Upper Quarry to Costco

New info 5/18/2025 This run remains a Juneau classic, long continous float of class III to IV rapids. Be sure to drive up the lower bridge past Juneau Compost to see what the gorge looks like. Hike in via the Lemon Creek trail just after the turn in for the home depot. 'Trail' is a funny name as 1 mile in the path gives way to eroded river banks and thick brush. Welcome to Alaska. Pick your way past devil's club as far as you please, favoring the creek bed if the water is low enough. Once you are tired of going up, put in and float down. The river is very chill above the first and second gorge, but once you enter the first gorge the feel can quickly become serious. As of 5/18/2025 the quarry continues to push rock into the river, drastically changing the rapid of what was known as 'Pleasure Nozzle'. Now, this feature is a series of drops which I would classify as class III fun. However, the large eddy that existed years prior on river right above the rapid, allowing a decent scout for trees, no longer exists at higher water (above 200cfs). If you run this, you will be committed as the walls are vertical and rapids commiting. There are a plethora of trees around the area which could be washed into a drop; take this seriously. If you can run it, enjoy. After 'Pleasure nozzle' you will enjoy a relaxing float of a few hundred yards before reaching a bridge; this is where the gorge begins. You will encounter about 100 yards of chill continues whitewater, with the first rapid marked by a gaint log on river right. Eddy on river left to check it out. There is a sneak line on river left but the whitetrash of Juneau has dumped a plethora of industrial and household waste into the river including couches and sinks. There is an awesome line right if you just boof of the main rapid about 3 meters to the left of the tree on river right. After this there are a series of smaller rapids followed by the main feature; the bottom rapid. Boof this bad boy on river right and enjoy the ride down. If you swim in the gorge keep your feet up and stay river right, you'll be fine. -Andy