Martin Creek, WA

River Description

LOGISTICS:

From Highway 2 mile 55 turn off onto the Old Cascade Highway (FR 67). You'll cross Martin Creek at mile 1.2. This bridge is just above the confluence with the Tye River. To head up the river, continue on FR 67 to mile 2.4 and turn onto FR 6710 which takes you to the Iron Goat Trail parking area. It's about 3 miles up this road to a left fork in the road which heads down to a bridge across Martin Creek. See Lawson's description in Bennett for more information on logistics; he describes a run from below this upper bridge to a spot just downstream of the Iron Goat trailhead. There is some bigger stuff downstream. Check road conditions with Mt. Baker - Snoqulamie National Forest; follow link to the forest road conditions report under the recreation link.

DESCRIPTION: See Mike Lawson's description in Bennett for information on this steep creek in the Skykomish headwaters at 3000' elevation. This is not much of a run. It's really just a sequence of some extreme drops near the Tye confluence with some technical creek boating upstream. There is excellent footage of a couple drops in the Twitch 2000 video. Scout carefully if you plan on paddling this creek.

ISSUES: There is a pending hydro project on this creek (project map). If you have an interest in staying informed address a letter to FERC and ask that you be placed on the mailing list for the Martin Creek project 10942-001, for which Skykomish River Hydro, Inc. submitted an application on 8 March 1994. In their EIS released in August 2002 FERC recommends a license for this project.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Office of the Secretary
888 First St., N.E.
Washington, DC 20426

lat/long approximate by Tiger server and VERY approximate. Put-in location should not be considered accurate.