Wynoochee River

FLOW

• USGS Gauge: Wynoochee River Near Grisdale dam release. 
• 220 - 400 CFS: low runnable
• 400 - 800 CFS: high runnable 

PUT-INS & TAKE-OUTS

• Wynoochee Lake Dam:   This is the put in for the Upper Gorge. From Montesano follow the signs for Wynoochee Lake and the dam.  Park at a small lot on the right just before crossing over the bridge, at 47.3840,-123.6058. Walk across the road and down the gated access road the end. Scramble 25 feet down the embankment.  
• Fish Hatchery Dam:  From the Wynoochee dam, drive the short distance to Highway 22, make a right onto Donkey Creek Road, a gravel road. Take it 2 miles to the fish hatchery dam. Park on the left in the dirt lot. Take the use trail to just below the lower of the two low head dams to a downstream put in. 
• Otter Flats:  Park at a pull out on the west side of Wynoochee Valley Road at 47.3405, -123.6318. There is room for 4 vehicles.  From the river take out on a gravel bar on river left, at 47.3455,-123.6453. Take a use trail 300 feet to an overgrown road on the left.  Take the overgrown road for 300 feet to a gravel road. Walk the gravel road around some bends and up the hill, then veer right and up to the paved road.  The hike out is 1.1 mile with a 250 foot gain. 
• Save Creek:  At Wynoochee River road mile 28.7 (0.2 miles after crossing Save Creek), turn west on FR 2266 (aka Simpson 600). This road may be gated during periods of fire danger and if private lands are absued--problems with timber theft have led to closures. Take this road 0.15 miles across a stream and turn left on the Simpson O-602 Rd. You'll pass a couple spur roads and then reach a Y junction in 1.7 miles. Take the left fork down the hile and continue another 0.3 miles to a trail that leads straight down to the river. The road takes you within sight of the river and it's about a 250 foot climb from the river to the road along the trail which is about 4 feet wide, and although it's steep it's a good trail. 

ON THE RIVER

upper gorge (wynoochee dam to fish hatchery dam)

This is a short class II reach of about 2.2 miles, in and out of a beautiful, encased gorge. From the put in, if the flow is not high, you can paddle and eddy hop all the way up to the dam. It is an impressive site from the vantage point of the river. About halfway downriver Wynoochee Falls cascades down to meet the river in a wide fan. Before the take out the river becomes placid. Look for the bridge and the obvious horizon line at the far edge of the infinity pool in between the cement walls.  THIS MUST BE PORTAGED. THIS IS A LOW HEAD DAM FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LOW HEAD DAM BOTH OF WHICH CAN BE DEADLY.  Low head dams are widely known to be the most fatal obstacles on a river and have claimed lives. Notice the RIP sign on river left as you approach the bridge. 

fish hatchery dam to otter flats

This is a class 1/II reach for 4 miles down a meandering river section. Home of beaver and otter, keep a lookout for these river stewards. Braided in places, picking the channel with more flow and avoiding wood hazards are the challenges. Expect to have several portages, especially 1/2 mile above the take out. There are several play waves along the way, one in particular about 2 miles below fish dam.

Lower gorge (otter flats to save creek)

This is "the" gorge, a much deeper, longer, more committing gorge and should only be attempted by confident and solid class III boaters.  It is a 5.5 mile reach.  Landslide Rapid, a class V rapid in the middle of the run, must be portaged for this to be runnable by class III boaters. Otherwise, it is an active and stunning class III reach down a mystical gorge. Wood is an ever present danger. Boaters must be ready to eddy out quickly and have good skills to eddy out on river left at the top of a blind corner where Landslide Rapid begins.  

NOTES

• Avg. Gradient: Upper Gorge 18 feet/mile. Lower Gorge 27 feet/mile. 
• There are numerous camp sites, Coho Campground on Lake Wynoochee is managed by the forest service. On the east side of the lake, drive up Forest Road 2270 heading toward Satsop and on the left are some primitive lakeside sites. 
• Nearest town is Montesano, a 45 minute drive. Has restaurants, market, public bathrooms in a beautiful town park, and gas stations. 
• Can be combined with East Fork Humptulips, North Fork Quinault, or Satsop rivers for a multiday adventure on the peninsula. 

• Suitable Activities: Packrafting
• Seasons: Year-round
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Class II River, Class III River
• Length: 11.5 None
• High Point: 650 ft

• Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 6
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12