Dosewallips  —  2. Elkhorn Campground to NF-012 Bridge™ ©
Class III-IV+ 5.2Miles Play Rating (1-10): 7 River Mapplet		GPS/GIS Maps Put In Longitude : -123.04996 Putin Put In Latitude : 47.741102 Take Out Longitude : -123.00354 Take Out Take Out Latitude : 47.722484 County : Jefferson Shuttle

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Two easy wood portages in non descript boogie water, portage both an River Left. - Posted by: Jed Hawkes on 1/11/2010 3:26:00 PM -  [Remove Alert]  Positive alert: The major log in the Maze has been removed and the rapid is runnable down the main flow on the left side. Also, the riverwide spanning tree below the Maze has also been dropped. The run down from Elkhorn Campground is now currently free of wood portages. - Posted by: AdamG on 11/19/2013 7:21:00 PM -  [Remove Alert]  The Maze is still clean, but wood shifted with the recent high water. About halfway down wood takes up most of the middle of the river. Downstream of it there is now two pieces of wood that block different spots on the left side of the rapid. A few miles downstream there was still one very short portage in some of the flats. - Posted by: CO_Patrick on 2/8/2015 7:37:00 PM -  [Remove Alert]

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Other Issues Be alert for the ever present hippie outlaws that call the OP home. https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/wrx/wrx/flows/station.asp?sta=16D070

Fun Facts Beautiful class III+ whitewater with a few more challenging class IV rapids thrown in. Be alert for wood as it changes frequently! Easy shuttle to bike or jog.

   Run Description

The section of the Dosewallips River from Elkhorn Campground down to The Pinch rapid at NF-012 Bridge is a local staple for Kitsap County boaters. This run may not be a classic in a state full of high quality whitewater rivers but the solitude of the area and the quality of the whitewater make this a river that intermediate and expert paddles will both enjoy. The most difficult rapid is "The Maze" which is just down stream from the put-in bridge. The Maze is a class IV+ Boulder garden with potential for multiple lines if the wood situation permits. Scout accordingly. Below The Maze there are a couple miles of Class II boogie and one wood portage. Depending on the wood situation in The Maze and the water level most paddlers will put-in at the first major wash-out on the way up the road. This cuts out the hiking, the wood portage, and the Class II boogie (and of course The Maze).

Putting in at the first wash-out you will have a few miles of class II/III whitewater with a mix of eddy service and catch on the fly surfing opportunities. There are some fun moves and a few attainment spots for building skill. Aside from The Maze, the most challenging whitewater on this section is the last mile or so above the NF-012 bridge. The river drops through a class III+ boulder rapid into a bedrock corridor containing a class IV ledge drop. At high water these rapids blend together and the ledge forms a powerful hole on the left. The exit of this bedrock corridor can collect wood so scouting this spot on the drive up is suggested. A pool below this spot with a sweet rope swing offers egress on river left. Now the river enters 'The Bend' above The Pinch rapid. A cobble bar splits the flow with the majority plunging down a river right flume rapid. A left line exists at medium and high flows. Hop out at the top of the cobble bar for a look or scout from the road on the way up. A couple more class III+ rapids brings you to the rapid directly above The Pinch. At The Pinch the river squeezes through a narrow ledge drop, creating a turbulent and challenging line to hit at high flows and a slot that you can rattle through on the lower end of flows. Either way the line is right down the middle. At medium and high flows things increase in difficulty significantly. Scout and set safety on river right. It's best to scout the rapid above The Pinch and run them together as your speed coming out of the first part can help ensure a successful line through the crux. Do not underestimate this spot at high flows as it has the ability to separate paddlers from their boats and recirculate their bodies back into the drop. Scout, set safety, or portage on the right. Take-out on river right below the bridge.

Note: The DOE gauge on the Dosewallips is no longer operating. The nearest gauge is the Duckabush. Look for 3ft on the Duckabush as a minimum for this section. About 3.5ft on the Duckabush is the sweet spot.

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