1 - bl. Tunnel Creek to Rainbow Campground (Upper)Class V+
2 Miles
Avg Gradient 165 fpm
Gauge Information
Big Quilcene
River DescriptionSEASON: November to June dependent on water withdrawal for Port Townsend (diversion dam at Tunnel Creek). Best after heavy rain or a good snowmelt. LOGISTICS: Although the upper section ends at the large bend near Rainbow Campground, paddlers continue on through the lower run and take out river right at the pull-out at Highway 101 mile 296.9. To reach the put-in head north from the take-out on Highway 101 about half a mile and turn west on to FR 3039 (Penny Creek Rd.). Take this 1.4 miles and then turn left on to FR 3057. In 1.8 miles head left again on to Spur Road 40. Follow this road 2.3 miles to a spot where you can find river access. Check road reports under Recereation, Current Conditions, Hood Canal North, on the USFS Olympic National Forest web site DESCRIPTION: The run starts out with a short class II warm-up, but once you drop over the first 16 foot, double-ledge falls--Casserly's Cascade--you are committed to the gorge. This drop was named in memory of Justin Casserly who made the first descent in the late 90's (Justin drowned while paddling in Mexico). Logs can make sections of the gorge unrunnable so get the latest beta or scout carefully. The run consists of several class IV and V drops in a vertical-walled canyon. As you paddle past the trail access from Rainbow Campground the run continues on the Lower Big Quilcene. Pictures and a trip report can be found in Dan Halsey's account published in the Jan/Feb 1999 issue of American Whitewater. lat/long very approximate by tiger map server for additional information see:
StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2006-01-29 15:23:15
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Check the DOE realtime gauge. Look for flows of 300 cfs or above. There is a USGS gauge on this river (stn. 12052210, 1994-, 49.4 sq. mi.) now available on-line. You can get an estimate of Quilcene discharge from the University of Washington's Hydrometeorological Modeling and Forecast Group page.
Big Quilcene River Below Diversion Nr Quilcene [ WA ] |
Current Conditions
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| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| State | River Name/Section | Class | Level | Rel. Level | Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WA | Big Quilcene— 1 - bl. Tunnel Creek to Rainbow Campground (Upper) | V+ | cfs | 0/0 0:00 | ||
| WA | Big Quilcene— 2 - Rainbow Campground to fish hatchery (Lower) | IV+ | cfs | 0/0 0:00 |
| AW Gauge ID: | 9568 |
| USGS Station: | 12052210 |
| HUC: | 17110018 |
| Latitude: | |
| Longitude: | |
| Class: |
User Comments |
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2002-07-05 18:40:18 (2289 days ago)
Thomas O'Keefe
Information provided by Ryan Allen:
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<br />
I ran the Big Q again this summer (2001) and found that it was fairly clean of logs, definitly less wood than when I was in there a couple of winters ago. We only portaged one drop which was one of the last rapids in the gorge it had about a 10-15 foot steep slide on river left. The runout of the drop has a log about two feet over the water that you maybe able to roll under but it looks boney. The portage is easy over some rocks and wood in the middle of the river and you can put in and run a slot that puts you right below the wood.
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No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
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