Goodell Creek
Campground Section
| Difficulty | II-IV+ |
| Length | 0.87 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Bacon Creek Below Oakes Creek Near Marblemount, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 53 minutes | 206 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | October 21, 2024 |
Beginning high in the North Cascades, the Skagit Wild and Scenic River winds down steep slopes, through forested hillsides and wide open valleys, eventually reaching Puget Sound. The rivers of this system – the Skagit, Sauk, Suiattle, and Cascade – flow through rugged wilderness, forestlands, rural communities, farmlands, and [...]Read More
A handful of quality class IV rapids exist on Goodell Creek between the group campsite and confluence with the Skagit.
The short length makes this a novelty run if you are passing through, or if there are a group of boaters with mixed skill sets doing the Skagit, this makes a nice alternate put in for advanced boaters.
The run starts off at a group campsite, you'll need to park at the trailhead just outside it. If the campground is empty you can just walk through and put in there. If it is occupied it is possible to walk a quarter mile or so up the trail and put in where the trail gets close enough to the creek to access.
The whitewater starts off strong with some bouldery rapids as the creek enters a short gorge where paddlers can access the banks. The rapids are worth shore scouting for class IV boaters, and at higher flows the rating may increase to IV+.
Once the creek exits the gorge it is just shallow shoals down to the take out bridge.
If the campsite is unoccupied, carry through the site to put in. If it is occupied, head upstream on Goodell Creek trail until it is convenient to put in.
Take out at the Highway 20 bridge if doing the short run, or continue down the run on the Skagit.
Sep 30, 2024
September 28, 2023
Two of us ran this after an overnight rain brought levels up enough for a low/med run. The Bacon Creek gauge peaked at 400 cfs later that day.
It was short and sweet, a handful of quality class IV boulder rapids that could all be scouted. It was always a little eery getting out on the banks because there were salmon partially eaten by bears at every spot we got out.
