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Alpine Adventures |
800-723-8386 |
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Blue Sky Outfitters |
800-228-7238 |
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Downstream River Runners |
800-234-4644 |
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North Cascades River Expeditions |
800-634-8433 |
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Northern Wilderness River Riders |
800-448-7238 |
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Orion Expeditions |
800-553-7466 |
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River Recreation |
800-464-5899 |
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Rivers Incorporated |
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Reachout Expeditions |
800-697-3847 |
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| Section |
Rat
Trap Bridge to Sauk River |
|
Location |
Snohomish
and Skagit counties near Darrington, western Washington |
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Driving Time |
Seattle—2
hours |
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Difficulty |
Class
I-III |
|
Trip Length |
13
miles (21 km) |
|
Trip Options |
Paddle
raft, oar raft; one-day |
|
Season |
May-August |
The Suiattle River, a
National Wild and Scenic tributary of the North Cascade's Sauk
River, is an excellent trip for persons  wanting a relatively mellow
introduction to whitewater. The lower 13 miles (21 km) of the
Suiattle river are not intimidating or strenuous. All of its
whitewater, with the exception of the Class III Coyote Crossing and
Hurricane Rapids, is fairly easy Class I-II+. Its wilderness forest
scenery, which on a clear day includes the 10,541 snowcapped Glacier
Peak, is incredibly beautiful.
The
Suiattle starts in the melting ice of Glacier Peak in the Glacier
Peak Wilderness Area and flows through the Mt. Baker National Forest
to the Sauk River north of Darrington. Braided channels, gravel bars
and fallen alder trees often change channel courses during high
water. The Suiattle's cold waters, which still carry a large volume
of glacial silt, necessitate wetsuits.
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