Yellowjacket Creek
Pinto Creek to Cispus River confluence
| Difficulty | IV(V) |
| Length | 8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 78 fpm |
| Gauge | Yellowjacket Creek (estimated) |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 120 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 19, 2022 |
Washington’s legendary volcanoes – Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams – are the source of wild, free-flowing rivers and streams that cascade over big drops and through deep basalt canyons on their way to the Columbia River. Rivers like the Clear Fork of the Cowlitz, Cispus, Green, [...]Read More
SEASON: November to April with rainfall
ACCESS: In the past people would use 'a class V scramble down to the river', this access point is described in the Bennett Book by Gary Korb. These days, boaters are using a roadside put in a few miles upstream near Pinto Creek. Besides being easier access, it adds a few fun rapids and either a stout 30 foot waterfall or a fun throw and go (wear a drysuit).
DESCRIPTION:
Yellowjacket Creek is a fantastic small river, full of scenic gorges. The rapids range between straightforward ledges to steep slides to boulder gardens and one large waterfall, making this a lively run. The first big drop comes after a short warmup. It looks from above almost like it could be boat scouted, don't fall for that trap, scout on the right as most will portage. In 2017 it was possible to run down the left and avoid the meat of the rapid.
More boulder gardens lead to a narrow gorge. A twisty class IV lead in lands in a pool with an obvious horizon line below, there is a fun ramp to boof down the left for what may be the most fun rapid of the creek.
There is some more whitewater downstream, and things ease off before bending right amongst boulders and where you might least expect it a large horizon line presents itself. Be sure to eddy out on the left to scout/portage. The left side of Yellowjacket Falls lands on a rock, but has been successfully run center boofing towards the right. This drop is the real deal, with high consequences for missing what is kind of a straight-forward line. If you portage, have someone jump in to the pool below from a perch river left of the falls (it's a good sized jump of around 40ish feet) and get ready to collect boats downstream. It's nice to have one person in their boat in the pool below, and one on shore for corralling purposes.
There are a couple fun slides immediately downstream of Yellowjacket Falls that can both be run right, below these ledges
...Jun 22, 2017
This is the first decent rapid below the old hike-in, a short way below Yellowjacket Falls.
May 27, 2008
Paddled Yellowjacket today and the run is currently full of wood. Had to portage around wood about 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.
Nov 11, 2006
Ran Yellowjacket @ 600 cfs on the virt gauge. Smae wood as before in the first drop, can be run at 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!
