Lewis, E. Fork
2 - Sunset Falls to bl. Horshoe Falls (Falls Section)
| Difficulty | IV |
| Length | 4.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 50 fpm |
| Gauge | East Fork Lewis River Near Heisson, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 25 minutes | 79 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 19, 2023 |
The East Fork Lewis is best known for a couple of classic waterfalls and a great one mile sequence of rapids that make it a local favorite.
The start of the run is Sunset Falls. Many use the access 0.6 mile upstream to get a few warm-up strokes in. Alternatively, if you want to get to business right away you can pull out along the road above Sunset Falls and start hucking. At flows over 1200cfs the 'sandy beach' launch ~2 miles above Sunset is a nice put-in for the class III to IV- creekin' warmup.
For Sunset Falls, the middle line is generally preferred above 1000 cfs and the left line at lower flows. You can park at the Forest Service day use site, use the restrooms, and scout all the options before your run. This convenient access makes it easy to get to both the top and bottom of the falls and it's one of the best sites in the entire region to practice waterfall running. It's common to run a couple laps of the falls.
About half a mile below Sunset Falls the fun begins with five named rapids in a half mile section. First up is Hippie John's Boulder Garden which is an easy boat scout. Sky Pilot is next which is a steeper boulder garden you may want to scout from the left. Take the right or left line at the top depending on flows and then take the right edge on the next two pitches--or punch the holes.
As you see gorge walls on river right and an obvious horizon line grab the eddy on river left and get out to scout the next two rapids: Screaming Left and Dragon's Back. Make the hard move to the left or take the race chute down the right at Screaming Left. The tight river right chute is not an option at lower flows. If you don't like the looks of Screaming Left it is an easy portage on river left. After a short recovery pool, Dragon's Back comes up quickly as the next rapid where the main current flows from river right to left and into a hole that is best avoided. To avoid the hole drive hard right and then head even farther right before s
...The standard put-in is on river right above the falls with enough warm up to get ready and line up your approach for the first big drop.
One of the Northwest's classic waterfall drops at a Forest Service recreation site. At lower flows the left line is good and at higher flows the centerline opens up. Located at USGS river mile 32.7.
First boulder garden rapid that starts the main whitewater sequence. Located at USGS River Mile 32.1.
A boulder garden with lines down the right or left and a hole to avoid depending on flows. Located at USGS River Mile 32.0.
Easy scout or portage on river left. Options include the hard move to river left or the slot down river right depending on flow. Located at USGS River Mile 31.8.
At the end of the pool below Screaming Left go hard right to avoid the hole. Located at USGS River Mile 31.75.
Easy scout or portage on river right. Charge this drop hard to the right at the bottom to avoid the hole. Located at USGS River Mile -31.7.
The preferred line is generally the nice autoboof down the center but you can scout on river left to see the options. Located at USGS River Mile 29.8.
Dec 21, 2024
Lovely day on the river, with high enough water to launch at the Sandy Beach a couple miles above Sunset. On that top section there is a wood hazard that was there last year and is still in play. It's passable but can cause trouble for the unsuspecting. Where: in a constricted class 3 to the right of an island. To pass: it is possible to paddle the R channel if under control and going far R to avoid the wood, OR you can eddy in the willows and slide down the rocky ledge to the left of the island (far left has most water).
There was also a piece just right of the entrance slot in Sky Pilot. It is unclear if that will be more in play as levels drop.
I finally ran the L slot at Horseshoe--went fine! Photo by Wally Fitch.
Mar 19, 2024
This run is a delight to run on snowmelt. If you're used to using the Heisson gauge during rainy season you will find the flows higher for the same reading, because the snowmelt comes in from the top, which allows us to put in farther up the potholed dirt road above Sunset. The road is in rough shape right now. The water quality is still stellar. Yes, there's always wood somewhere but as of last weekend somebody cut the log out of Hippie John's, and the gorge below Screaming Left has been clean all season. The eddy that used to exist above Screaming Left on the right seems to just not be there anymore. The left line at Horseshoe still slaps people in the face then plugs them in at the bottom. Good clean fun. This is one of my favorite local runs.
