Lewis, N. Fork

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).