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Green Gorge (IV)

Description: From below the Howard Hansen Dam headworks to Flaming Geyser State Park, this section of the Green River is Class III & IV whitewater. Once you pass Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, there is no exit from the gorge and you are committed!. Mercury/Nozzle is the Class IV 'toughie' but Pipeline has been known to eat it's fair share of rafts. The technical nature of this water makes it a demanding river which is particularly difficult to paddleraft. At high water on a typical drizzly cold winter or early spring day, the Gorge can be unforgiving and dangerous. At flows from 1200 CFS to 2500 CFS (below Hansen), this is a good run for advanced rafters. At flows above 4000 CFS, the ride is intense, but the margin for error is small. This is not a trip for the new or occasional rafter. Participation on this trip will be at the discretion of the trip leader.

However, the river is gorgeous and the water is nothing less than exciting. The gorge with its cliff walls, hanging moss and side stream waterfalls imparts a primordial feeling of isolation & beauty. The Green River Gorge is truly a special river and one of the wests's hidden gems.

Directions: Use the intersection of WA-169 (Maple Valley Rd.) and WA-516 (Kent-Kangley Rd.) as your focal point. To get to the headworks put-in, take Kent-Kangley Rd. east and follow the sign to Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. Just after you cross the Green River, there is a turnoff for the Tacoma headworks. Follow upstream about 3/4 mile to put-in. The take-out at Flaming Geyser State Park can be reached by heading south on WA-169, and following the signs to the park. Note that parking at Flaming Geyser requires a Discover Pass $10/day, $30/year. If you cross a high bridge over the river, you have gone to far! Look at the region map below. The shuttle trip is not real direct and can be done several ways, but is most often done thru Krain.

Friends of the Green      Green River Clean Up

Last Update 30-Apr-12