Tieton, |
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SEASON: The annual flip-flop typically occurs on our around the weekend after Labor Day. At that time, flows from the Yakima are reduced and flows on the Tieton are increased to serve irrigation interests downstream providing good boating through much of September.
FUN FACT: The last "summer" run
DESCRIPTION: Be warned that you want to take out before you reach the confluence with the Naches River as just downstream of this point there is a dangerous low head dam.
The gauge is maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Yakima Project (flow information also available through from the Army Corps gauge). The source of water for this section is Rimrock Reservoir. A level between 1000 and 3000 cfs is ideal. You can contact the flow information line at 509-575-5854 which will provide you with a daily conditions and the plan for the next couple days. The same information is also updated daily on the Yakima Project System Status page.
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 - Tieton 2. Windy Point Campground to Naches (Lower) (mobile)
User Comments
climbing area (near the Fish and Wildlife building on Hwy 12). The cable is poorly marked on the
banks with a bit of flagging and extends from the right bank 2/3 of the way across the river to the
log. You can run far right under the cable or far left around the log. It was very hard to see this
coming down stream, especially since you will probably be relaxed after bigger water upstream. Edit
that there is much more wood that we saw. The river moves so fast, with so few eddies, that it is
extra important to watch for sweepers and strainers, but we didn't see very many. Several of the
rafting companies go a fair ways down the lower stretch, and Wildwater River Tours goes the whole
way to Tim's Pond river access area. All of the commercial guides on this river are very friendly
and helpful in my experience, so you could ask one of them about new obstacles.
You can also put in at Waffle Wall to extend the trip, but skip the weir and some of the longer
hairy Class III channels.
Waffle Wall is the first dirt turnoff on the right going downriver from Rimrock Retreat, at about
Mile Marker 173.5. If you get to the "town" (cluster of buildings) at Marker 172.9, then head East,
that is the easiest way to find it.
You can take out at Tim's Pond, mile marker 184.5 (+/-). This point is a little over one half mile
upstream from the confluence with the Naches. The most signficant rapid is called Surprise because
it sneaks up on you. After miles of continuous Class II, with intermittent bigger rapids, we dud
not realize we were in the middle of it until we started running out of ways to easily dodge the
holes.
It's a very pretty stretch, with some time for checking out the unusually tall columnar basalt, and
to look for rock climbers and mountain goats.
A couple more notes: The water is warm. You will need a river access pass to park at Tim's Pond.
The take-out at Tim's Pond is a little hidden, it is at the down stream end of the pond, and you
can see where rafts have been dragging up the banks. If you run from lake clear to Tim's Pond, as
we did, it is 17 miles. It is fast miles, but you have to pay attention the whole way.
Seattle area, it's worth extending the upper run with the lower. Or, if you're like me and you
prefer not having to wait in line to run rapids, this run can be a nice alternative to the crowded
upper section.
The best rapid on this section comes at the end of the recently-burned section, about 3 miles from
the confluence with the Naches. The rapid is a long (1/2-mile?) continuous boulder garden that at
over 2000cfs is full of big holes and waves. In a kayak, this section is a blast.