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 26 minutes | 219 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 19, 2023 |
River Description
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
...River Features
Put-In
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.
Sunset Falls
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.
Sky Pilot
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.
Screaming Left
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.
Dragon's Back
At the end of the pool below Screaming Left go hard right to avoid the hole. Located at USGS River Mile 31.75.
John's Swimming Hole
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.
Horseshoe Falls
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.
King Creek Take-Out
Access on river right.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportLovely 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.
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.
Hippie John's Boulder Garden has several large logs tilting in, narrowing the lines. Still read and run. The large vertical log in the gorge below Dragon's Back is still in place.
Gorge below Dragon's back is clean except for one large vertical log on right at bottom. Rest of run is clean.
John Weidie driving right on the Dragon's Back, right after Screaming Left. February, 2018 @ 700cfs.
Carrying a raft up the trail to re-run Sunset fall at the annual Northwest Creeking Competition. Photo Credit: Priscilla Macy
Giant log jam overhead at bottom of gorge below Dragon's back is dropping logs in one by one. Caution.
Low water trip on the East Fork Lewis. I was able to get out and photograph the main rapids.
The tree referenced in the 2010-12-21 report is no longer present at Screaming Left. Beavers apparently moved it up onto the left bank.
Roadside Park and Huck or the start of the 'Falls Section' on the East Fork Lewis.