Sauk,

1 - Bedal Campground to Whitechuck River (Upper)

Upper Sauk

Upper Sauk
Photo of Victor Kress by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 1089000000 @ 835 cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

This is a good beginner run but be sure to go with experienced paddlers and make sure you have good boat control skills. Wood hazards can be significant and may require some precise manuvering. This run is also one of the most scenic trips through the Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest, flowing through magestic riparian forests in a beautiful river valley-it stands out as a true gem of the Wild and Scenic River system.

The run starts out on the lower section of the North Fork Sauk before soon joining the confluence with the South Fork a couple minutes downstream of the campground. The river starts of with lively class II rapids. The best rapids on the run are in the first four miles where the river cuts a course through class II/III gravel bar rapids interrupted by occassional boulders. Although you will encounter a couple sections of bedrock, most of the river freely migrates across the floodplain contributing a constant supply of wood as the river carves new channels through sections of forest.

Once the rapids taper off, the river meanders back and forth across the floodplain but still continues along at a good pace. On a clear day, you will have great views back up the valley and into the Glacier Peak Wilderness. High above the valley on river right you will pass by Pugh Mountain and if the river is at a medium flow you will find several gravel bar beaches that make great lunch stops.

This section of river finishes off with the best rapid of the trip at Rocky Road, a fun class III drop just upstream of the highway bridge. You will recognize the approach by a gauging station on river right. Within a short distance of passing the gauge, the river enters a short section of bedrock-constrained channel with several boulders that create a fun technical drop.

You can take-out after running Rocky Road or continue your trip downstream on the Middle Sauk and enjoy one of the longest whitewater trips in the Western Cascades.

Logistics:

The take-out situation for this run has changed since the October 2003 floods that washed out the Whitechuck Bridge (photo) and effectively eliminated access to the former river access site on river right. The Forest Service has done a great job of coming up with a short-term solution as planning efforts continue to determine the extent of road and infrastructure repairs that will be completed in response to the floods that were responsible for more than $10 million in damage on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. To reach the improvised river access, head out of Darrington on the Mountain Loop Highway (FR 20). Less than 10 miles out of town you will reach the Sauk River Bridge at road mile 44.9. There is a load/unload zone along with a staging area and convenient river access on the downstrem river left side of the bridge. Although a section of about 50' of guardrail has been removed, there is no parking here. Please park on the downstream river right side of the bridge (the old approach road to the Whitechuck Bridge). From here you can walk back across the Sauk River Bridge to the take-out. Please don't park directly across the road from the access as the Forest Service has expressed concern that this could impede traffic flow on and off the Falls Creek Road.

To reach the put-in continue up the Mountain Loop Highway. The pavement soon ends, but continue on to mile 37.4 (just past the turn-off for the North Fork Sauk Road) and turn into the Bedal Campground. Follow the road within the campground down to launch sites on the North Fork Sauk just upstream of the confluence of the South Fork. The Forest Service has discussed creating a launch site separate from the campground to mitigate congestion and user conflicts (additional background). If the campground is closed, you can continue to mile 37.5 where the road crosses the North Fork Sauk. Although not formally developed, river access is available at the proposed new launch site down the spur on the upstream river left side of the bridge.

For current conditions, you can call the Darrington Ranger District (360-436-1155) and ask about road conditions or check the current conditions report.

Additional Information:

• Bennett, J. and T. Bennett. 1997. A guide to the whitewater rivers of Washington, second edition. Swiftwater Publishing. Portland, OR.
• North, Douglass A. 1999. Washington Whitewater. Mountaineers. Seattle, WA.
• Darrington Ranger District - USFS Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest website