Rattlesnake Creek (Naches trib.)

The Naches was about 1,460 cfs on May 13, 2026, when three of us kayaked the creek. Flow was on the good side of low and the run took 3 hours, including about 6 short log portages plus several spots we scouted for routes around wood. A couple of the portages were in the first mile, but when the valley narrowed into the first canyon there were fun Class III drops. The second canyon is a narrow twisting gorge where folded columnar basalt walls extend to the water on both banks, in places reminiscent of Idaho's Jarbidge Canyon. See Nick B.'s report from two weeks ago for great pictures. Fortunately, there were no portages in the gorge. At twice the flow I would be wary of undercut headwalls. After you pass a group of cabins the river valley spreads out through braided channels of boulders, cobbles and wood for the last couple of miles. Go with a small group that can catch small eddies and doesn't mind the portages. For us, it was worth the price of admission.