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Paddling
Whether you're coming for the day or planning to spend the whole
week, the Wenatchee River and its tributaries have much to
offer.
River Access Info
HERE
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The Wenatchee River
The region's best run and the most popular whitewater
river in the state is the Wenatchee River - specifically
the class III run from Leavenworth to Cashmere.
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When flows are pumping
this river serves up some world-class playboating. The Wenatchee's
great features include
Rodeo Hole, Turkey Shoot,
Drunkard's,
Trinity Wave, Granny's and Suffocator.
Upstream of
Leavenworth, the Wenatchee River crashes through
Tumwater
Canyon. With flows of several thousand cfs and with a gradient
of 100 feet/mile, this is one of the most challenging big water
runs in the entire region. While too high for most in early
June, the easy roadside access makes it fun for everyone to stop
at the big drops to pick your line.
The Runs
Upper
Wenatchee, class II
Tumwater
Canyon, class V
photo
here and
here
Wenatchee,
class III
Note: a
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Vehicle Use Permit is
required for parking at Rodeo Hole and the Peshastin put-in.
They are available at Der Sportsmann in Leavenworth.
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Icicle Creek
Enjoyed by paddlers for more than 30 years, what was once
the cutting edge of extreme boating is now accessible to
solid creek boaters.
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With
Icicle Creek joining the
Wenatchee right in Leavenworth, locals enjoy the run as a
quick after work destination.
Great camping and
quality whitewater continue to make this creek a required stop
for those on cross-country whitewater road trips.
The most popular
run is Middle Icicle and with easy roadside access you can
choose from a couple of different take-outs as the run builds in
intensity to a dramatic finish at Snow Creek. Those looking for
an introduction to Icicle Creek can check out the short lower
run.
The
Runs
Upper
Icicle: class II-III(V)
Middle
Icicle, class IV/V(V+)
Lower
Icicle, class IV+
... and, there's more.
The Wenatchee Drainage offers
some more great creeking. Nason Creek is always a good run and
if you're looking for an alternate put-in for the Wenatchee play
run you can check out Peshastin Creek. Ingall's Creek is also a
good short run. The Little Wenatchee can be a great run but get
a local wood report.
The
Runs
Ingall's
Creek, class IV
Peshastin
Creek, class III-IV
Upper
Chiwawa, class II
Lower
Chiwawa, class III
Upper Nason,
class IV-V
Lower Nason,
class II-III
Little
Wenatchee, class IV-V
photo here
For more nearby runs click
here for American Whitewater's Washington State page.
There are some good runs on the
Entiat or you can head further north to the Chewuch. The Lost is
a possibility for an overnight expedition as it flows through
one of the most remote wilderness canyons in the state.
Also to the north you'll find
the Methow which is another good intermediate run.
Towards Snoqualmie Pass on
I-90, the Cle Elum,
China Gorge, is typically good in June and if
flows aren't too high the nearby Cooper is also a classic.
Another great run easily accessible from the I-90 corridor is
Fall in the Wall.
If you're coming over by way of
Steven's Pass and Hwy 2 then the top Tye or Foss may be
worth checking out. There are also plenty of other good runs
along Hwy 2.
If you're around for the week
consider checking out some of the great runs in the Columbia
River Gorge.
Thanks for Chris Ohta and
Chris Totten for river pictures.
Some guidebooks
to have along with you in the Pacific Northwest are:
Bennett, Jeff and
Tonya,
A Guide to the Whitewater Rivers of Washington. 2nd ed.
Swiftwater Publishing. 1981.
Garren, John,
Idaho River Tours. The Touchstone Press. 1987.
Garren, John,
Oregon River Tours, new ed. The Touchstone Press. 1991.
Hay, Keith G.,
The Lewis and Clark Columbia River Water Trail. Timber
Press. 2004.
Huser, Verne,
Paddle Routes of Western Washington, 2nd ed. The
Mountaineers. 2000.
Jones, Philip N.,
Canoe and Kayak Routes of Northwest Oregon, 2nd ed. The
Mountaineers. 1997.
Keller, Robb,
Paddling Oregon. Falcon. 1998.
Korb, Gary,
A Paddler's Guide to the Olympic Peninsula, 2nd ed. 1992.
Landers, Rich &
Dan Hansen,
Paddle Routes of the Inland Northwest. The Mountaineers.
1998.
Mueller, Marge &
Ted,
Seattle's Lakes, Bays & Waterways. The Mountaineers. 1998.
North, Douglass
A.,
Washington Whitewater. The Mountaineers. 1999.
Stekel, Peter.
Best Hikes Near Seattle. 2008.
Stekel, Peter.
The Flower Lover. Authorhouse. 2001.
Wainwright, Jack,
Canoe Trips British Columbia. Summit Productions. 1994.
Willamette Kayak &
Canoe Club,
Soggy Sneakers, 4th edition. The Mountaineers. 2004.
This list is, in
no way, complete or exhaustive.
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