Whitewater Forum: Boating Near Seattle

Boating Near Seattle

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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=12530
Printed Date: 11 Jul 2025 at 4:44pm

Topic: Boating Near Seattle

Posted By: kirbz
Subject: Boating Near Seattle
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 1:10pm

Well, it looks like I'll be starting a new work gig in Seattle for the next six months (specifically, out near the University of Washington). What are my boating options for the area, particularly in the coming months? None of this skiing stuff in the winter for me! Are there any after-work boating or playing options?

As an FYI, I'm a Class III/IV boater and I don't mind driving a bit on weekends. My paddling style of choice is creeking, but anything that gets me in my boat will be just fine. :-)

Replies:

Posted By: tkelley
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 2:35pm

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.

Posted By: tkelley
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 2:39pm

As far as play boating, paradise ledge at the take-out of the Upper Green is great as well as split rock wave on the Skykomish (see their pages for the right flows).

Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 3:07pm

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.

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The line will become apparent
978-273-7723

Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 3:11pm

A really high quality class III-IV run is the Tilton river. A pretty classic run down off of route 12 near Centralia.

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The line will become apparent
978-273-7723

Posted By: Scott_H
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 4:15pm

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.

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.”

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2012 at 12:13pm

Yup. Seattle is quite centralized. Lots of people to connect with too, which further expands the options.

Posted By: kirbz
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2012 at 4:11pm

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?

Posted By: Scott_H
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2012 at 5:14pm

Depends on the traffic - for post-work, if I am not off work by 4:30 I don't usually try and run the Green or Sky....traffic just blows. But without traffic, I would guess 1+ hours for either. Middle middle is more doable - maybe 45 minutes. Even with crappy traffic, if you are carpooling once you hit I-90 its all good in the HOV/carpool lanes, which kind of makes the MM my post-run of choice being a Seattle-ite with a 9-5 job.

But its worth the occasional sacrifice to jump on the Green when its running. No dis to the Sky though - just that it runs all the time and the Green can be tough to catch.

If you are looking to just warm up your skills a bit, the Powerhouse Run is a Class II, but it doesn't require a shuttle since its just a quarter mile or so and you can just walk up alongside the river bank from the take out (road to put in is currently closed) and then just paddle back down - or practice your attainment skills. But beginners use it to practice eddying skills and such and it has just enough little rapids that you don't feel like you are wasting time - certainly better than flatwater practice. Its in the river page under "Snoqualmie".

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.”

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