Granite Creek
2. Beebe Creek to Panther Creek (includes Ruby Creek)
| Difficulty | II-IV |
| Length | 4.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 148 fpm |
| Gauge | Ruby Creek Below Panther Creek Near Newhalem, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 31 minutes | 2040 cfsabove recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 28, 2024 |
River Description
Granite/Ruby is an excellent run for late in the spring snowmelt season. In many years it is runnable into July.
Granite Creek, 2 miles, class III/IV(IV+)
The first 2 miles of this run on Granite Creek are steep with a gradient in the neighborhood of 200 fpm and filled with nearly continuous class 3 and 4 rapids with one long class IV+ which can be scouted from the road. This run is prone to wood hazards. Scout as much as you can from the road.
Ruby Creek, 3 miles, class III+
When you arrive at the confluence with Canyon Creek, which also serves as an alternate put-in for those seeking a slightly easier run, the flow doubles and the creek is renamed Ruby Creek. Ruby is really more of a river than a creek, especially as flows increase. Ruby is not as steep as Granite, but is still quite continuous with a gradient in the 100 fpm range. Ruby starts out with class II rapids and builds up momentum downstream and flows through many fun boulder gardens at low water, big wave trains, and a few big holes at high water. The rapids are mostly class III, but some near the end push class IV at higher levels, and continue right up to the take-out at the trail bridge below Panther Creek. It is important to remain alert for wood hazards.
Downstream of Panther Creek the rapids look enticing but soon settle out at the slackwater of Ross Reservoir and it's a long hike back upstream. For this reason the recommended take-out is at the trail bridge at Panther Creek.
See Gary Korb's river description in Bennett.
LOGISTICS
Granite and Ruby run alongside the scenic North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20), which is closed in winter, making this a late spring/early summer run. Coming from the west side, you'll reach the takeout first, which is at the East Bank trailhead (Hwy 20 mile 138.3). The takeout is at a footbridge, takeout on river right, cross the bridge, and carry up the trail (it's about a 1/4 mile hike with approximately 400' of elevation
...River Features
Highway 20 Pull-Out Put In
Access at a large turnout (Hwy. 20 mile 143.1) that is the put-in for Granite.
Canyon Creek Trailhead - Start of Ruby Creek
Intermediate access point at Canyon Creek Trailhead on river left at Hwy. 20 mile 141.2. Access is on river left immediately downstream of the confluence of Granite and Canyon Creek where Ruby Creek begins.
East Bank Trailhead Take Out
Park at the trailhead for East Bank trail at Hwy 20 mile 138.3. It's about 1/4 mile hike up with 400' of elevation gain from the river to the trailhead. The take-out is recognized by the trail bridge that crosses the river immediately downstream of the confluence with Panther Creek. Take out on river right on the dowstream side of the trail bridge.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportTom, Mikenzie, and Clare boated from Canyon Creek Trailhead to Panther Creek. The trip was an hour in length with a 15 minute hike back up at the end. This was a good medium flow with rapids building in intensity toward the end. There was some wood in play and one log we had to slide over but otherwise the run was generally clean. While the rapids were generally class III, the last two bigger drops were III+ and pushing class IV-. Solid intermediate boaters are likely capable of the run from the Canyon Creek Trailhead down but those less experienced could find themselves over their head particulary at higher flows.
Log jam mentioned in 2008 still present. 1 log other log on Granite and 1 on Ruby. Both river wide, easy to duck on left.