Intro
I have not paddled this section. This is an approximately 10 mile class 1 section, with a likely portage a few miles in due to dangerous wood around an island.
The first couple of miles are supposedly pretty swift, and pretty much impossible to paddle upstream against. After that it slows. Much of the area is farmland with little of visual interest, especially down in the river with the high banks.
This route can be continued all the way to Possession Sound in Everett, with various possible take-out points along the way. But Duvall is the end of the safe bike shuttle section. (The route can also be started earlier, at Fall City or Plum #2, or even up by the powerhouse below Snoqualmie Falls, though I believe a bike shuttle above Fall City gets steeper.)
Details
- Distance: Appx 10 miles
- Rating: Class 1
- Recommended Flows: unknown
- One report says that normal summer flows are below 4000 cfs (and suggests that’s a fine level for an SUP except for one portage)
- NOAA river gauge ID CRNW1
- USGS river gauge ID 12149000 (located under the bridge where NE Carnation Farm Road crosses the Snoqualmie River)
- Hazards: Wood hazards in early part of the trip, including a mandatory portage at an island 4 miles below the launch point due to dangerous wood on both sides of an island.
- Resources:
- This is the first part of paddle #17 in Paddling Washington, by Rich Landers, Dan Hansen, Verne Huser, and Doug North (Mountaineers Books)
- Launch point: Snoqualmie/Lower Tolt River Boat Launch (Carnation)
- Boat launch: yes
- Facilities: none
- Description from City of Carnation (appears to be out of date; reportedly the site has been taken over the King County and is now free)
- Paddling.com description
- No launch or parking fees
- Take-out point: Taylor Landing (Duvall)
- Boat launch: yes
- Facilities: port-a-potty
- Description from City of Duvall
- Paddling.com description
- No launch or parking fees
- Previous river section: Fall City to Tolt River Confluence
- Bike shuttle: Appx 10.6 miles; estimated 51 minutes; primarily on mostly-flat gravel walking/biking trail.
- The first 9+ miles are on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail (map) which starts just beyond the take-out point (Taylor Landing in Duvall); then half a mile on a connector trail; and the final half mile is on trafficked roads (cross the Tolt River on 203, then down to the boat launch via NE Tolt Hill Road).
- Google Maps bike directions