I was just pondering summer plans, and I thought, wouldn't it be amazing to get a group of boaters with kids together and do a mellow rafting trip. We're constrained to early August (umm...anyone still need people to go on their Main Salmon permit?), great options would be the Deschutes or John Day. We did a 4 day Deschutes trip last year with our then 6 and 8 year old kids, and it was so awesome. Let me know if that sounds like something you wanna do!

Jule

By then the levels are getting awefully low through aren't they Pernick?

You can definitely raft the lower Sauk in August. With last year's low water we were running boats with outboards up as far as Darrington in September.

Lots of beaches, but lots of private land as well. At the boat launch on SR530 were the bridge crosses the Sauk there is a map that shows were the public lands are located.

It should be a good trip. Bring an IK if you can because there should be some good small surf spots for them to mess with and probably not flip.

Kyle

Thanks for the advice guys...we will definitely try to make the lower Sauk happen. It's kinda lame of me to have been boating around here for years and never have gotten on the gorgeous Sauk.

Also, I'm looking at the Lower Salmon for our longer August trip, no permits required and should be good family fun.

-jule

Christian have you considered the Grande Rhonde ?

bump

It might be getting too low but the Upper Wenatchee from the lake to Tumwater Campground is a good run for an overnighter. They are actually putting in a take out/put in area at the new Tumwater bridge but for now you have to drag/carry to the pull out on the river left side

The Skagit is full of multiday opportunities. Putting in at Goodell Creek gives you overnight takeouts at the Marblemount boat ramp, at Sutter Creek (next to the roadside park by Cascadia Farms), and Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport.

Putting in at NP213 Rd or Marblemount would give you good overnight takeouts at Faber Landing (look for the fishing access sign on SR20 between Concrete and Rockport), The Baker River Confluence, and Pressentin Ranch Rd (a dirt road at the end of Wilde Rd at the intersection with Cape Horn Rd).

There is a lot of public land to camp on in the area, but it is patchy with a lot of private land mixed in. There are good maps you can see at Sutter Creek, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, and Marblemount Boat Ramp. You may be able to find it online as well.

Kyle