Snoqualmie, S. Fork
1. I-90 Exit 52 to Denny Creek Campground (Fall in the Wall)
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 1.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 360 fpm |
| Gauge | Sf Snoqualmie River Ab Alice Creek Near Garcia, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 38 minutes | 86 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 22, 2023 |
River Description
FUN FACT: Convenient creek run to Seattle
SEASON: Spring snow melt
ACCESS: From eastbound I-90 take exit 52 (West Summit for Alpental Ski Center). Turn left at the bottom of the off-ramp and head back under both lanes of I-90. Within a couple hundred yards there is a place to pull out and Forest Service Road 58 parrallels the river along river left (the road itself may be snowed in early in the season). The run starts with Fall in the Wall which is just beyond the point where this road crosses under the westbound lane of I-90. It's about 0.4 mile downstream to a takeout above Franklin Falls. If there's snow you'll have to hike your boat back.
DESCRIPTION:
This is a fun class IV/V run that can be easily run once or even several times after work. This run is often used as an intro to creeking for members of the Seattle boating community but if it is your first time be sure to head down with someone willing to guide you. Experienced creekers shouldn't have any problems unless running it at high flows at which point things get interesting. Deep snow can also be an issue in early spring. Most of the drops on the Fall in the Wall Section individually rate IV+, but there are a few spots that are a bit continuous and the final drop on the run has some serious consequences if you're not in control. The entire run can be scouted along the Forest Service Road (with some scrambling through the brush) that parrallels the run. You start out with a 23 foot drop called Fall in the Wall that is visible from a pullout along a rock retaining wall on the downstream side of the I-90 overpass. The waterfall cascades into a short pool backed up by a bedrock wall with an open channel exiting to river left. Avoid getting stuffed into the cave on river right, and if you do you'll want someone ready with a rope.
After the waterfall the river snakes around a bit through a narrow gorge and you'll want to portage the narrow constriction at Double Undercut before
...River Features
Fall Into the Wall
Runnable waterfall at the put-in. Some run it but others put in downstream. Most everyone stops to view the falls and get the 'cupdate,' a small rock cup in the pool at the base of the falls used to assess flows. The river is low runnable when the top rim of the cups is exposed and it is just below the point where water would flow through the cup. The river is medium to medium high when water is flowing through the cup but not reaching the rim of the cup.
Forest Road 58 Put-In
Access on river left just below the west bound lanes of I-90.
Forest Road 58 Access Above Franklin Falls
Franklin Falls
151' high unrunnable waterfall. Be sure to portage or take out before this hazard.
Denny Creek Campground Take-Out
Take out in the campground on river left.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportLow runnable, with no water flowing through the cup, and the top ledge exposed.
Medium to medium high would have water flowing through the cup but not reaching the peaks of the cup.
'the cup' visual gauge
Looking upstream at drops 2 and 3 of the Foursome.
Running the center line at Island. Right and left lines are also possible at this flow.
Boris takes a perfect line down FITW at high water.
This is the rapid downstream of Fall
in the Wall Falls and between the
alternative put-in that is normally
portaged.
If you're not running the main falls
most folks put in above this ledge.
Use caution and make sure you have
a good strong move to the left as you
make your boof. There is a bad pin
spot below the surface and along the
wall on river right. There have been a
few close calls here.
After a couple of entry ledges the river
disappears over a set of three
horizon lines that come in quick
succession. Looking back up from
the bottom one in the set seen here
the river appears to emerge from the
tops of the trees.
After a short recovery pool the river
plunges over a fourth ledge with a
nice launch ramp for your boof over
on river left.
You have a couple slots to choose
from either around the right or left
side of the big midstream rock.
After a swift entry slide the river
plunges over a second slide and
along what can be a rather sticky
hole along river left. Make a good
strong move to sneak it on the right.
Near the end of the run the river
makes a hard turn along river left
with ledge drop.
The Green Room is a great drop near the end
of the run. Hit the sweet spot and your entire
creek boat will disappear below the surface
entering the 'Green Room' before
exploding back up a short distance
downstream.
The final big slide. Scout your
take-out eddy carefully and be sure to
set safety. At the downstream edge
of the pool below this drop the river
disappears over a set of cascades
that culminates in unrunnable
Franklin Falls.
Image from a digital video frame.
The big slide just above Franklin
Falls.
fast, real fast!