I'll second the Headworks of the Green as a good choice. At normal levels, it's mainly class II / II+ with a bit of easy III. If you're looking for something with a bit more III, the Lower Green River gorge is a fantastic stretch. Super beautiful, with lots of II and a handful of III. Plus, it goes at a wide variety of levels - there's some surprisingly good play at low flows (500-800cfs) on the lower gorge. Other local II / III options you might consider include:
- South Fork Snoqualmie (Twin Falls trailhead to 436th St. Bridge). Mainly class II / II+, but has a continuous section that can be challenging for class II boaters. You can also hike up the trail a short ways and put in at "Percolator Pool" to add a couple of fun class III drops
- Upper Middle Fork Snoqualmie: Long run with long, potholed dirt road. Mostly class II but some nice views of surrounding mountains
- Upper Middle section of the MF Snoqualmie (Concrete Bridge to Island Drop): This is a relatively short stretch that makes for a nice after-work run. It's mainly class II but has some easy III. The last drop - Island Drop - is the hardest. You can scout it from the shuttle and decide if you want to run it. If so, take out right below. If not, you can take out at the old, closed campground just above (walk down and make sure you recognize your take-out location)
- The Big Eddy stretch of the Skykomish: Not my favorite, but a staple if you're in the north end)
A word of warning on the MF Snoqualmie runs... That road is scheduled to be paved, and mid-week work closures are starting soon. Weekend access should be OK. Also, you could check out the Washington Kayak Club website (
http://www.washingtonkayakclub.org/). They have a trip schedule with lots of class II and III trips listed.
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