Rapid, |
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| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid | 550 - 900 cfs | 01h15m | 492 cfs (rc= -0.2 ) |
SEASON: Spring snowmelt. Snow may limit access until late spring (check road report).
FUN FACT: Continuous rapids--short but sweet.
SHUTTLE: Follow Highway 2 east to FR 65, the Beckler River Road (turnoff at mile 49.6 on Highway 2 just west of the bridge across the South Fork Skykomish). Take the Beckler River Road 6.9 miles to a bridge across the Rapid River where the pavement ends(elevation 1340'). Parking for the takeout is available on river left on the upstream side of the bridge. From the takeout follow Forest Road 6530 as it parrelels the Rapid River. It's easy to scout the run from the road and check for log hazards on your way to the put-in. You will reach the third FR 6530 bridge at mile 1.2. This serves an alternative put-in for those looking for a quick 15-20 minute run that takes in the most continuous section of whitewater. The river disappears from view (there is not much action in this section away from the road), until you get to mile 2.9 where the river comes back into view again (the big drops are just around the corner upstream). You can put in here or continue up to mile 3.0 and an undeveloped camping area (elevation 1740'). Check road conditions with Mt. Baker - Snoqulamie National Forest; follow link to the forest road conditions report under the recreation link.
DESCRIPTION:
Within 100 yards of the put-in the river screams to life with a stairstep sequence of waterfalls that together rates V-. Individually the drops look fairly straightforward, but packed together in a small and tight canyon they become a bit more intimidating or exciting depending on you perspective. If these drops only wet your appetite you can continue upstream to more challenging whitewater as seen in the Twitch 2000 video. Most mortal creek boaters put in below the falls and run a challenging class IV+ rapid that tapers out to class III over a distance of a couple hundred yards. If you don't like the looks of any of the put-in rapids you might want to back track downstream to the alternative put-in.
Below the entrance rapids the river calms to class II with some class III for nearly a mile. Occasional log hazards demand your attention, but this section is otherwise straightforward.
Just about the time you're beginning to wonder how long the calmer stretch will last the river kicks to life with a sharp bend to the right as the third FR 6530 bridge comes into view (the alternative put-in). At higher water the rapid just past the bridge packs a pretty good punch.
The run is all too short from this point down, but it's continuous to the takeout with a lot of different routes to choose from (video of a typical section, 1.3 MB). Log hazards are the main danger, but this run is otherwise a very user friendly class IV. There are no big huge drops or must-make slots, and only a couple boat munching holes. Individually the rapids might be class III+, but the continuous nature makes it solid class IV.
The best takeout is to continue under the Beckler Road bridge and onto the Beckler River where you can takeout on river left.
photo credit: Claudio Piani on the Rapid, shot by Tom O'Keefe
for additional information see:
The virtual gauge for this run is based on the relative area of the basin and the Skykomish at Goldbar gauge downstream (the river is best around 10,000 cfs on this gauge). The relationship used for the virtual gauge is of course dependent on snow level. When the freezing level is low the river will be flowing a bit lower than the value given and during peak snowmelt the river may be flowing higher. The Goldbar gauge is also available through the NOAA hotline 206-526-8530).
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid | |||||||||
| virtual-6270 | 550 - 900 cfs | 01h15m | 492 cfs (rc= -0.2 ) | ||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid [WA] |
Rapid River
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe | |
| 8y215d03h41m | Rapid [WA] |
Rapid
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Rapid Road end to Beckler River (mobile)
User Comments
it was clean of wood, however, we found we had to portage a riverwide log near the bottom of the
1st (biggest) rapid below the campground, the wood was not visible from the road and could pose a
threat if someone didnt see it. We also found there to be a number of riverwide logs from after the
1st rapid to the 1st bridge you come to, most we could get over, barely, I suspect at lower flows
you would be portaging. Scout your put-in carefully!
didn't go past the 3rd bridge to check out the upper part of the run, but the lower, continuous
section was good to go. There is some wood, but nothing that had to be portaged and you can see the
wood from the road. Most of it is the same old wood from before with one exception. There is a big
ol' log in the ledge on river right a few hundred yards upstream from the takeout. Easy to get
around on the left. It's just a bummer because that slot is the most "ledgy" spot in the lower part
of the run and you need to miss it now.
There are two log portages, one near the beginning and the other about halfway through.
that it takes a higher level on the Goldbar gage for rain than for snowmelt. During winter rain
runs, we had medium water level at 12,000 and low water (but runnable) at 9,000. However, during
snowmelt in June we had a medium level with 7,000 cfs at Goldbar. In fact, 7,000 snowmelt was about
the same as 12,000 rain. You can get a good look at the level at the bridge over the Rapid at the
mouth. If you don't like what you see, big deal... it's a short drive to the Foss, Miller, Tye and
Money Crk.
Beckler confluence. Looks like it has been there all winter and will be quite a project to repair.
You can still put in just above the third bridge and run laps on that last mile+ section which is
where most of the good stuff.