Lewis, E. Fork - 4 - Moulton Falls to Lewisville Park (Hwy 503)


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Lewis, E. Fork,

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4 - Moulton Falls to Lewisville Park (Hwy 503)

Usual Difficulty III+(V) (may vary with level)
Length 11.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient 33 fpm

Lucia Falls


Lucia Falls
Photo by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 1198990800 @ 1350 cfs

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
EAST FORK LEWIS RIVER NEAR HEISSON, WA
usgs-14222500 500 - 2500 cfs III+(V) 00h35m 863 cfs (rc= 0.2 )


River Description

The run starts out with Moulton Falls, accessed from a day use area that provides parking for the put-in. You can scout out lines for the falls but most put in just downstream.


The river kicks off with some fun class II and then drops over LaLonde's Drop. More fun rapids continue down to Hantwick Road Bridge. As you approach this bridge the river enters a narrow canyon with a great entrance drop that takes you straight through a big wave hole. As you exit the canyon you find yourself a cool bedrock slot that flows down under the bridge.


As you reach a big eddy with a horizon line a short distance downstream of the Hantwick Bridge you're at the horizon line for Lucia Falls. The falls located in a county park has been run although "water contact recreation" is formally prohibited in the park. During the salmon run, fish rest in the pools at the base of the rapid before shooting upstream and the idea is to limit disturbance to the fish. You can use the trails through the park to portage on river right which also serves as an alternate put-in access for the lower half of the run.


Downstream from Lucia Falls the run continues with more great whitewater. Things get interesting again as you approach Heisson Bridge. Here the river flows over what is either a technical boulder garden (at lower flows) or a bouncy flush through a well-padded boulder garden (at higher flows). As you pass under the bridge you pass through another incredible mini canyon carved into the bedrock by the power of the river.


A couple more fun rapids keep things interesting as you continue on down to the take-out in Lewisville Park.


StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2003-12-14 03:27:40

Associated Projects

  • Volcano Country
    The rivers of Volcano Country within and surrounding the Gifford Pinchot National Forest represent some of the nation's most spectacular whitewater resources.