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Methow (IV-)

River Description: The Methow is strictly a snowmelt river usually runnable from early May through early July. Beginning in the North Cascades and running past the towns of Winthrop, Twisp and Methow before joining the Columbia above Wells Dam. It is one of the favorite rivers for commercial rafting companies because of the generally good early season weather. The stretch of river from McFarland Creek fishing access to Pateros is 17 miles. Runnable flows start at 3000 cfs on the Pateros gauge but the river really comes alive at about 6000 cfs. Above 9000 cfs the Methow starts to approach flood stage and carries a lot of mud and floating trees start to be a problem. Between 6000-9000 CFS Magic occurs. Some of the biggest waves in the United States. The upper stretch gives the paddle crews a bit of warmup time, and then most of the rapids are made up of big waves and holes with some of the holes being very large especially in the constricted space of the Black Canyon where a large hole named The "Black Hole" awaits the inattentive paddle captain. Only the rapid in the "Black Canyon" is rated class IV. Don't relax just because you made it thru! The next few miles offer continuous action in the form of Staircase, Corner Rapids, "Another Roadside Attraction", and Green Bridge Rapids.

Driving Directions: To reach the Methow you either go East to Wenatchee and then turn North up the Columbia River on US 97 to Pateros and then turn onto WA 153 which follows the Methow from Pateros to Winthrop or else you can take the North Cascades Hwy (WA 20) to Winthrop and then take WA 153 down the Methow to the put in or take out. The trip through Wenatchee takes 3.75 - 4.5 hours from SouthCenter to the take out at Pateros.

Directions to Alta Lake State Park

Last Update 6-Feb-04