Bogachiel, WA

Bogachiel

Bogachiel
Photo by Thomas O'Keefe © taken 25NOV2006

Gauge Information

River Description

Season: Winter rain storms.

Description

The primary whitewater run with simple logistics is to run from Olympic National Park Boundary down to Bogachiel State Park at Highway 101, a 4.7 mile run. This is a good class II run with some fun eddy lines and a couple of medium-sized boulders that create good features. You can continue on down with a Class I float all the way to the Quillayute River confluence. There are reports of individuals who have run the Upper Bogachiel by hiking in from the Soleduck but beta is limited.

Logistics

River Mile 0 (Leyendecker Boat Ramp)
Located at the confluence with the Quillayute off Mora Road. Mora Road is a road that turns off from La Push Road which which turns off from Highway 101 at mile 193.2 just north of Forks. From this access it's about 6 miles down the Quillayute River to the ocean at La Push.

River Mile 5.0 (Wilson Boat Ramp)
Located off La Push Road which turns off from Highway 101 at mile 193.2 just north of Forks. Head 5.5 miles down this road and turn left on Wilson Road. Follow this road 0.7 miles to the boat ramp (WDFW parking sticker required).

River Mile 8.4 (Bogachiel Fish Hatchery Ramp)
Located just upstream of the Calawah River confluence. In the town of Forks at Highway 101 mile 191.4 turn west on Bogachiel Way (across from the Forks Coffee Shop). Head 3.3 miles down this road to the rearing ponds. Continue past the ponds to the river and a boat ramp (WDFW parking sticker required).

River Mile 15.3 (Bogachiel State Park, Highway 101)
A good ramp access is located on river left under the Highway 101 Bridge at mile 185.5.

River Mile 20.0 (Bogachiel Trailhead, Olympic National Park)
At Highway 101 mile 186.0 take North Bogachiel Road as it heads upstream on river right. You'll get several looks at the river before arriving at the trailhead after 5.4 miles. From the trailhead you need to hike about 15 minutes upstream to reach convenient river access. Alternatively you can pick a spot along the road where the river is closer.

River Mile 33.3 (North Fork confluence)
No access here other than hike in but this gives you a reference for the distance from this point out to Highway 101. You can hike up the trail to this point but then the trail turns up the North Fork Bogachiel.

River Mile 42 (approximate upper put-in)
To reach this put-in you need to hike in from the Soleduck drainage and drop down into the Upper Bogachiel.

lat/long approximated by Tiger map server

for additional information see

• Korb, G. 1997. A paddlers guide to the Olympic Peninsula. third edition.
• local expert: Gary Korb & Carol Volk, 4930 Geiger Road, Port Orchard, WA 98366, 206-876-6780
• Olympic National Park website