The Tieton River is quite unique.  When most of the other rivers in the state have dried up by late August, the Tieton River release comes as a nice end of season run for everyone!  There is a 2-4 week release of water from Rim Rock Lake that turns this small drainage ditch into an awesome, non-stop Class III wave train, flooding down the valley at breakneck speeds.  It drops nearly 600 feet in 10 miles, making it steep and very very fast.  Thousands of people come out for the Tieton each release and most camp out at one of the many places along the banks.  This makes for great nightlife and a good scene always.  There are a number of put-ins, or you could just pick any spot on the river where you can get down to it.

The run starts from somewhere around the River Riders put-in.  There are also lots of other put-ins if you go across the first bridge after you pass Riders, turn right and go across the river.  There is lots of free camping there and tons of river access.  This is where most trips go from.

The first few miles are pretty fast and continuous III+ with some wood hazard.  One of the biggest hazards on this run is that because it is dry most of the year, the bushes and trees grow in and make it eddy free for most of the run.  This makes swimming a huge ordeal.  I wouldn't recommend this run for anyone without a decent roll, or the desire to swim for miles.

Jonathan Blum guides down one of the many rapids on the Tieton.  Photos Jaco Klinkenberg.

There are lots of good hits and splashy rapids the whole way down.

There is a lowhead dam at Hwy 12 MP 172 that is well marked on the river.  You can portage left or run the far left side of it.  It should be taken seriously, but is not a hard move if you know what to do.  Scout left.  They do take lots of commercial rafts over it, if that is any indication of the difficulty or danger involved.

About 5 miles down the run is the Bridge Wave, a fun surf wave that can produce some good stuff between 1,700 and 2,000cfs (Highway 12 MP 173)  This is in the small town as you head toward Naches, and is next to Trout Lodge.  There is a bridge overhead making for great picture spot, and a fun place to sit on a sunny day.  There is also a parking lot here and small convenience store.

Bridge Wave on the Tieton.  Kelly Howard photos.

Blunting at the Bridge Wave.

Cat boaters and rafters often surf here too!

Downstream from the bridge the river goes through a residential section, and plunges over the House Rock.  This large rock can be run right over the middle and slides nicely off the back side.

Rafers coming over House Rock.

Drew guides boaters deep into House Rock.

Below house rock is Waffle Wall, a rapid that has a large retaining wall on the right side (looks like a waffle).  Avoiding this is a fairly easy move, but there are a few large holes that need navigation around before dodging the wall.

From here down the river mellows out a lot, and is continuous Class II+ till the end.  There are two bridges that you go under before the main take out at Windy Point Campground.  This would be a really easy one to hitchhike with the thousands of boater that descend on the area for the two or three September weekends.  Hope to see you there this year!

You can also continue this run down to the Tieton River Lower from Windy Point Campground to Naches for another 8.5 miles of more mellow whitewater and beautiful scenery.

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