Snoqualmie, Middle Fork

Ran 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.

Tom O'Keefe and Cyn Taylor on an evening run down the Middle Middle.

Evening run on the Middle Fork with Tom O'Keefe, Cyn Taylor, and Emma Johnson.

I found people to paddle with for a quick run with bike shuttle on the Middle Middle. It was a great evening paddle and way to get out when being encouraged to stay close to home.

Run from Mine Creek down to Tanner Road with some kayaks and canoes.

Trip from Concrete Bridge down to Tanner Road.

A site visit to check on river access sites and paddle the river.

While flows are too low for whitewater boating during summer, the access at Mine Creek that American Whitewater developed through a partnership with the Department of Natural Resources and Mountains to Sound Greenway is now a popular access point for the general public. Local residents enjoy swimming, tubing, and just hanging out by the river at this site.

Volunteers with Washington Recreational River Runners working to remove exotic invasive vegetation in the riparian zone at the site purchased by King County for a new park and river access along the MIddle Fork of the Snoqualmie River.

Fun surfing midway through House Rocks rapid.
This fun slot move can be found in the river left channel of Second Island Drop.

For those from out of town, the water on this run seems to stay freakishly cold year round. Full drysuits in July are not uncommon. The middle is also really bad for fogging up my glasses. One of these days I'd like to paddle thru house rocks and be able to see where i'm going. Great run tho!!

Mine Creek access (aka Island Drop located on DNR land at road mile 3.5). This shows the view of the trail after improvements made during volunteer events coordinated by AW in partnership with Mountains to Sound Greenway. The improved trail makes it easier for those carrying boats to access the river and addresses erosion issues. In addition to significant contributions made by Mountains to Sound Greenway, funding for this project was provided by a grant to University
Kayak Club and AW from Tom's of Maine, along with donations from Washington Kayak Club, University Kayak Club, and PaddleTrails Canoe Club.

Constructing the put-in trail at Mine Creek access on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. This project was a partnership between American Whitewater, Mountains to Sound Greenway, Washington DNR, National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program, and Tom's of Maine.
Constructing the put-in trail at Mine Creek access on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. This project was a partnership between American Whitewater, Mountains to Sound Greenway, Washington DNR, National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program, and Tom's of Maine.
A new put-in trail at the Mine Creek access on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. This project was a partnership between American Whitewater, Mountains to Sound Greenway, Washington DNR, National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program, and Tom's of Maine.

Mine Creek access (aka Island Drop located on DNR land at road mile 3.5). This shows the view of an informal river trail before volunteer efforts to improve it.

Access dedication for the Granite Creek Access located on the downstream side of the Concrete Bridge. This parcel was acquired by King County and the planned river access was completed in 2004 by King County Parks in partnership with Earth Corps and American Whitewater.
Jennie launches at the dedication of the Granite Creek access (AKA Concrete Bridge) which was developed as a partnership with King County, American Whitewater, and local affiliate clubs.
Parking along the road on a busy day at Granite Creek Access (AKA Concrete Bridge).

Volunteers with Washington Recreational River Runners working on the Granite Creek Access (AKA Concrete Bridge) on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. This access was developed through a partnership between King County, American Whitewater, and local affiliate clubs.

Parking during a mid-winter weekend.

Someone should change the minimum suggested level to around 800 or so. This run is commonly done that low and a ton of good play spots open up at flows between 900-1000.

A kayaker takes the right line through the first house rock rapid at low flow

Island Drop access near the old Mine Creek Campground.
Popular playspot and meeting spot just downstream of the Island Drop access.
Island Drop before the flood washed the island away.