Chuckanut Creek

Photos

Photos

Like the title of the report states, I'm not too sure how this run ended up on AW. The entire run is unrunnable. The only time this creek gets enough water is during huge storm events, otherwise the creek is so small you would have a hard time running it in a plastic water bottle.

The creek is also hopelessly choked with wood, channel spanning logs every 30-50 feet and many of which show no sign of movement anytime soon given the very small riverbed and lack of major flow events. Access to the put in is practically non existent. It's just a small bridge in the road surrounded by private property with no turnouts. Now let's imagine a perfect world where there was no wood, the creek still lacks any significant gradient and does not have anything that resembles a standout drop. The whitewater would hardly push class II and since the stream bed is only 15 feet wide there won't be much room for line options.

If you're in Bellingham and looking for a little urban creek fixing, you're far better off checking out:

Whatcom Creek (Falls Park or Downtown Brown)

Squalicum Creek (Cornwall Park)

Austin Creek (Sudden Valley)

Friday Creek (similar to chuckanut but with a much more consistent flow, less consistent wood, far easier access and a little more gradient.)

Padden Creek (likely as unrunnable as chuckanut but if you're considering this run you might as well consider Padden Creek too...

Scouted this novelty Bellingham run and it is unrunnable. There are river-wide logs at least every 100 yards if not closer. We did not see any sections that were safe or appealing.