Trip
Whitewater Packraft - Nisqually River: McKenna to Yelm Hydro Plant
An afternoon run on a class II+ or III- river, preferably the Nisqually.
Contacts
- Fri, May 1, 2026
- Seattle Packrafting Committee
- Packrafting
- Adults, All Who Qualify
- Class II+ River, Class III River
- Easy
- Mileage: 9.8 mi
- 5 (5 capacity)
- Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM
- Wed, Apr 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
The Nisqually is mostly easy whitewater, with one class III rapid. We will stop and scout it and you could portage it if you wanted to. As a result, this is a good trip for students from the whitewater course who have done at least one other trip with us and is confident in their skills, or for anyone else who wants to spend an afternoon out on the water. It's not a great first whitewater trip and there is some potential for wood hazard.
If we have to change locations due to flows (I'd like to do it anywhere above 1200 CFSish) we'll pick another river in a similar II+/III- difficulty range.
I want to stick to the afternoon thing so I only have to take half a vacation day, so if there aren't good flows nearby then I would rather just cancel/reschedule than drive a long distance. We'll confirm early in the week.
TBD based on the river, but plan A will be the Nisqually River Powerhouse Park at 1 PM https://maps.app.goo.gl/LzmL9GYs7WAQLprv5
Required Equipment
Minimum Equipment for each participant
- Packraft, with grab lines on bow and stern
- Paddle, sized for a packraft
- Life jacket, PFD Class III or better
- Whitewater helmet
- Drysuit or thick wetsuit
- Closed-toe shoes, no sandals
- Spare clothing
- Boat repair kit
- Waterproof Whistle
- Minimum Equipment for the party
Minimum Equipment for the party
- Rescue rope and throw bag, one or more as needed for the trip
- Spare paddle, one or more
- First Aid kit