Cascade
2 - Marble Creek Campground to Bridge nr. Skagit confluence
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 7.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 80 fpm |
| Gauge | Cascade River at Marblemount, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 28 minutes | 1100 cfsIV+low runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 5, 2022 |
Projects
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
River Description
SEASON: Rainy season and during snowmelt (put-in road snowed in through the winter). The Cascade is usually runnable well into July during a normal snowmelt year.
TAKEOUT: From Highway 20 in Marblemount drive 0.7 miles east on Cascade River Rd. Turn right to the Cascade-Rockport Bridge and the 'gauge'. The take-out is just upstream on river left. An alternative take-out is available 2 miles upstream at a pullout on river right.
PUTIN: Return to Cascade River Road and drive 8.3 miles to the Marble Creek Campground. Turn right down the campground road where you'll find a put-in. An alternate put-in is at a pull-out at mile 5.4 where you can access the river below the big drops for a class IV run.
SHUTTLE: One Car Shuttle Possibilities-4 stars. If you use the pullout 2 miles upstream of the bridge you stand a very good chance of catching a ride. The weekends during the summer would obviously improve your chances. A bike would be relatively easy as well.
DESCRIPTION: Located just outside of the North Cascades National Park, the Cascade flows through one of the most beautiful areas in the nation. The Cascade River provides some of the best continuous whitewater in the state. While none of the individual drops on the Cascade are overly difficult, the continuous nature of the run makes it suitable for advanced boaters. A high water run on the Cascade provides one of the best class V big water runs in the state. Lower water runs also give paddlers a great, albeit slower, class IV-V run over countless ledges and through numerous boulder gardens.
Starts With a Bang is the first hint of whitewater on the run. This is a long, big and pushy drop that could be scouted from river right at the top of the drop. Or, another option is to catch the large eddy on the right midway through the rapid and scout from there. Catching this eddy requires that you move towards the right bank throughout the initial wave train and catch the eddy immediately below a
...River Features
Marble Creek Campground Put-In
This access is located in the Marble Creek Campground. It's a 1/2 mile from Cascade River road down to the river access in the campground. The river access is in Site FF1 which has a short trail to the river and is immediately adjacent to a picnic area across from the toilet that has parking for a few cars. You may need a federal lands access pass. A campground host provides a management presence and in some years the host has questioned kayaking as an appropriate activity. Be polite and let American Whitewater know if you run into any issues. The Marble Creek Campground is recognized as an access point utiliized by whitewater boaters in the Skagit Wild and Scenic River Management Plan.
Starts With a Bang
The name of this rapid is appropriate where the river suddenly makes the transition from class II to class V. Those who have trouble at the top are in for a long ride through this rapid that continues on down to Bridge Drop. Many groups scout the entrance to this rapid by hiking along the shoreline.
Bridge Drop
Another big rapid that in some ways is just a continuation of Starts With A Bang. For many years the remains of Lookout Creek Bridge gave this rapid its name but through a joint effort of Washington Kayak Club, American Whitewater, and the Forest Service the massive steel girders, salvaged from the failed Tacoma Narrows Bridge, were removed from the river. This drop remains a demanding class V rapid that only increases in intensity as flow levels rise.
Premium
Premium has a great boof in the center of the river while the right side contains some good waves
Monster
This big rapid has a couple of options depending on your skill and flows. It's also relatively easy to portage. Scout it from the left side.
Alternate Put-In
Alternate put-in access at Cascade River Road mile 5.4 for those who want to put in below Monster and just run the class IV+ rapids.
Shark Fin
A distinct rapid in the fun class IV+ section that continues from Monster down to the take-out.
Alternate Take-Out
An alternate take-out near the end of the whitewater 2 miles up the Cascade River Road.
Take-Out Bridge
Take out at the bridge and check the screens.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThere is a very sizable log right in the middle of Premium right now. It likely will take at least 4,000 cfs or more to get it out of there. As it is, the log is just above water level at 750-800, and really hard to see from above. Eddy out river right to portage. You can seal launch right off the log where the boat is in this photo right back into the center of the bottom drop of Premium.
Also, currently the road is closed due to the forest fire. Although we did not have any smoke, the road is closed before the campground, so getting in requires some really good navigation skills to get from the furthest pullout down to the river.
Clean as of May 1st 2020. Entrance to monster had changed a bit. There is a nice boof on the left side of the entrance now.
Here's some video of Cascade around 1600 cfs. I walked Monster, everything else was good (and big): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svs1dwSWcuw
A great flow and a fun trip.
Ran this at <600 cfs. Bridge Drop barely went, and it definitely involved pinballing near the bottom. It goes, but wouldn't want to do the run again at this flow
Photos provided by Chris from a 2007 trip.
run is clean...no wood to speak of. 1 and 1/3 screen was 1500 cfs. good level.
1.5 screens showing on Cascade is roughly equivalent to 1100 cfs
7/2/06 Wood blocking the entrance to Monster, so be careful on the drop just before. Also, gauging off the hatchery screens may underestimate the flow. 1 screen was showing, but Pete thought the run was higher than usual.