Yellowjacket Creek, |
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| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowjacket Creek | 400 - 1000 cfs | 03h43m | 206.72 cfs (rc= -0.3 ) |
SEASON: November to April with rainfall
ACCESS: It's a class V scramble down to the river at the put-in. See Korb's description in Bennett for the detailed directions on finding the spot where you can enter the gorge just upstream of McCoy Creek
DESCRIPTION:
Yellowjacket Creek is a fantastic small river, full of scenic gorges. The rapids range between straightforward ledges to steep slides to boulder gardens, making this a lively run. The first big drop comes quickly, after a short warmup. You can scout this drop right. Here, the river bends right then left through a tight boulder jumble. The line is obvious, but wood would be a disaster.
Below the first rapid, Yellowjacket Creek provides some fun class III boulder gardens as you approach The Meteorite, a series of three small ledges just above the McCoy Creek confluence. This drop can be scouted left and run right. Just below the confluence, prepare for Godzilla, one of the highlights of this run. This series of four ever-larger ledges can pack a wallop as levels increase. Scout left.
Below Godzilla, the river continues through the best drops on the run. This lively section is a hoot, and most drops are boat scoutable, but get out when needed. When you see the river bend right toward a house rock then left into a cliff wall, stop and scout the seven foot sliding falls. At lower levels, you can scout from the dewatered right side of the drop and run as far right as possible in the left channel. As levels increase a right side line opens up.
Below the falls, the river eases to class III for much of the rest of the trip. There is one good rapid remaining, the most scenic drop on the run. When you see a large, light grey basalt wall rising out of the water on river right, prepare to scout this last drop from the left. The run is far right, against the canyon wall. Below the final boulder garden, Yellowjacket Creek returns to class III boulder gardens set in small canyons. When you leave the canyons for the cobblestone gravel fans, you're a half-mile above the takeout.
With contributions from Brian Vogt
for additional information see:
The virtual gauge for this run is an approximation based on drainage area of this run relative to the nearby Cispus gauge just upstream of the confluence with Yellowjacket Creek. The higher limit of flows is unverified so use caution as once you descend into the canyon you are committed to the run.
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowjacket Creek | |||||||||
| virtual-7116 | 400 - 1000 cfs | 03h43m | 206.72 cfs (rc= -0.3 ) | ||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowjacket Creek [WA] |
sneak slide
|
2500 on Cispus ???? | MICHAEL HORNER | |
| Yellowjacket Creek [WA] |
The Meteorite
|
310 on virt | Brian Vogt | |
| Yellowjacket Creek [WA] |
Final Boulder Garden
|
310 | Brian Vogt | |
| Yellowjacket Creek [WA] |
Yellowjacket Creek
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe | |
| 5y212d23h09m | Yellowjacket Creek [WA] |
Godzilla
|
310 | Brian Vogt |
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 - Yellowjacket Creek Veta Creek to Cispus River confluence (mobile)
User Comments
10 times or so, lost count! We had a strong medium flow, about 770 on the virtual gauge. Godzilla,
the 7ft drop (on far right) and final boulder garden were fairly clear of wood. Give yourself some
extra time on this. FYI - If the hole at the bottom of Godzilla looks more than your interested in,
there is a small portage route on the river right side, just above the hole. You will need to
scamper along the right bank until you walk down river and close to the hole you should see a steep
little path up to your right. At high flows scampering along the right bank might not be possible. Edit
some levels but scout the first blind right corner below the putin. Another riverwide log below a
left bend in the middle of the run. Ran over it. It would only be a problem at minimal flows.
Everything else very clean. This one's in great shape!