Welcome to the area. Lots of after work options near Seattle (once we get rain this weekend). The Upper Green, Middle Middle Snoqualmie, and the Skykomish are the staples. Mostly class three at low flows, with a few exceptions (boulder drop on the sky), but all of these runs can get more challenging with higher flows. Check out their pages on this site. Always down to do some post work boating.

Well, realistically if you don't mid driving on the weekend, pretty much the entire state is at your finger tips. As far as after work goes, those days are slowly disappearing, with the loss of the evening sun it's getting tougher to get in a quality lap after work. But from the university district the two most accessible and reliable are the sky, green, and middle middle. For creeking in the IV+ range there is canyon creek of the stilliguamish which isn't too far from seattle, it's short but sweet, some fun rapids at the right levels. worth getting two laps in.

There is also the cedar, it's easy paddling but has good access and a slalom course.

The middle middle snoqualmie is sweet at 3000

The sky goes at all levels 3K-6K is a good medium, 3K down to 400 goes with varying levels of lowness, 7K+ Boulder drop is getting pushy and 8K+ I start running the sneak line down the right.

Weeknight traffic and declining daylight hours will keep your post-work trips limited for a while.  But lots to tackle on the weekends.  Once the rains kick in, you'll not suffer for lack of choices.  Just keep an eye out for people posting for weekend trips - or post up yourself and ask if anyone wants to get out.  Lot of year-round boaters here - even ski bums like me like to keep a blade in the water every so often.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm stoked to get out on some Washington rivers on the weekends!

Looks like I might have to wait until spring for after-work boating... How long does it normally take to drive out to the Upper Green, Middle Middle Snoqualmie, and the Skykomish from Seattle?