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Peshastin Creek - Highway 97 culvert to Wenatchee River
Peshastin Creek, Washington, US |
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Highway 97 culvert to Wenatchee River
| Usual Difficulty | III-IV (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 150 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 200 fpm |
Dropping into Fresh Squeezed
Dropping into Fresh Squeezed
Photo of Web Peirce by Thomas O'Keefe © taken 06/10/12 @ 0 cfs
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peshastin Cr. @ Green Bridge Rd. | ||||
| wadoe-45F070 | 500 - 1500 cfs | III-IV | 04h01m | 310 cfs (too low) |
River Description
FUN FACT: Extend your run on the Wenatchee
SEASON: Late spring (as soon as the snow melt kicks into gear) through early summer (as long as the snowmelt lasts).
LOGISTICS: To reach the put-in take Hwy. 97 7.5 miles up the hill from the junction with Hwy. 2 near the town of Peshastin. More challenging rapids can be found by going another 0.6 miles upstream. To reach the take-out turn off from Highway 2 just south of the Highway 2 bridge across Peshastin Creek and follow the road back to an unimproved parking area next to the dam. Boaters can also combine the big water of the Wenatchee with a creek boating entry by boating Peshastin Creek down to the Wenatchee. To continue on the Wenatchee see the description of the run from Peshastin to Cashmere. You can also kick start this trip with a run down Ingalls creek. There are a few more access spots along the highway for those wanting an easier run or to run laps on the upper section. (Most of the more difficult rapids are in the first few miles and the run eases off downstream, but is continuous in gradient the whole way)
SHUTTLE: Highway 97 parallels the river and gives you a good look at the character of this run during the shuttle.
DESCRIPTION:
The run starts out with nearly continuous class III rapids punctuated by a more challenging class IV rapid known as Fresh Squeezed. You can scout Fresh Squeezed from the road. It's about 0.8 north of the village of Ingall's Creek where a grassy knoll separates the creek from the highway. Those not wanting to tackle Fresh Squeezed can find a trail here to put-in just below. Below this point the river tapers off to continuous class II with a couple more fun class III rapids before settling down to more consistent class II once you pass under the Highway 97 bridge (an alternate access point). There is a runnable diversion dam a couple of miles downstream of this point.
There are often logs in the creek, and they tend to change quickly.
for additional information see
- Bennett, J. and T. Bennett. 1997. A guide to the whitewater rivers of Washington, second edition. Swiftwater Publishing. Portland, OR.
Editors
Rapid Summary
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | Fresh Squeezed | IV | |
| 4.1 | Alternate Access | N/A |  |
| 6.5 | Diversion Dam | N/A |
Rapid Descriptions
Those who are most interested in the class III can take-out at the intermediate access point available on the upstream river left side of the Highway 97 Bridge.
Use caution as you approach. Can be portaged but is sometimes run.
portage about 200 yards down from bridge (1st bridge after FS). Eddied out on river-left, ferried
across to one-boat eddy on river-right to portage. Portage can be done on the left side too, but a
bit harder carry. Professorpaddle has some posts on wood above Fresh Squeezed.
noted smaller wood at the top just as things pick up. One of our crew thought one could ride over
it with a right to left angle at this level. Will change at different levels. Definitely worth
looking at if running above Fresh Squeezed. On the lower section wood in several places that can be
skirted carefully - one with a scootch over shallows next to shore on the right.
run. Most of the really active whitewater is hidden from view. Note that around halfway into the
run there is a diversion dam (approximately 5' tall). You will see a gate on the right and a house
on the left. My group had no problem running this one down the middle.
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Associated Projects
- Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (WA)
The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests are home to some great whitewater runs and AW has in interest in protecting the resource values of these rivers.
Associated News
Wenatchee River Festival 2008
June 12, 2008
Highway 97 culvert to Wenatchee River, Peshastin Creek Washington, US (mobile)
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