FUN FACT: Beautiful bedrock gorge with some great drops but difficult to scout or portage at river level.
SEASON: November to May
LOGISTICS: Head towards Shelton, WA and from Highway 101 mile 347.0 turn onto Dayton-Matlock Road headed west towards Matlock. Stay on this road for 15.2 miles (past a lake circled with vacation homes) to Matlock and there turn right onto West Beeville Road (this is at milepost 16.9). Stay on the main road for 5.0 miles miles (you'll pass farms) and then turn right at the T junction onto Kelley Road. From here it's 1.5 miles to an intersection where 5 forest roads come together. A short spur road, now closed, heads west to the river and the take-out. To reach the put-in, head north on FR 2341. You'll start to parrallel the river, scout carefully along the way, and in 1.3 miles you'll be at the bridge across Baker Creek. Scramble down the bank to the put-in.
DESCRIPTION:
This short section has some sweet whitewater and with great drops in a beautiful bedrock canyon. Scouting and portaging at river level are difficult and trees could form a serious hazard. If you want to run this section you'll probably want to scout the run from the road. It's a little more than a mile in length but a nice run if you're in the area. As of 2020, there is a new landslide at the end of the canyon. It flooded out a few rapids upstream and created a large rapid at the end of the gorge. Most will choose to portage (it has been portageable at river level) but there may be a a line for some at higher flows.
lat/long approximated by Tiger map server
for additional information see
- Korb, G. 1997. A paddlers guide to the Olympic Peninsula. third edition..
- local expert: Gary Korb & Carol Volk, 4930 Geiger Road, Port Orchard, WA 98366, 206-876-6780