmie, Middle Fork - II

  • Tanner to North Bend (The Club Stretch)  

• Snoqualmie, S. Fork - II+

  • Twin Falls State Park to 436th St. Bridge   

• Snoqualmie - II+

  • Snoqualmie Falls to Plum's Landing (Powerhouse) 

• Snoqualmie, Middle Fork - II-III(IV)

  • Burnboot Creek to Taylor River

• Snoqualmie, N. Fork - III

  • Big Creek to Spur 10 Bridge (Upper) 

• Snoqualmie, N. Fork - III+

  • Sunday Creek to Wagner Bridge

• Snoqualmie, Middle Fork - III-IV

  • Concrete bridge to Tanner (Middle-Middle) 

• Snoqualmie, S. Fork - IV-V

  • I-90 Exit 52 to Denny Creek Campground (Fall in the Wall) 

• Snoqualmie, Middle Fork - V

  • Hardscrabble Creek to Burnboot Creek

• Snoqualmie, N. Fork - V+

  • Spur 10 Bridge to 428th St. Bridge (Ernie's Gorge)

Pilchuck River (Snohomish)

• Machias to Snohomish

• Difficulty II

• Length 6.9 mi

• Avg Gradient 15 fpm

• americanwhitewater.org

• Beginner run

• bike shuttle option on Centennial trail

Tolt River (Carnation)

• Tolt - II

• Difficulty II

• Length 5.2 mi

• Tolt River Road nr. Carnation to Snoqualmie River

• Generally a few log jams

• class II gravel bar rapids start from the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Tolt

Cedar River (Renton)

• Difficulty II

• Length 19 mi

• Landsburg bridge to Maplewood Roadside Park

• americanwhitewater.org

Cle Elum River

• Cle Elum - II

  • Cle Elum Dam to confluence with Yakima River

  • 6 miles 1,200 – 4,000 cfs

• Cle Elum - II

  • Salmon La Sac Creek to Cle Elum Reservoir

• Cooper River - IV-V

  • Waterfall to Cle Elum River

• Cle Elum - IV-V

  • Scatter Creek to Salmon La Sac Creek (China Gorge)

White River (Buckley)

• White - II

  • Difficulty II

  • Length 14.5 mi

  • Avg Gradient 32 fpm

  • Buckley to Auburn (Lower)

  • Because of wood hazard in middle third of route, this is not the best beginner run and you can expect to portage a couple times

  • Best rapids are in first 1/3

  • OK rapids final 1/3

White Salmon River

• White Salmon - II-III+(V)

  • Buck Creek to Columbia River (Lower Gorge)

• White Salmon - III+(V)

  • BZ Corner to Buck Creek

  • Class III+, 7 miles

  • 500 – 2,000 cfs

• White Salmon - III-IV(V)

  • Cascade Creek to Trout Lake (Mt. Adams Section)

• White Salmon - IV-V

  • Trout Lake to Green Truss Bridge (Farmlands)

• White Salmon - V

• Green Truss Bridge to BZ Corners

•  

• Little White Salmon - V

• Willard to Columbia River

Mashel River (Yelm)

• Nisqually - II

  • Mashel River to Mckenna

• Nisqually - V

  • La Grande Reservoir to Mashel River

Deschutes River (Vail Washington)

• Deschutes - II

• Difficulty II

• Length 10.5 mi

• Vail Loop Rd. to Military Rd.

• Note: there is also a a Deschutes River in Oregon