Puyallup - 1 - Niesson Creek to Electron


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Puyallup,

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1 - Niesson Creek to Electron (Puyallup Gorge)

Usual Difficulty IV+ (may vary with level)
Length 9 Miles
Avg. Gradient 120 fpm

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
PUYALLUP RIVER NEAR ELECTRON, WA
usgs-12092000 300 - 1000 cfs IV+ 00h30m 673 cfs (rc= 0.5 )
Flow range for best boatability uncertain. Please help your fellow boaters with a comment or report. Gauge (92.8 sq.mi. drainage) is 1.4 miles upstream of the put-in for this reach, thus should accurately show actual flow in this reach.


River Description

Forest timber land and access to this reach are currently controlled by the Campbell Group. You can call them at 360-879-4200. Unfortunately the $13 daily permits that were once offered when Champion managed the access are no longer available. Campbell offers a $165 annual pass with a key that gives you access to the gate. This is obviously prohibitively expensive for those interested in checking out the paddling opportunities on the river. At this point in time it appears unlikely that policies will be modified to accomodate boaters, but if you're interested, a phone call to politely express your interests in a more boater-friendly access policy couldn't hurt . The company is always responding to community concerns and if there's enough interest we may be able to get them to address the access issues.

Pete Flanagan and John Whaley describe the run in Bennett's book as a whitewater gem that's in a "deep, narrow gorge, with spectacular vertical walls" and go on to characterize the river as a "more beautiful version of the Carbon, with slightly easier rapids."


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2003-10-12 20:51:58

Associated Projects

  • Puyallup River Watershed
    Major rivers of the Puyallup watershed include the Carbon, Puyallup, and White which drain the western and northern slopes of Mt. Rainier which we are working to preserve and protect.

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