Raging,
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Preston to Fall City
Class III+
5 Miles
Avg Gradient 71 fpm
Gauge Information
River Description
Guide Book:A Guide to Whitewater Rivers of WA, J. Bennett (1990)
This run starts off as a class II run as it meanders through the small town of Preston. This
section is prone to collection of wood in the river, but generally wood can be seen and avoided.
You should expect to get out a few times and portage. The two stand out rapids are about halfway
through the run. The river swings near the road, and the class III+ "Cheesegrater" drops through a
bunch of rocks and holes. The river lets up a little, and passes under the Preston-Fall City Road.
The next class III rapid drops through a dark rock walled canyon as it turns a corner and heads
away from the road. After this, the river eases up as it heads to its confluence with the
Snoqualmie at Fall City.
This run has big potential for wood. SCOUT before running it!
The Raging is a rainy season run. It generally requires a couple of days of good rain for the flows
to get to runnable levels.
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2005-03-29 19:05:54
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
the second bridge. Three more portages later and we were at Cheese grader, we were able to run it
clean river left of the island. Only major problem is a new sweeper (was up stream now after the
flood it moved down) at the entrance to the canyon. The gauging statiion said 350cfs and at that
level we were just able to ride up and over the log, then hard river right and hit the canyon
rapid. We were in Aire Lynx II's. One more river wide log across the dike (past the green bridge
easily seen from the Fall City Bridge) easily made it under. Last but not least, just before the
confluence of the Snoqualmie, there is a river wide quagmire of alder trees, river wants to take
you left right into them, keep right and slelp. Vastly different river compared to our November
2008 clean run with no portages. We figure 420 is the perfect level to run it. Edit
is new wood in the section below Preston but above Cheesegrater. Visible from the road is a major
tree spanning the entire river bed with few easy portage options. Portaging is possible, but will
be a slog through the underbrush and hard on gear. Cheesegrater looked clean, but we launched
downstream at the gauging station and ran into Fall City. There are many changes in the river bed.
Most significant is the rapid in the canyon. The rocks on the left have washed several yards
downstream, opening up a high water slot on the left. There is less constriction here and not as
much push into the undercut on the right. I'd say it's a little more open in the main line. The
island above the canyon goes in either channel, but the left channel could be blocked by a short
log, so leave your options open here. The gauge read 400 but felt more like 600-800 of the past.
Probably the guage needs recalibration.
After doing the section above we proceeded under the I90 bridge. There is a put in just
above.
Logs
We got out an looked frequenly because of blocked channels and logs across the river. The worst
spots and places we portaged are where the river branches into a number of channels especially 3 or
more. These occur in the wide gravel flats not in the rocky straight sections.
Cheese Grater
We thought we saw Cheese Grater from the road but did not remember it on the river. In retrospect
it was a section we scouted a long time. The log in the video shown in the middle of the river was
gone replaced by a single log where the paddlers went under the log. In that spot there is a new
and lower log. We went left where the log in the video blocks. It is now clear. This was the most
exciting, but not the most dangerous part of the river.
Log Jam
A few bends later the river turns left at a high gravel bank. Powerlines cross the river just
before. A log comes from the right side followed by another parrallel to the river, and with that
having the left channel blocked. It could be very dangerous without a scout. We walked on the left
side, then put in above the parrallel log and went right. If look more first, it could be run. Soon
after there is another three channel island. The right channel is blocked by a log. The very left
channel was clear but check it out first. We landed on the island first.
A few turns later an even worst jam appeared. I pulled in just before commitment point. It looks
like you can duck the first log, but beware the second log you cannot duck.
The canyon came next. I walked down along the left. We ran it against the right wall. The sticks we
saw at the end of the canyon were easily bypassed on the left. After that it gradually calmed
down.
Note that the order may not quite be correct.
the river comes close to the road, then makes a hard left turn. Right around this blind corner is a
dangerous root ball and log. There is a thin line starting river left then hard right behind the
root ball (and in front of the log), but this is a hard Class III+ move at 600 cfs. At higher flows
this will become more dangerous...take out of the left bank gravel bar before you go around the
corner and make the easy portage to avoid trouble. Below this, I'm happy to report clean conditions
all the way down.
section two corners below Cheesegrater, where the channel is a very narrow slot on river left, with
90% of the river blocked by wood is a bit worse now. Looks like the high water has reshaped the
stream bed. It is much more shallow over on the left now. We've never had trouble getting through
there even at 300 cfs; at 500 this time, it was much more boney. Approach with caution at lower
flows.
of wood in the run, but no portages. The log in Cheesegrater is still there, so run right. The
logjam creating the narrow slot on the left above the canyon is still there as well. The canyon was
clean of wood.<br />
Cheesegrater, which recommends a right side run over the main drop. The only other wood is a spot
above the canyon where there is nearly river-wide wood with only a small channel on river left.
There's room, but be on your toes. Not a place to swim.
We did the Raging at about 900-1000 cfs. It was a big flush, so wood was a concern. We scouted it
thoroughly before hand, making sure to visibly clear the canyon. There was only one portage; a
river-wide log that could come up on you quick. For the most part, though, as long as you keep your
eyes downstream everything can be seen and avoided. We did have to limbo under a few trees. The run
was great fun, though!
wood and root debris in the channel - keep alert. This is the cleanest I've seen the Raging in
years - the run was a lot of fun.