Chinook Bend Natural Area

Description

Good spot to launch or small light boat (14' SUP in my case). Something easy to hand carry or maybe use a rugged portage cart. Paved parking lot with 10 car spaces and 2 handicap. You can access the river by walking down the gravel road (no cars allowed). If you follow the gravel road 1500 ft to the other side you will come to the beautiful and slippery round river rock beach, with a view of the snowy peaked Cascades on a clear day. If you walk approximately 400 feet down the gravel road from the gate, you can take a left (North) on a usually very muddy trail another 800 or so feet and get to the beaches on the North end of the bend. A Discover pass is required, like most WDFW boat launches. Most often I use this spot as a take out for a downriver trip starting at Neal Rd boat launch or Fall City. That way you can enjoy the small but fun rapids/riffles and fast water that the Tolt river provides just 3 miles upstream from the bend. Also a good spot for a short river tube float from the Carnation boat launch or the Tolt river (accesses near the Tolt river bridge in Carnation or Tolt McDonald Park) or the Carnation boat launch off Tolt Hill Rd. Takes an hour or two in a tube if you go slow and stop at a beach or two along the way. Be advised, there are snags you need to stay away from that could really ruin your day/life, just like any river. For another option for a put in/takeout that is a closer to your vehicle, go South from here on Carnation Farm Rd 1/3rd of a mile, there is room for a couple cars to park on either side of the lovely dark green truss bridge. The East side of the bridge offers the easiest, steep but sandy, access, directly under the bridge. *Again, this a class 1 river with possible class 5 hazards in the right conditions and enough arrogance. Know your basic river saftey and stay away from wood. There are many snags on the outside of the bend and just a mile downstream is a very dangerous jam that usually requires a portage in the summer. Its beautiful out there but its no Disney ride!

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Location & Directions

• Body of Water: Snoqualmie River
• Coordinates: 47.66977879, -121.92800331
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