Cle Elum
3 - Cle Elum Dam to confluence with Yakima River
| Difficulty | II |
| Length | 5.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 24 fpm |
| Gauge | Cle Elum Reservoir |
| Flow Rate as of 7 hours | 1024 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 30, 2019 |
Projects
The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests encompass more than four million acres and are jointly managed with headquarters in Wenatchee, Washington. The rivers flowing through these forests are essential to the whitewater paddling community—both as close-to-home runs for Washington residents and as classic objectives for paddlers traveling from across [...]Read More
The Mountains to Sound Greenway stretches more than 100 miles along Interstate 90 from the shores of Puget Sound in Seattle, across Snoqualmie Pass, and into Central Washington. Encompassing over 700,000 acres of public land managed by local, state, and federal agencies, the Greenway protects an extraordinary landscape that [...]Read More
River Description
SEASON: Late May through early September. Dam release is relatively stable although fluctuations can occur without warning.
DESCRIPTION:
As long as there is a good snowpack and the reservoir is full, this run typically has good flows through the summer. This river has fairly continuous class II rapids with some good wave trains. Beginners will find the run enjoyable at the lower limit of flows but there are fewer eddies at the higher limit of flows. Log hazards are a prevelant along the run.
LOGISTICS: From I-90 take exit 80 and head for Roslyn/Salmon La Sac. 0.4 miles from I-90 you will cross the take-out bridge over the Cle Elum. Parking options are not great here, but you'll find a pull-out for a couple cars on the river right side of the bridge. There is good access downstream river right of the bridge. To reach the put-in, continue 2.3 miles east from the take-out bridge to the intersection with Higway 903 and turn left towards the north (at this point you're at mile 4.2 on Highway 903 which becomes Salmon La Sac Road). Pass through the town of Rosyln and continue north to one of two possible access points. The first is an informal Forest Service site along the river. At mile 8.6 on Salmon La Sac Road turn left on Winston Road. Follow this road 1.2 miles to an access point right on the river. It is a gravel road and there are several turns that branch off to gravel pits and staging areas but just stay generally straight and towards the end you will go down a hill to the river (you should see a Forest Service sign board and some informal camp sites). The next access is a short way up river but the road to get down the river is in worse shape. You reach it by turning left off Salmon La Sac Road at mile 9.1 on to Lake Cabin Road , and then take a second immediate left following the sign to Cle Elum Dam. Continue 0.5 miles toward the dam and turn left on to an unimproved dirt road (high clearance recommended). From here it's 0.4 miles down to a
...River Features
Forest Road 4303 Bridge Put-In
Winston Crossing
This is an access on Forest Service land.
Bullfrog Road Take-Out
Access is available on the downstream right side of the Bullfrog Road Bridge at a pull out where with a short walk into the river. This is on private land owned by Suncadia.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThis is a nice and peaceful little run! Very excited to paddle something in August that has plenty of water in it. This run reminds me of a mini Tieton with how continuous it is and the amount of wood it has. This section is no harder than class 2, but you have to weave through some sections that look like they're clogged with wood. We boat scouted the whole thing. It only took about 1.5 hours to complete 5.7 miles. There's some catch on the fly surf along the way. Level was 1500cfs ish
*not a great run for super beginners due to the continuous nature and amount of wood hazards. Boat control and scouting abilities are necessary to navigate safely.
Ran a tandem canoe with airbags on Aug 5. You can drive a vehicle down to the put in to unload with a short carry down a steep bank with a path. A bike shuttle is possible with the connecting bike paths in Suncadia. You can drive down to the take out, then park the vehicle on the side of the highway. Only room for a few vehicles along highway. The run was gorgeous- stunning clear-blue water, super fun wave trains. Water is fast moving - Garmin watch read 8 mph without paddling at times. Good navigation skills are needed to pick channels to avoid all the large woody debris. Over $1.5M in engineered log jams were added for fish habitat, so attention is needed. I agree with others, not a beginner run and the main channels always had a clear path. Took us just under 1 hour ro run this, even with some eddy turn practice.
Wonderful, quick run in an open canoe. Very consistently moving flow with most channels runnable and practically no exposure of the gravel bars. A few small, avoidable wave trains and obvious strainers. I only saw one of the side channels being fully strained, but the main channel was always a go. Great way to spend a half day.
A scenic, Class II run with an incredible amount of high-consequence strainers – more than I've seen to date on any river. Would not recommend for beginner paddlers.
Braided river with scenic stretches and lots of areas to pull over and eat a snack / lunch.
Took a couple of packrafts out on the Cle Elum river. Easy put in and take out. We left a car at the take out and bike shuttled through Suncadia to the put in below the dam after initially one of us with the boats at there. The river moves consistently which makes the flatter stretches pass quickly. There's a few wave trains to find and the occassional rapid, but most features are easily passable or avoidable. There is a lot of wood in the river, but it's apparent and easy to navigate. It's a good river to bring someone new to build paddling confidence and getting used to the flow of a river and common obstacles. But it's not a stretch to seek out for action or thrills.
I didn't go back to look for my Mohawk Probe because the river stayed high so long. Haven't heard that anyone found it. My mishap was about a mile below the put in - not at the dam, but the first one after that. I flipped where there was a line of obstacles across the river, got back in the canoe when it stopped at a log jam past the next corner and then dumped again when I hit a log jam on river left at the corner after that.
We did this Saturday the 2nd of August 2014 - Ms. Spencer must have got her boat out as we did not see it. The flow at 3700 is above recommended, but there is no reason not to run it as it is a cake walk other than avoiding the logs and strainers in a few areas. Of those areas, only one is a concern - perhaps a mile or so after the put in you will get stacked and pinned if you dont make the corner (I imagine this is where the boat was lost). We will take the other side of the river next time that essentially cuts the corner (will still require you are on your toes), but this go round we just walked around the jam. The only decent rapids are in the area just before you start to see the Suncadia lodge and the take out, but dont have high expectations as it is fairly basic stuff. One note: There were crazy swarms of mosquitos at the take out - It was not a fun wait for my buddy to go and get the truck - so be aware of that.
I have to disagree about running this section when the dam is letting out a lot of water. I was there a few weeks back and diverted to another river because if any of the kids or senior citizens in my party had fallen in that fast current we would have had a hard time getting them out. For experienced and you strong beginners not a problem but for a family outing don’t try it when it is over level.
If the log jams are cleared out of the Yakama river you can run it from below the John Wane trail near the golf cores to the confluence but 3 weeks ago it was full of log jams that blocked the whole river. At the confluence was also dangerous because of the high volume of water coming in from the left and a log jam on the right.
The comments above about the maximum river level could be higher need to take into account the river rating of Class II. It may be possible to paddle this stretch at the higher levels mentioned, but the river flows to fast into that log jam for beginning paddlers.
An alternate Put-In: Take Salmon La Sac road, thru Roslyn and Ronald. About 1.2 miles beyond the town of Ronald, (or town or 6.l mi from Roslyn, or 6.5 miles from turnoff on SR 903) look for a gravel road going only to the left. Turn there, it is Winston Road. Have faith and continue driving, bearing left where there is a choice. You end up at a small gravel-taking area, with a steep former drive (rocks only) down to the river. This area won't be built on. It's National Forest Recreation area.