Snoqualmie, Middle Fork
4 - Concrete Bridge to Tanner (Middle-Middle)
| Difficulty | II-III+(IV) |
| Length | 7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 43 fpm |
| Gauge | Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Near Tanner, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 15 minutes | 818 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 17, 2024 |
River Description
The Middle Fork Snoqualmie, particularly the section known as the 'Middle-Middle,' offers the most accessible intermediate whitewater for the greater Seattle area. The season typically begins with the November rains and runs through the spring snowmelt, lasting until June in most years. It's a popular after-work run, especially on weeknights in April and May. While it's often easy to find others to shuttle with, the river is also well-suited for a simple bike shuttle.
The traditional run on the Middle-Middle starts at Concrete Bridge (aka Granite Creek Access) and flows through shallow boulder fields, offering Class II rapids. Much of this section is visible from the road during the drive to the put-in. At lower flows below 2000 cfs, many will skip this first section, but it remains runnable. The current pace continues with one clean Class III- rapid at Cable Car before reaching Mine Creek Rapid, which has mellowed since the island washed away.
Many paddlers opt to start their trip at Mine Creek, especially when flows are lower or when a quicker run is preferred. A fun play spot can be found immediately downstream from the pool at the put-in, a popular spot for those waiting for their crew to get ready.
Downstream of Mine Creek, the river flows through Class II boulder gardens until you reach A-Frame Drop, recognized by the A-frame house high above the river. The gradient increases slightly through more boulder gardens and fun class II rapids as you near House Rocks, which is preceded by a long straight section with a bend to the right at Right Angle Drop. House Rocks is a sequence of three distinct segments that flow together, with a couple of large boulders near the center. Though it’s not much more difficult than the preceding Class III drops, the length and sequence of moves needed to avoid holes make it a Class IV. At lower flows the rapid could be considered a sequence of class III+ rapids. At higher flows, the rapid becomes a freight trai
...River Features
Concrete Bridge (Granite Creek Access)
The Forest Road along the Middle Fork crosses the river at the Concrete Bridge marking the start of this section. American Whitewater supported King County's acquisition of this site that was privately owned and lead an effort to formalize public access on the downstream river left side of the bridge. American Whitewater also worked with Federal Highways to ensure the site was recognized and a pull out and unloading zone was delineated during the paving project for the road. Located at USGS River Mile 56.5.
Cable Car
A fun drop on this first section named for the cableway used by USGS for quantifying discharge. At the bottom of the rapid just above the cable on river left is the gage. Champion Beach is at the upstream end of this rapid, named for the timber company who owned these lands prior to acquisition by Washington DNR. Located at USGS River Mile 55.7.
Mine Creek Rapid (aka First Island Drop)
The old Mine Creek Campground runs adjacent to this rapid and is now a day-use site administered by Washington DNR. The island that gave this rapid its original name is now gone after being largely washed away in the November 2006 floods, and the rapid itself is much easier than it used to be.
Mine Creek Access
The Mine Creek Access is administered by Washington DNR. At one time boaters had to scramble through the brush to get to the river but American Whietwater worked with the state to formalize the site and construct a short bridge across Mine Creek to access a beach on a nice pool that allows boaters to get ready and wait for the rest of their group. American Whitewater also worked with federal highways during the paving project for the Middle Fork Road to formalize parking along the road. This parking was originally not in the plan for the road paving project which would have resulted in loss of access at this site. This is the most popular access site for short after work runs. In late summer the site becomes an access point for swimmers and water play.
A Frame
A fun drop that starts where the river takes a hard bend to the left before turning right at a bedrook headwall at the bottom of the rapid. Paddlers have accessed the river at this location (downstream of the A Frame) but this is across private property. Located at USGS River Mile 52.9.
Surprise Drop (aka Cookie Monster)
Don't be surprised by the hole to the center left at the bottom of this drop.
Right Angle Drop (aka Gateway)
Lead in rapid just above House Rocks. This rapid has also been the site of whitewater slalom races. The easier line is right of center but you can weave through the holes and hydraulics to the left of center. At moderate flows a good recovery pool allows you to get ready for House Rocks. At higher flows this rapid quickly transitions into House Rocks creating one long continuous sequence.
House Rocks
The most challenging drop on the run with a couple sections through large boulders. Most paddlers start their run to the left of center at the entrance drop but you can find options to the right. The next sequence has a fun line left of center or you can find an easier line further to the left. Then it is back to center for the first big boulder where you can find a good eddy on the right to collect the group. A fun surf wave forms adjacent to the big boulder here. The final sequence is generally run down the center working your way towards the right at the bottom and finishing right of the biggest boulder at the bottom of the rapid. Located at USGS River Mile 51.3.
Second Island Drop
Fun options down the left side although the island itself is now gone after being washed away in the November 2006 floods. If you head too far right you will run out of water as the river passes over shallow rocks, particuarly at the lower range of flows. As you reach the end of the rapid you can work your way back towards the center. Located at USGS River Mile 50.6.
Tanner Road Access
Take-out along Tanner Road. Located at USGS River Mile 49.4. A new housing development threatened the future of this access point with the original plans considering homes fronting Tanner Road. American Whitewater and local volunteers from Washington Kayak Club worked with the city during the permitting process for the development to require formal parking along Tanner Road. The result of these efforts are the designated parking spots adjacent to the take-out which is along an old county bridge right-of-way.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportRan the middle middle yesterday afternoon with a group of packrafters. Put in at concrete bridge around 5pm and took out at Tanner at 7:15. What a wonderful run! Wow! ~1200cfs was a fine flow for packrafts. No wood hazard and we were able to read-and-run all rapids. Will definitely be back soon.
When flows drop below 1000 cfs the Middle Middle is low but this was still enough water to have a fun day out on the water with the crew who gathered at the take-out at 11am on a Saturday morning.
We met up at noon at the Tanner take-out and were on the water by 12:30. It was a cold misty day but this a really fun level. It seems there have been a few subtle changes since the December 2024 floods but no new hazards of anything substantially different. We were off the water by 2:00.
Birthday paddle on the Middle-Middle with the local crew.
In partnership with the Forest Service, American Whitewater coordinated a harlequin duck survey of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River by boat. This report is from one group that included 2 kayaks and raft that began on the Upper Middle. Participants included Tom, Jennie, Rachel, Andrew, Malia, and Mark. We saw two female megansers at the top of First Island Drop and a pair of harlequin ducks on one of the rocks on the right side in A Frame Rapid.
At this flow it was approximately 2.5 hours on the Upper Middle and 2 hours on the Middle Middle for total run of approximately 5 hours that included a break for lunch. This report includes photos from the portion of the run on the Middle Middle.
The run is still fun at 900 cfs, and at that level, on 6-2-23, there is a nice park and play wave at the take-out at Tanner. Don't let the 1000cfs 'too low' tag put you off this level.
Great event on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie where the community gathered for a weekday evening race from A Frame down to the bottom of House Rocks. The race was about 11-14 minutes. The trophy goes to the racer with the middle time.
As the flow drops below 1000 cfs the river becomes much more technical. We made it down at 880 cfs and had a fun time but this will be my last trip before waiting for fall rains to return. Technical boating lacks powerful hydraulics and presents some boatability problems. These low water trips are quantified by hits, stops, drags, and portages. At this flow there were several hits in a few of the rapids. Other rapids had technical moves through rocks that avoided any hits. There were no stops, drags, or portages at this flow.
Put in at concrete bridge and floated down to the power lines in Tanner, flow was just under 5k when we put in and peaked around 5200 just after we got off. I was in a Kokopelli Recon cruising with 6 other hardshells. Whole run was clean of wood, class II section above Island drop was a great warmup. Island Drop and A Frame are pretty easy at this flow, both have pretty easy washed out lines on the left but some fun waves and holes to the river right. We pulled off and scouted the rapid above House Rocks, as this one required some more technical moves at this level but was pretty much just riding tongues between holes and catching the curling waves at the right time. House rocks is pretty fast at these flows but the moves are fairly clean. Both rocks can be skirted river left for the sneak line as long as there's no wood, more meaty lines to the right with some huge holes to avoid and heavy boil lines behind the rocks. A couple more good class III drops below House Rocks that settled down to class II toward the takeout. Whole run took approximately 2 hours with the quick stop to scout. This was my first time on this stretch of whitewater and it has to be my favorite run in the PNW at least at the level we ran it at. Well forested riverbanks with the occasional nice cabin and great nearly continuous whitewater.