Wind

The Old Detour Road providing access to the Wind River at High Bridge was damaged during the high rain events in December 2025. American Whitewater is engaged in efforts to repair the road and restore access.

Upper Wind Takeout - Recommendation

Since the washout, neighbor tensions around Old Detour Road have increased substantially. We’re legal, but we’re guests - how we act matters.

What we know

- The road is closed to vehicles only, not pedestrians.

- Walking boats is legal; do not drive past the closure. Driving past the closure is a misdemeanor criminal offense

- Sheriff and Public Works are aware and confirm this.

- Road repair is planned but not soon. We might be able to get the closure sign moved down the road away from neighbors.

- Kayakers currently have good standing with law enforcement - don’t burn it.

What to do

- Drive very slowly through the neighborhood.

- Park near power lines on High Bridge Road https://maps.app.goo.gl/HGnZyqYCpfJvXpkU6

- DO NOT park near the “Road Closed” sign or anywhere in the neighborhood.

- Carpool and consolidate vehicles before reaching the High Bridge Road parking area.

- Load/unload fast and never block access

- Move quickly and quietly at the takeout.

- No alcohol, no public changing, no dogs.

- Assume you’re being watched or filmed.

Interactions

- Don’t argue, even if you’re right.

- Be overly polite and disengage/walk away if someone is hostile. If you’re able to get a name, please send it to Dana Cross

- A simple “Sorry for the inconvenience - we’ll be out of your way shortly” goes a long way.

- Long-term access is built by being good neighbors off the river as well, such as: supporting local businesses, helping when you see a disabled vehicle, joining SAR, and building relationships with locals away from the takeout.

Bottom line

Legal access isn’t enough - low profile, high respect, zero confrontation keeps this working until the road is fixed.

Site visit to put-in and take-out.

Folks are running it every day now that the winter flows are back, and the wood situation is good.  Being myself I come here mostly in the 5 foot zone, but class V local paddlers run it a lot higher.  Five feet isn't 'easy'---it's manky and still fast, but there are eddies.

As of the snow and ice storms of January 2017 there is a lot of dangerous new wood in this section. May require class V skills.

A run that started on Trout Creek and continued on to the Wind.

Better flow than E. Fork Lewis is: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/wrx/wrx/flows/station.asp?sta=29C100 Sometimes this gauge is slow to update though.

Fall trip on the Wind River with the local crew.

Site visit to access sites.