Stillaguamish, S. Fork,

Robe Canyon

Robe Canyon
Photo by Tom O'Keefe

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Updated	Level
SF STILLAGUAMISH RIVER NEAR GRANITE FALLS, WA	4.00 - 6.50 ft	00h23m	5.91 ft (rc= 0.8 )

River Description

FUN FACT: Creek run with a big water feel. Very continuous with some big drops.

SEASON: Through the winter and spring.

ACCESS: Take-out at the Mountain Loop Highway Bridge just outside of Granite Falls (Granite Falls lurks just downstream so make sure you get out here). Verlot Campground is one potential public access point if you're looking for a warm-up. Alternative hike-in access of about a mile, which cuts off some of the flatwater, is available along the Old Robe Historical Trail which is part of Snohomish County Parks and benefits from the efforts of the Stilliguamish Citizen's Alliance. Access across private property east of the trailhead is also possible if you have permission.

DESCRIPTION:

The run starts with five and a half miles of class I/II before slamming into a three mile canyon of class IV, V, and V+ rapids (video near canyon entrance at 4.6', 1.9 MB). You can have a look at the rapids at the start of the canyon along the Old Robe Historical Trail (an old railroad grade through the canyon) and potentially use it as an alternative access (although it's nearly a mile to the river). The trailhead is on Mt. Loop Highway at mile 7.2 and you can view approximately 1/2 a mile of the canyon's whitewater before the trail basically ends.

for additional information see

• Bennett, J. and T. Bennett. 1997. A guide to the whitewater rivers of Washington, second edition. Swiftwater Publishing. Portland, OR.