Lewis, N. Fork

June 15-September 2 parking reservations are required from recreation.gov in the map shown

We ran from Cussed Hollow (Crab Creek) to Eagle cliffs at 1080 cfs 5/31/25, three packrafts and one hard shell. It was a low flow, the gravel bars were running a little thin but still plenty of water to scoot down otherwise.

Big creek gorge was clear of wood. There were lots of backpackers camping along the Lewis River Trail.

On a spring break trip to Cougar we had a chance to do this run at 800 cfs and 1000 cfs. The rapids were a little more filled in at 1000 cfs. Big Creek Gorge was clean and good to go aside from some wood in play in a couple of spots along the right.

On a spring break trip to Cougar we had a chance to do this run at 800 cfs and 1000 cfs. Both were fun 800 cfs was on the low side. All the rapids were still fun. There were half a dozen gravel bars we had to bump down at the lower flow. These were a little less bumpy at 1000 cfs. Big Creek Gorge was clean and good to go aside from some wood in play in a couple of spots along the right. We tried the mountain biking trail on river right but encountered quite a few trees across the trail and a lot of hike-a-bike. We saw a group hiking the trail with a chainsaw, cutting out logs as they went, so it may be clear later in the season.

We ran this Saturday June 13, 2020 at about 1000cfs. This is about as low as I would go--the cobble bar rapids are getting bony at this flow and I do not want to see what they become at 800. Big Creek Rapid is still a serious rapid at this flow but it does not have any wood that stopped us from running it. There is wood in an eddy on river right in the entrance. There is an underwater log bridging the channel leading into the crux. As long as you're in your boat at that point it's not a problem and a twig helps mark your line. There is a giant woodpile down below the rapid, same as always.

We ran this on 5/27/2020 at about 1500 cfs. Very fun level, some large hydraulics in the early rapids, but overall what I'd call a medium flow. Our group elected to portage Big Creek Gorge on the trail on river right. From the left gravel bar, a quick look with the binoculars showed some wood in the water just after the entry pinch. We did not have time to thoroughly scout the gorge so elected to move along with expediting the portage up to the trail that follows the river along this entire segment. From the right gravel bar, cross the small side channel and bushwhack up to the main trail. From here it is several hundred yards of ups and downs on the trail before a small side trail appears to lead you down to the river. From here, the rapids never exceed Class 2. There is one river-wide log below Big Creek that can be easily portaged left or paddled right with a log-hop.

For 1st timers, you cannot scout Big Creek Gorge from river right. Stop early on the right and consider sending one or two strong paddlers across to the left to take a look. The ferry over and back isn't a gimme at some levels and having someone blow it and end up swimming or running the Gorge when you really didn't want to might not be good. I was on a trip when someone swam the first half of the gorge - mostly underwater - and popped up in an eddy full of loose wood. I have heard similar spooky stories that fortunately turned out OK, so this is not one to boat scout. If the first half of the gorge is runnable, but it's clogged up at the end, there are eddy-hopping and portaging options in the gorge, sometimes including an opportunity to climb up to the trail from a right-side eddy (not easy, but we've done it).

Brian and Shaun run one of the many little splashy rapids at the beginning of the run.

Big Creek Gorge on the North Fork Lewis.