Whitewater Forum: Family rafting

Family rafting

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Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14023
Printed Date: 07 Jul 2025 at 1:37am

Topic: Family rafting

Posted By: Jule
Subject: Family rafting
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 9:11am

I was just pondering summer plans, and I thought, wouldn't it be amazing to get a group of boaters with kids together and do a mellow rafting trip. We're constrained to early August (umm...anyone still need people to go on their Main Salmon permit?), great options would be the Deschutes or John Day. We did a 4 day Deschutes trip last year with our then 6 and 8 year old kids, and it was so awesome. Let me know if that sounds like something you wanna do!

Jule

Replies:

Posted By: ThrowYaMittsUp
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 10:58am

The lower Sauk has tons of great, sandy beach camping and is long enough to do a few days. I have a group of friends with families that did a long weekend trip last summer from Clear Creek to the Skagit. They had a whole bunch of kiddos that they wanted to introduce to overnight river trips, and it sounds like they had a blast.

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"Call on God, but row away from the rocks." ~H.S. Thompson

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 2:22pm

By then the levels are getting awefully low through aren't they Pernick?

Posted By: ThrowYaMittsUp
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 4:59pm

Definitely to low for the Middle Sauk, but the Lower Sauk is a great float even at low water. Just thought I would mention it, because I think it is a great introductory multi-day for families, and its so close to Seattle.

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"Call on God, but row away from the rocks." ~H.S. Thompson

Posted By: Wiggins
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 5:45pm

You can definitely raft the lower Sauk in August. With last year's low water we were running boats with outboards up as far as Darrington in September.

Lots of beaches, but lots of private land as well. At the boat launch on SR530 were the bridge crosses the Sauk there is a map that shows were the public lands are located.

It should be a good trip. Bring an IK if you can because there should be some good small surf spots for them to mess with and probably not flip.

Kyle

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I smell bacon

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 6:32pm

Yeah the Sauk is a mighty river with a fascinating natural history

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🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋

Posted By: Jule
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2014 at 7:46am

Thanks for the advice guys...we will definitely try to make the lower Sauk happen. It's kinda lame of me to have been boating around here for years and never have gotten on the gorgeous Sauk.

Also, I'm looking at the Lower Salmon for our longer August trip, no permits required and should be good family fun.

-jule

Posted By: ChristianKnight
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 9:58am

I, too, am looking for a two- to three-day river trip for the kids. Beaches are important. And so is swimmable water. Is the lower Sauk warm enough to swim in by August? Are there swimming holes?

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Catch your eddies,
Christian

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 11:45am

Christian have you considered the Grande Rhonde ?

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 5:07pm

Ok Brian - or any other Saukmasters...

How low is too low, what stretch would you recommend in the next few weeks for a 2 day trip with one night being camped on the River? Even if it is totally flat (IE no rapids) that is fine since I am taking a 3 year old. Tell me what you think.

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2014 at 2:29pm

bump

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2014 at 12:17pm

Yea I know about the normal stuff like GR and John Day etc..

I specifically am looking at the Sauk because I don't have but two days to kill, I was thinking of launching on a Friday and then camping one night then taking off on Sat. Doesn't have to be super scenic, the goal is to just get my daughter and me on the water for some playing / camp time.

What about the Skagit, are there any over night zones on that. Ideally I'm not looking for any rapids either just a float trip with camping. My daughter learned how to swim this summer and I figured we would do a little daddy daughter trip with a friend and his daughter.

Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2014 at 12:30pm

It might be getting too low but the Upper Wenatchee from the lake to Tumwater Campground is a good run for an overnighter. They are actually putting in a take out/put in area at the new Tumwater bridge but for now you have to drag/carry to the pull out on the river left side

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H2Ohta

Posted By: Jimmy
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2014 at 2:42pm

I would be up for a Wenatchee camping trip, but I'm going out of town for work and might not make it happen for a few weeks. I would be in an inflatable kayak only carrying a backpacks worth of gear.

Jimmy

Posted By: Wiggins
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2014 at 5:18pm

The Skagit is full of multiday opportunities. Putting in at Goodell Creek gives you overnight takeouts at the Marblemount boat ramp, at Sutter Creek (next to the roadside park by Cascadia Farms), and Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport.

Putting in at NP213 Rd or Marblemount would give you good overnight takeouts at Faber Landing (look for the fishing access sign on SR20 between Concrete and Rockport), The Baker River Confluence, and Pressentin Ranch Rd (a dirt road at the end of Wilde Rd at the intersection with Cape Horn Rd).

There is a lot of public land to camp on in the area, but it is patchy with a lot of private land mixed in. There are good maps you can see at Sutter Creek, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, and Marblemount Boat Ramp. You may be able to find it online as well.

Kyle

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I smell bacon

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