The Skykomish River is one of the nation’s premier whitewater destinations. Rising in the high country of the North Cascades, the river and its tributaries attract paddlers from across the country and around the world. The Washington State legislature recognized the river’s outstanding qualities by designating the Skykomish as the first river in Washington’s State Scenic Rivers System. This protection acknowledges its exceptional natural, scenic, historic, ecological, and recreational values.
The peak paddling season on the Skykomish runs from the fall rains in late October through spring snowmelt in early July, though boating is often possible year-round. It is one of the few rivers in Western Washington that supports commercial rafting during the summer months. The section from Sunset Falls to Railroad Bridge, or on to Big Eddy, serves as the “backyard” run for thousands of paddlers with easy access from the Seattle-Everett metropolitan area. Featured in international paddling guides, this stretch is known as a classic whitewater run, popular among both local clubs for instruction and novice paddlers seeking their first taste of intermediate whitewater. A survey of paddlers in the North Cascades found the Skykomish to be the top favorite run among 158 recognized whitewater runs in the region, praised for its recreational and aesthetic qualities.
The river supports thousands of recreational users each year, with a 1990 Washington State Parks study estimating 10,000–15,000 visitors annually. These paddlers contribute significantly to local economies along State Highway 2, particularly in Monroe, Sultan, and Goldbar.
Wild and Scenic and Wilderness
American Whitewater has long supported protection of the Skykomish drainage through Wild and Scenic River designation. The headwaters of the Skykomish were protected under the Wild Sky Wilderness legislation, signed into law in May 2008. This legislation safeguarded approximately 106,000 acres of national forest, adding them to the National Wilderness Preservation System and protecting pristine high-elevation lands, wildlife habitat, and backcountry recreation opportunities.
The Forest Service has also recommended the Skykomish River and many of its tributaries for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic River system, including both the South and North Forks and major tributaries such as Deception Creek, Beckler River, Rapid River, Foss River, Miller River, Troublesome Creek, Tye River, and West Cady Creek. Protecting these rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ensures that they remain free-flowing and preserves their outstanding scenic, ecological, and recreational values for future generations.
The Wild Sky Wilderness provides additional benefits by conserving old-growth forest, offering opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and backcountry recreation, and maintaining the ecological integrity of the surrounding landscape. Trails are planned in consultation with interested parties, providing access for recreation while minimizing impacts to the wilderness environment.
Protecting the Skykomish River from Hydropower Development
For nearly a century, the Skykomish River has been recognized for its hydropower potential. While the City of Everett developed a water storage reservoir on the Sultan River, expanded by Snohomish PUD, the remainder of the Skykomish and its major tributaries remain free-flowing. Past proposals targeted sites at Sunset Falls and numerous tributary locations, and more recent interest has focused on Youngs Creek, Sunset Falls, Martin Creek, and Barclay Creek. American Whitewater is actively engaged in protecting the Skykomish from hydropower development to ensure that the river and its tributaries remain wild, free-flowing, and accessible to the paddling community.
Land Conservation
American Whitewater has partnered with conservation organizations to protect critical parcels along the Skykomish River and its tributaries. More than a dozen private timber company parcels, totaling roughly 3,000 acres, include roadless high-elevation old-growth forests and lands along the Miller, Beckler, and Tye rivers, as well as near Lake Serene, Mount Persis, and Index Creek. Securing these lands in public ownership helps protect water quality, scenic vistas, and critical habitat while safeguarding the paddling experience on the Skykomish.
Public Access
Public access to the Skykomish River and its tributaries is a central focus for American Whitewater. While many tributaries flow through public forest lands, access to the main stem and lower reaches of the North and South Forks has presented challenges. Washington State Parks conducted a Skykomish Scenic River Recreational Access Study to address public access concerns, including the issues of trespassing and concentrated use along the river.
Access at Big Eddy is maintained by Washington State Parks, while sites such as the Railroad Bridge and Split Rock remain in private ownership, where American Whitewater works to maintain positive relationships with landowners. The Outdoor Adventure Center provides access at Index and Trout Creek on the North Fork Skykomish, allowing paddlers to use these sites when signing in and completing a liability waiver.
Sunset Falls Access
Sunset Falls has long been a traditional put-in for whitewater paddlers, used informally for over 50 years. In August 2000, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed the site to the public, citing safety concerns due to conflicts with fish-trap operations and vehicle congestion along the narrow access road. The closure has prevented paddlers from using this iconic starting point year-round.
American Whitewater continues to work with WDFW, State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, local landowners, and paddling clubs to explore solutions. Proposed options include constructing a trail along the road to keep paddlers out of the path of fish trucks, formal agreements with paddling clubs for signage and maintenance, and seasonal closures that align with fish-trap operations rather than year-round restrictions. Efforts have also considered access on the south side of the river.
American Whitewater welcomes ideas and support from the paddling community to maintain and improve access at Sunset Falls and throughout the Skykomish River system.