So I've been living less than a 5 minute paddle downstream from the Canyon Creek Stilly take out for 2 years now and I still haven't paddled Canyon Creek.  Well now I have a creek boat and I've managed to paddle it some so  I'm finally ready for my first run down CC.  Any Canyon Creek Vets out there willing to show a first timer down?  I'd like to take my time and scout / take pictures as we go so it would probably be a slower trip on at least the first lap (assuming I survive ).

What have you paddled in your creek boat?  Don't want to scare you or anything, but It's not a run to test out your new boat skills.  CC's a short run, but it's hard to get out once your in there if something went wrong. I prefer 6ft and above for levels, but a good first time level while still keeping some flow through there would be around 5 - 5.5ft.  

POW - I've had my boat for about 2 months now and have paddled it most of those weekends on the Sky - not creeking, but I've got a good feel for the boat now.   I'm assuming those levels you gave are for the Stilly guage but which one?  The 2 guages are reading almost a foot difference right now and that would be a huge difference in levels on CC.

With the discrepancy on the SF Stilli gauges and the fact that the correlation to CC was never exact, I'd recommend using the DOE gauge on CC to determine levels.  250-300cfs is LOW but still fun if you're not a high-water snob, and would be a good first time level to see the run if you like technical boating.  At that levels, there's less push but all the major drops have clean lines WITH THE EXCEPTION of Headwall, which changed a bit in the floods and has pinned two or three paddlers this season alone (search back for Kyle K's post earlier this winter for details).  And the ledge in the first drop will still get your attention.  Double that flow and the lines get bigger but you definitely feel more push.  Double again and hang on for a good time - but be aware of the ledge at the tail end of the long boulder garden.   

I just talked to The Mckibbon. There's an early trip tomorow - 9:00 or 9:30. Be there or be somewhere else.

nuthin wrong with the NOAA guage for the stilly- but I think theres going to be a bit much (say 7') tommorrow morning.... we'll see.

If Canyon Creek spikes we can run Pilchuck Creek instead. Easier than Canyon Creek, but still tons of fun. Plus a waterfall.

I'm going to get out and boat something tomorrow - now with the river forecast I'm not sure where so I've edited the CC trip to reflect that.  Hopefully it's still CC but if it's too high, Pilchuck or the Stilly are backups.  I'll post here in the morning with the river of the day and a meeting location.

Tobin - yes, this is for Saturday.

I'm in. See you there.