The rains finally returned for a day after nearly two weeks of dry weather.  We headed out to the Lower Gorge.  We parked just outside of Flaming Geyser State Park (there is a fishing access with free parking, rather than paying to park inside the park, adds 1/2 mile moving water to trip).  Pulling out of the parking lot I left my gear box on the roof which flew off going 50mph turning the corner (back to Target for a new one..).  We put in at Paradise after a crazy scramble down the muddy slope.

This was my first time down on the lower gorge, and I must admit I was skeptical.  I was expecting it to be pretty uninteresting, and was pretty surprised by the quality of some of the rapids.  It was also really beautiful, with more sheer gorge walls like the upper gorge, and lots of carved out riverbed.

Charlie in front of the waterfall.

Most of the run is Class II punctuated with a few larger rapids pushing Class III.  From Paradise Ledge down the first few rapids is the hardest, most continuous part of the run.  Below the first rapids is a warm springs that comes in on river left.  It is marked by the huge flat rock and cables across the river 200 yards downstream.

Small riffles in a forested canyon...  pretty nice.

The run is really mellow in general.  This would be good for a beginner to intermediate with a developing roll.  Swimming in the Green is pretty unpleasant because the water comes out of a bottom flow dam and is really cold.

Large walls of mudstone and bedrock in many spots.

Note the tilting of the rocks.  Good run for the geology minded.

About 2 miles down is the most difficult rapid on the run.  The river goes around an island and then comes back together in a boulder garden.  Charlie swam here, but it was pretty mellow.  Cold, but mellow. 

Entrance of the island rapid.  Scout from left.  You could walk down the left bank if you wanted to portage.

Below the Island Rapid is the Enumclaw-Black Diamond Rd SE Bridge high overhead.  This would be a good place to take-out, but I'm not sure on logistics.  It is about 2.5 miles downriver to the Flaming Geyser State Park.  Takeout in the Park on the left, or downstream another 1/2 mile on the right.

daysontheriver.com

All content © Jonathan Blum, 2004-2008 • Contact webmaster
No part of this page may be reproduced, copied, sold, or used for promotional materials without the express written permission of Daysontheriver.com.