Run Description:

The SF Snoqualmie is a good alternative to the Powerhouse when it’s running.  It is scenic, fairly short, and has an incredibly easy put-in and take-out.  There is a short class III section above the usual put-in that can be accessed by an easy 15 minute hike up the riverside trail allowing you to scout on the way.  If you decide to run this make sure to put in at the deep calm pool below a small canyon that you can’t see very well from the bank.  The canyon contains a nasty class V? rapid with an undercut on river right.  The first rapid appears to be undercut on river right but problems can be easily avoided by staying left.  After the first drop the rapids are fairly continuous until you get to the normal put-in.

The first half of the normal run is mostly mellow floating with some small wave trains and boulder gardens.  The “real” rapids start to appear after you see a big eroded clay wall or river left.  The first rapid below the eroded bank has a decent surf wave at its base above 500cfs.  From here the river enters the canyon which is a bit more technical and contains lots of boulders to dodge.  At flows over 1500cfs this section gets a little exiting and a bit pushy. 

The appearance of houses on the left signals the end to the canyon and the lead in to the weir.  At lower flows there is only one line through the weir on river right.  The route takes you near some potentially dangerous wood so get out and scout if you’re unsure. 

One more good surf wave exists on river left a couple hundred yards above the take out.  It has no eddy service so make sure to catch it on the way by.  When the 436^th St. Bridge appears the run is over.  The take out is either just above the bridge on river right, or just below on river left.