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Access Site WA

The rapid just above or at the upper acess hike in

Bacon Creek East Fork Bacon Creek Falls Creek

Source: american_whitewater Updated 3 months ago

City: WA
County: Whatcom
Type: Whitewater Access
Location: 48.64385300, -121.42514100
Air Temp: --
Location
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Whitewater Run
II-III(V) Put-in Bacon Creek - Falls Creek to Skagit River confluence
38 ft/mi
View Run
Current Conditions
Whitewater Runs on Bacon Creek
1 run
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site: Put-in at this location This location is on the run Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Whitewater data from American Whitewater
About This Access Site
This whitewater access point is located on Bacon Creek in Whatcom County, Washington, positioned at the rapid just above or at the upper access hike. Bacon Creek is a medium-sized river (Stream Order 5) with a total length of 34.96 miles and flows through terrain with significant elevation change. The stream drops 332 feet total, creating an average gradient of 9.5 feet per mile, which indicates moderate to challenging whitewater conditions suitable for intermediate to advanced paddlers.

The creek maintains an average flow of 123.70 cubic feet per second with an average velocity of 1.33 feet per second, though conditions at the rapid itself will likely be considerably faster and more dynamic. This is a headwater stream located relatively close to its source, meaning water conditions can be flashy and responsive to rainfall in the Whatcom County watershed. Paddlers should be prepared for cold water typical of upper elevation coastal Washington streams and understand that conditions can change significantly with seasonal runoff and weather patterns.

Access at this location involves a hike to reach the rapid, which suggests this is a walk-in or carry-in access point rather than a developed boat launch facility. Boaters planning to use this access should be self-sufficient regarding gear transport and should verify current conditions before attempting the hike and paddle, as water levels and hazards can vary seasonally.