Stillaguamish, S. Fork, WA

Wiley Creek Rapid

Wiley Creek Rapid
Photo of Cyn Taylor by Tom O'Keefe taken 25MAR2000 @ 5.1'

Gauge Information

River Description

FUN FACT: Good class III run with camping and hiking nearby

SEASON: After some good winter rains and through the early summer (October through July). The run tends to be flashy in the range of levels of interest to boaters. Flow can change dramatically over the course of a day and levels that look good in the morning can be a totally different story by afternoon.

PUT-IN: Just upstream of Wiley Creek Campground at a pull-out where you can find good river access. You can put in any place upstream to lengthen the run with more class II action. Red Bridge campground is another possible access point.

TAKEOUT: Verlot Campground is one good access point. If you want to cut off some of the class II at the end you can also take out at the Mountain Loop Highway bridge across the Silliguamish just east of Verlot campground.

SHUTTLE: Follow Mountain Loop Highway as it parallels the river.

DESCRIPTION:

This is a good class III run with fairly continuous action and a lot of good spots to practice technique. It's a good run for those just making the jump to class III whitewater.

Depending on how far you go upstream, the run starts out with good class II whitewater. The rapids are not difficult but there is a lot of wood on this run and there are several points where solid boat handling skills are critical to stay out of trouble.

As you approach Wiley Creek (a small stream that empties into the river from river right) the pace begins to pick up a bit with some more challenging slalom style boulder gardens. The real class III action arrives with Wiley Creek Rapid. You can recognize the entrance by the distinct S bend which ends in a large pool up against the side of the road (this spot is easily recognized from theroad and can be scouted on your way to the put-in).

The river picks up speed as it plunges through the boulder field and resistant bedrock of Wiley Creek Rapid. Although the rapid is generally considered a straight forward class III+, those looking for more of a challenge can create their own slalom course through the rapid to spice things up a bit (once you start climbing above 6' on the gauge this rapid does approach class IV as some more significant holes begin to form). You can find a user friendly playspot on river left at the end of the last drop. It's particularly good spot for those just building their confidence and trying out their first moves.

A short distance downstream the river once again passes through a series of boulders and ledges similiar in character to Wiley Creek Rapid. With good water, the rest of the run consists of III- rapids until you reach the Mountain Loop Highway bridge. At this point the pace slows a bit and there are a few homes on river right before you reach the takeout at Verlot Campground.

lat/long approximate from tiger map server

for additional information see: Bennett, J. and T. Bennett. 1997. A guide to the whitewater rivers of Washington, second edition. Swiftwater Publishing. Portland, OR.