East Fork of the Lewis River
Location - East of Battlefield, WA
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 4.5 miles
Level - 1,000cfs Date - 3/4/2007
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 4.5 miles
Level - 1,000cfs Date - 3/4/2007
Fun class II/III rapids follow with many eddies and small surf waves. The scenery is pleasant despite a few houses along the river. The last drop,
Horseshoe Falls, is very obvious from above. The river makes a bend here and drops twenty five feet over a broken ledge. The huge boof ramp
in the middle is the obvious line although every possible variation has been run, including the gnarly looking chute on river right. The landing here
is not super soft and the hole is minimal, so boofing is not required. I landed pretty flat and it made my back soar for a few days even though the
free fall is under twenty feet.
More fun class II and III water leads to a number of roadside takeouts. A few nice surf waves are found here. Despite the longish drive to this run
I had a great day and felt very relaxed and content at the take out. The EF Lewis would link up very nicely with nearby Canyon Creek, making for
a much more exciting day.
Just after this is another horizon. The river ramps up and slides into a big hole. At this level the best line was left of center and while not tough,
the lead in flipped a few of the people in our group. I would imagine that the hole here would get very bad at higher flows as it is backed up and
the low angle ledge making it is walled out.
Horseshoe Falls, is very obvious from above. The river makes a bend here and drops twenty five feet over a broken ledge. The huge boof ramp
in the middle is the obvious line although every possible variation has been run, including the gnarly looking chute on river right. The landing here
is not super soft and the hole is minimal, so boofing is not required. I landed pretty flat and it made my back soar for a few days even though the
free fall is under twenty feet.
More fun class II and III water leads to a number of roadside takeouts. A few nice surf waves are found here. Despite the longish drive to this run
I had a great day and felt very relaxed and content at the take out. The EF Lewis would link up very nicely with nearby Canyon Creek, making for
a much more exciting day.
Just after this is another horizon. The river ramps up and slides into a big hole. At this level the best line was left of center and while not tough,
the lead in flipped a few of the people in our group. I would imagine that the hole here would get very bad at higher flows as it is backed up and
the low angle ledge making it is walled out.
Mt St Helens. If she blows now we're in trouble. Even our kayaks wouldn't help much!
Arthur dropping over Sunset Falls at the put in on the East Fork of the Lewis River. The level on this sunny and warm March day
was 1,000 cfs.
was 1,000 cfs.
Jason running the sloping ledge in the canyon on the EF Lewis. The boiling eddy on the left was a little squirely.
Horseshoe Falls is just about the easiest falls you could imagine as long as you choose the correct slot to run at the top.
Despite the highly aerated appearance of the water at the base of this drop the landing is not particularly soft.
Warm sixty degree temperatures and sunny skies lured a group of us
Eugene kayakers to the waterfall run on Washington State's East Fork of the
Lewis River. In the shadows of Mt St Helens this pretty river flows through a
canyon and drops over many ledges along the way. While not as secluded
as most Oregon runs that we frequent, this is a pretty river that is quite
enjoyable.
Eugene kayakers to the waterfall run on Washington State's East Fork of the
Lewis River. In the shadows of Mt St Helens this pretty river flows through a
canyon and drops over many ledges along the way. While not as secluded
as most Oregon runs that we frequent, this is a pretty river that is quite
enjoyable.
The put in is at a parking lot for Sunset Falls, the first clean eighteen foot drop of the run. From the put in pool a few strokes take you
over a lead in ledge of three feet that falls through a hole leading to the lip of the bigger drop. Stay left of the boil at the base and there
is nothing to worry about. On my first run I boofed hard left as planned and had a very soft landing before being pushed into the eddy.
On my second run, I let the bow dive and plugged the left side with no problems. This is a great easy waterfall to run many times.
About a mile of easier class II/III rapid follows until you reach the gorge. The first rapid drops over ledges and is split by a rock island.
This is called Screaming Left Turn since the right chute is undercut and the best line take you to the left of the island. The move is quick
and fun. Just after this rapid is a curling ledge drop of five feet into an angled hole with a surprisingly strong boiling eddy next to it that
produces some swirly water. Any trouble here should be remedied quickly since a few trees are jammed at the pinch in the bottom of the
canyon requiring a move to the left. This short canyon is very pretty and it should be enjoyed.
over a lead in ledge of three feet that falls through a hole leading to the lip of the bigger drop. Stay left of the boil at the base and there
is nothing to worry about. On my first run I boofed hard left as planned and had a very soft landing before being pushed into the eddy.
On my second run, I let the bow dive and plugged the left side with no problems. This is a great easy waterfall to run many times.
About a mile of easier class II/III rapid follows until you reach the gorge. The first rapid drops over ledges and is split by a rock island.
This is called Screaming Left Turn since the right chute is undercut and the best line take you to the left of the island. The move is quick
and fun. Just after this rapid is a curling ledge drop of five feet into an angled hole with a surprisingly strong boiling eddy next to it that
produces some swirly water. Any trouble here should be remedied quickly since a few trees are jammed at the pinch in the bottom of the
canyon requiring a move to the left. This short canyon is very pretty and it should be enjoyed.
| Video Clip of East Fork Lewis |