Lemon Creek
Upper Quarry to Costco
| Difficulty | III-IV+ |
| Length | 1.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 19, 2025 |
River Description
New info 5/18/2025
This run remains a Juneau classic, long continous float of class III to IV rapids. Be sure to drive up the lower bridge past Juneau Compost to see what the gorge looks like.
Hike in via the Lemon Creek trail just after the turn in for the home depot. 'Trail' is a funny name as 1 mile in the path gives way to eroded river banks and thick brush. Welcome to Alaska.
Pick your way past devil's club as far as you please, favoring the creek bed if the water is low enough. Once you are tired of going up, put in and float down.
The river is very chill above the first and second gorge, but once you enter the first gorge the feel can quickly become serious.
As of 5/18/2025 the quarry continues to push rock into the river, drastically changing the rapid of what was known as 'Pleasure Nozzle'.
Now, this feature is a series of drops which I would classify as class III fun.
However, the large eddy that existed years prior on river right above the rapid, allowing a decent scout for trees, no longer exists at higher water (above 200cfs). If you run this, you will be committed as the walls are vertical and rapids commiting. There are a plethora of trees around the area which could be washed into a drop; take this seriously.
If you can run it, enjoy. After 'Pleasure nozzle' you will enjoy a relaxing float of a few hundred yards before reaching a bridge; this is where the gorge begins.
You will encounter about 100 yards of chill continues whitewater, with the first rapid marked by a gaint log on river right. Eddy on river left to check it out.
There is a sneak line on river left but the whitetrash of Juneau has dumped a plethora of industrial and household waste into the river including couches and sinks.
There is an awesome line right if you just boof of the main rapid about 3 meters to the left of the tree on river right.
After this there are a series of smaller rapids followed by
...River Features
No Name
Put In
Pleasure nozzle
A river wide strainer has lodged just below the nozzle. It's balance looks precarious.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportGage reported 7.25ft at the time of the descent.
Rapid has changed to a stout pour over with a nasty recirc. Best line looks to be just left off river center with a boof to the boil pool.
Jason Eason reports from the bridge down the run is wood free!
August 2011, strainers blocking 'Lemon Drop' have been pushed to the side clearing a center run. Good News!
A few changes. RJH no longer manages the lower section of the quarry. The City, (CBJ), has gated and posted no trespassing (mainly to keep ORVs out). Miller Construction is using the upper quarry and the new bridge and quarry above the prison. A private security firm has turned boaters back at the gate when they parked along the river. So far by parking at COSTCO and carrying up, paddlers have had few problems. The road is heavily used by dump trucks and boredom, pressure and methamphetamines, could prove fatal for a boater in the road. Best times to paddle: Before 6am or after 6pm and Sundays.
Blink and you missed construction of this 'private' bridge accessing the new quarry operation on the Lemon Creek Detention Facility side of the river.
A three pronged obstacle wedged hard in the middle of a favorite drop.
The hazard approaches.
Hole at friendly level above hazard. Later in the season TS had 8 rolls in 8 seconds before he washed out upside down.
Nozzle was clear late summer 2006, but the limbo logs below the bridge are hung up just above Lemon Drop, AKA, Smoking Tomb. You'll see the rootballs, but you need a new line past this section. Likely river left, yes left.