Skykomish, S. Fork
2. Barclay Creek to Sunset Falls(Skykomish Waterfall Section)
| Difficulty | II(V+) |
| Length | 4.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 47 fpm |
| Gauge | South Fork Skykomish River at Skykomish, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 24 minutes | 1370 cfs |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 14, 2026 |
River Description
This section is typically not a standard whitewater run but locals do recreate on the flatwater sections and the falls have been run a few times. The run is primarily flatwater with the exception of three major waterfalls: Eagle Falls, Canyon Falls, and Sunset Falls. For many years the falls were considered unrunnable but Eagle Falls and Sunset Falls are occassionally run. There have been several fatalities along this stretch of river particularly during summer with swimmers or tubers who didn't realize the danger of the falls.
Eagle Falls has been the site of an impressive high water run by Tao in Twitch, an occurrence that is becoming more common these days among paddlers with the skills to run this drop. This has also been the site of a kayaker fatality. If you're on the upstream of this falls be sure you know exactly where the take-out is. This waterfall is located right along Highway 2 near milepost 40 and many travelers stop and take a look at the falls. Check out the Eagle Falls page on Bryan Swan's waterfall site.
Canyon Falls is located along private property making it difficult to access. There have been fatalities here when tubers floated up to the edge of the falls without realizing the hazard. Check out the Canyon Falls page on Bryan Swan's waterfall site.
This section ends at Sunset Falls where the Skykomish drops 104 vertical feet over a 275' granite slide. See Liquid Locomotive for Whit Deschner's story of Al Faussett's ride over Sunset Falls in 1926 in a 34 foot canoe with sheet metal spray deck. Take a look at this thing in low water sometime (around 400 cfs). As SteveB described it, 'this Falls must have the highest concentration of unrunnable features: sieves, terminal toilet bowl holes, offseting huge undercuts, bottomless caves, & more pinning spots that a half finished hand-mad
...River Features
Barclay Creek Bridge
Snohomish County owns the two parcels on river right immediately downstream of the Barclay Creek confluence at Highway 2 mile 40.
Eagle Falls
Many expert paddlers have run this drop at a Forest Service day-use area that has also been the site of many swimmer fatalaties. In late summer this can be a fun class V rapid for experienced whitewater kayakers. It has also been run at higher flows.
Canyon Falls
This waterfall is surrounded by private property and inaccessible to the public. It does not appear to be runnable.
Sunset Falls
The South Fork Skykomish drops 104 vertical feet over a 275 foot granite slide at Sunset Falls. A handful of paddlers have successfully run this waterfall.
Sunset Falls Trap and Fall Facility Take Out
Although closed to the public, access is at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Trap and Haul Facility at the base of Sunset Falls.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWe had a group of about 20 indivduals who came out to clean up Eagle Falls on a Monday morning. We removed several bags of trash, did a bit of graffiti removal, discussed the pending arrival of a sandblaster, developed some ideas for improved signage, and engaged in planning for a larger public event next August.
The whitewater paddling community organized a clean up of Eagle Falls in 2017 but its time for another one.
Site visit with Snohomish PUD and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to Sunset Falls to review options for potential future public access.
The community bands together to take back a roadside natural wonder in Seattle's backyard. Litter and graffiti have become ever-present defacing the natural beauty Eagle Falls. Film documenting the event: https://vimeo.com/230931337.
Eagle falls is run somewhat regular by the local big ballers. Sunset Falls has also been run by Sam Grafton. Eagle falls is class 5+ and Sunset is a solid 6.
Site visit to the site of the proposed Snohomish PUD hydropower project at Sunset Falls.
Sunset Falls was successfully run by kayaker Rob McKibbin in 2008.
Kind of consequential for a park and huck, but a lot of fun. Line to the first ledge is very straight forward, anyone looking to run will want to hit that ledge a few inches to RL of where I hit it. This will make the boof come out a little better then it did for me. Hole at the bottom was pretty friendly when I hit it, but no guarantees (take as far to the RR as possible)...
The left line all the way down looks inviting but is likely seived out. In addition a reliable sources mentioned something about rebar somewhere in the rapid, so be careful.
A couple months after his successful run of Sunset Falls, Al Fausett constructed a new boat to run Eagle Falls. Australian swimmer V.P. Taylor came to swim the falls.
On May 30, 1926, Al Faussett (1879-1948) rode over Sunset Falls on the Skykomish River in Snohomish County in a homemade dugout canoe. The stunt, witnessed by approximately 3,500 people, propelled Faussett from an obscure life as a Monroe logger to a falls-leaping daredevil.