Search trip reports
Placeholder Routes & Places

Trip Report    

Whitewater Packraft - Washougal River: NE Vernon Road to Hathaway Park

This was a fun low water packrafting trip on a lower section of the Washougal River, Clark County, Washington. Water level was about 5.4 feet on the Hathaway gauge, which is pretty much the minimum level without too much contact with rocks in shallow areas.

Dennis Pennell Dennis Pennell
November 26, 2025
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Route as expected: low water whitewater run.

    There were no significant wood hazards on this run on this date. The most prominent hazard was the many rocks that were barely covered with water.

As with most whitewater runs, this trip requires a vehicle shuttle be arranged.

The launch point at NE Vernon Road is easily accessible via paved rural roads and has good parking for two or three vehicles. The path to the river is steep and slippery as you descend the riverbank as shown in the following photo:IMG_5879.JPEG

There are lots of surf waves at this level, some of which had a tendency to grab the tube of the packraft if you let the boat turn sideways. Many of the surf waves at this level do not exist at higher flows, and some of the surf waves that exist at higher flows were either much smaller or not there at all.

Most of the rapids get easier as the level drops, but a few holes get steeper and deeper. Of particular note is the hole at the ledge drop in Cougar Creek Rapid. The deepest and steepest part of the hole is just to the right of the blue packraft on your screen in the photo below:

IMG_5889.JPEG
Lori Stole
IMG_5890.JPEG
Jerry Stole - Cougar Creek Rapid

Also, another class 3ish rapid a few miles downstream has a steeper and deeper hole at low flows. 

The lower flow means slower current, which made the trip seem longer than normal. 

Weather was typical for November: cloudy, very high humidity, temperatures in the mid to high forties, with a light rain starting about the time we reached the takeout.

Note that the restrooms at the takeout are closed, and a porta-potty is placed in the corner of the parking lot. The condition of the porta-potty was less than optimal.