Crabtree Creek

Gauge:  The Thomas Creek gauge is the closest correlation, look for over 1,000 cfs in the morning of your trip unless flows are rising quickly.  It was run in 2015 when it peaked at 1700 cfs in the morning, dropping to about 500 cfs by the end of the day.  This was a med/high flow.

This is a class IV/V run located high up in the Crabtree drainage.  It has historically only been open during hunting season.  When the gates are open and there is water in the stream, this is a worthy destination.

From the put in the water builds quickly to class IV, eventually entering a straight away with an unstable right bank.  As the stream turns right after this short straight away it enters 'Browntown', the hardest set of rapids on the run. There is a series of stacked boulder rapids here before things ease back to consistent class IV.

The standout rapid of the run is signalled by an artificial channel that heads off to the left of the main channel.  Stay in the main channel and eddy out right to scout 'Birgus'.  Birgus is an interesting bedrock ramp that can be easily lapped or portaged on the right.

Below here the run eases and there may be a couple wood issues down to the next bridge, which makes for a good take out.  It is possible to continue down to the next bridge, which adds more brushy class III/IV and some interesting bedrock chutes as you near the bridge just above the confluence with the South Fork of Crabtree Creek.  Take out here, or continue through the next section.