| Granite Creek/Ruby Creek — 2. Beebe Creek to Panther Creek™ © |
Class IV
5Miles
Avg Gradient 148 fpm
Max Gradient 200 fpm
Play Rating (1-10): 6
River Mapplet
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Gauge Information (Professor Paddle updated levels from RUBY CREEK BELOW PANTHER CREEK NEAR NEWHALEM, WA at 4/30/2025 7:25:23 PM)
AccessGranite and Ruby run alongside the scenic North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20), which is closed in winter, making this a late spring/early summer run. Coming from the west side, you'll reach the takeout first, which is at the East Bank trailhead (Hwy 20 mile 138.3). The takeout is at a footbridge, takeout on river left and carry up the trail. Continuing up the highway after 2.9 miles you'll reach another large parking area at the confluence of Canyon and Granite creeks (the Canyon Creek trailhead at Hwy. 20 mile 141.2). This can be used as a put-in for running a shorter run on Ruby Creek or as a take-out for doing short laps on Granite. A couple more miles up the highway at a large turnout (Hwy. 20 mile 143.1) is the put-in for Granite. |
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Other IssuesThis run is prone to wood hazards. Scout as much as you can from the road.
NOTES ON LEVELS:
Previously the Methow gauge was used to guesstimate levels on this run, which was not a great indicator but what we had (usually between 3000-6000 was a good range).
However now there is a gauge on Ruby! PLEASE NOTE: recommended range at this time is an estimation only. If you run this creek, please posts your thoughts on the levels to help up dial in a low/high range.
Also note, the gauge is below the confluence of Panther Creek (which is right at the takeout for this section so expect actual flows to be lower than the gauge shows–and even lower still on Grahite, above the Canyon Creek confluence). |
Fun FactsBeautiful North Cascades creek (river) |
Run Description [Season: late spring/early summer]Granite/Ruby is an excellent run for late in the spring snowmelt season. In many years it is runnable into July. The first 2 miles of this run on Granite Creek are steep with a gradient in the neighborhood of 200 fpm and filled with nearly continuous class 3 and 4 rapids with one long class 4+ which can be scouted from the road. When you arrive at the confluence with Canyon Creek the flow doubles and the creek is renamed Ruby Creek, and is really more of a river than a creek, especially as flows increase. Ruby is not as steep as Granite, but is still quite continuous with a gradient in the 100 fpm range. Ruby starts out with class 2 rapids and builds up momentum downstream and flows through many fun boulder gardens at low water, big wave trains and a few big holes at high water. The rapids are mostly class 3, but some push class 4 at higher levels, and continue right up to the take-out below Panther Creek.
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