Breitenbush

The river was very turbulent at this flow. It felt higher than I would've thought based on the gauge reading with almost all rocks covered. Will be interesting to see if the gauge gets re-calibrated in the future or whether it currently matches readings from the past.

We put in below The Slot down a steep trail to a good launch spot. Portaging The Slot without running the narrow bottom section probably involves going up to the road and then down the steep trail we used. There was one fairly easy log limbo about 3 rapids or so below The Slot. Only stressful because of swirly current so would be very straightforward at lower flows. There was an easily seen logjam in one of the slower sections a couple miles into the run. Ample eddies on the left above it and a fairly straightforward portage to the gravel bar below the jam. Barbell currently has a large logjam effectively blocking both the right and left standard lines. At our flow there was a tricky line far right or an easy portage far right. Barbell can be easily scouted from the road on the way to the put in.

The river is still quite pretty despite the effects of the 2020 fire and subsequent hazard tree logging.

*EDIT: The log jam at Scorpio Creek is gone*

I recently scouted most of the run looking for new wood.

I saw a log jam forming where Scorpion Creek joins the Breitenbush (approx river mile 1.75). As of 12/1/2025 it was comprised of four logs, one of which had a large root wad hanging down almost touching the water. This has potential to get much worse if a few logs are added to the pile. At 330 cfs it looked duck-able by kayaks but probably not rafts. At higher water levels it may require portage. It is scoutable from Scorpion Creek Campground by hiking down the trail on the south bank of Scorpion Creek.

There is a rotary screw fish trap in the center of the river just below the bridge. It is passable on both river right and left for all craft. It is scoutable from the road.

There is also a log jam on river left around mile 7 just after the island. It is passable on the right. It is scoutable from the road.

• This was my first visit since the burn. It's still beautiful. Crystal water quality, wild birds, forests more green near the river than on the ridges.
• Fom Cleator Bend to the Bridge 1/2 mile downstream from Humbug Creek and Campground. Group of six.
• Flow: 643 cfs and dropping. Gage shows 'snow bumps' with peak flows in the early morning, dropping until the afternoon. At this flow the rapids are slow; there’s plenty of time to make the required moves, lots of nice eddies.
• There are a few stiff holes and pocket eddies that will beat down a boater.
• At the first and only braided spot, go far right to avoid a giant log bridging the left/main channel.
• Next is the log angling down into the middle of the river from the left, with most water going into it. This is visible from the road. We portaged right though it was completely runnable, it just required a decisive move to the right to avoid death on a stick.
• The “Slot” rapid was next, starting with the 4' ledge that you run on the right, then a short intense gorge. The gorge looks gnarly at this flow but it runs easier than it looks.
• Our second portage was at a ledge called the Notch. To scout or portage you must stop well above the rapid on the right because there's a log in the river parallel to the right bank that prevents you from accessing what used to be the get-out eddy. And there wasn't much of an eddy there anyway. To portage you heave your boat over one log and under the next and it floats down to where you can drag it up on the bank. WHY WE WALKED: On the right side of the right ledge there's a toiletbowl sieve (see photo) where most of the water goes under the root ball. No go. This rapid would be a simple ledge on the left but there’s a tree hanging in the water over there making that line less appealing.
• There were TWO lowish overhead logjams which we were able to go under but that wouldn’t go so well with much more water.
• There’s one cobble bar where the far left channel is the non-obvious correct choice—the right gets stupid bony.
• The rest of the wood is avoidable for an under-control boater.
• There were surfing waves and little 360 holes everywhere.
• At the bridge where we took out there’s a steep trail up after the piling on the left, and below the next riffle there’s a lower-angle trail to reach the parking area.
• On the drive out I got a peek at Barbell from the road and it looked like the right would go at this flow, but the left side has a huge log jam on top of it. I only got a glance though so look for yourself.
• From the road I saw no other game-stopping wood in the section below Barbell, and Wu man chu looked clean. Remember: you can't see it all from the road.

HAZARD: Notch update 01/12/2019: The old scouting eddy on river right was not there. At 600 cfs, if you were to take the main line you would run out of surface water and end up in a sieve focalized in a root wad. Run the drop far left against the wall, this line ends in a straight forward 3' ledge............................Read the previous comment from cepaulo for more information.

The Notch has changed as of 12/31/18. I paddled it a week prior to this date and it was as normal. Typically, you run it river right, just left of a tree stump/root ball and slide down a small flake (as in the picture in the description). Now, much less water is running to the right side for some reason at 1000 cfs. If you attempt river right, you will essentially beach yourself on rock and need to push yourself along until you can scrape over the other side (at 1000 cfs or lower). For a cleaner line, it looks as if you'll need to go river left.

This fun flume marks the exit from the first significant ledge.