Whitewater Forum: Hanford Reach: anyone done it?

Hanford Reach: anyone done it?

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Printed Date: 16 May 2025 at 3:45am

Topic: Hanford Reach: anyone done it?

Posted By: Russ
Subject: Hanford Reach: anyone done it?
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2007 at 9:17pm

Anybody ever paddled the Colombia River's Hanford Reach section,?

I was reading that it is the only free flowing section of the river in Washington.

A casual search said there are some rapids.

Anyone ever paddle this?

Replies:

Posted By: Ronin
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2007 at 9:52pm

Originally posted by Russ

A casual search said there are some rapids.

I'm not personally familiar with the Hanford Reach, but I know people paddle that section in their sea kayaks because it's basically Class I. If there are rapids, it probably a riffle. I have heard that it is beautiful and one of the last untouched by man area in WA State. I guess there is a benefit to having a nearby nuclear reactor and nuclear waste dumping site.

Posted By: windwaves
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2007 at 11:49pm

I've done it....

its pretty much just fast flowing Columbia River. There are a couple spots where the river wells up over something and has some "rapids", but I wouldn't plan on throwing any Mc trickey-donkey-helixes. Current and river level seem to change quite a bit as the dam above changes releases. If you are floating, you need to stay in the current to make reasonable progress.

It is pretty interesting though. Not much boat traffic and not much along the shore with the exception of desert wildlife and an occasional relic of the glory days of nuclear research that seemed to be under close video surveillance.

Pretty cool to see what the "mighty Columbia" was like before the dams and shoreline development.

Take lots of water, sunscreen and a picnic lunch and make a day of it. Would be a long day in a whitewater boat.

We floated from the bridge at Vernita to a pubic boat launch at "white bluffs" or something like that. Brutal shuttle .

Posted By: Yotes
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2007 at 9:33am

You can make a two day trip of it, putting in at the vernita bridge and taking out at leslie groves in richland. It's a long trip, but the shuttle is easier. That trip is also possible to do in one day in the spring when the river is high (I've heard of a local doing the run in one day and biking the shuttle, but unless you're training for some sort of hellish marathon or triathalon that doesn't sound like much fun).

Posted By: jblum
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2007 at 10:22pm

There has been a recent spill of nuclear waste in the area. I think they spilled 100 or so gallons of very hazardous shit... I don't know if it will affect that part of the run, but beware.

-------------
JHB

Posted By: Yotes
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2007 at 8:26am

The spill has been capped and they're working on a cleanup plan for it, so it shouldn't affect the run. Besides, it occurred miles from the river, in one of the tank farms.

Posted By: Jimmy
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2007 at 9:06am

Originally posted by Yotes

The spill has been capped and they're working on a cleanup plan for it, so it shouldn't affect the run. Besides, it occurred miles from the river, in one of the tank farms.

Just don't got out on the bank if you've seen any 3 eyed two headed steroidal looking coyotes around.

Posted By: Yotes
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2007 at 9:09am

I wouldn't get out on the bank anyways. Not too fond of being on the other end of the shoot first ask questions later policy around high level radioactive materials.

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