Nick Silverman paddling into the hole at 1370 cfs.   photo: ©Fields

Nick Silverman getting a nice vertical cartwheel at 1370 cfs.   photo: ©Fields

Paradise Ledge is a very friendly hole and a great place to learn to cartwheel or to get your hole riding fix. Though it is not a large hole, the pour-over that feeds the hole has a lot of energy which can be tapped into to really link up the cartwheels, once you figure out how to use the sweet spot.  Paradise Ledge will let you do all just about all the hole moves. It will let you cartwheel either way, split it up or even loop and tricky-wu if you on your game. This spot does have its own unique feel and rhythm that can take several rides to figure out. The hole is shallow in places especially at the margins and though you may hit your boat and paddle often on the rock you will rarely hit you head or body on the rock. The hole is also not vigorously retentive, once you flip over you are on your way out.

Picking the right trail to get down to the hole can be a challenge on your first time to Paradise Ledge. There are several frighteningly steep trails that lead down to the river from the parking area. The best choice is to take the trail that is about half way between the two gates in the parking area. It is located between the fourth and fifth tree mounted no trespassing signs in the parking area. This Trail takes starts by taking you down the grown over remnants of an old road grade and then takes directly down the slope to the hole and via a foot trail that you can reasonably expect to pass while carrying your boat and paddle. There are a couple steeps sections on this trail so be careful. Once you are in sight of the hole and are standing on exposed bedrock remember to watch your footing as you make your way to the put-in on the rock slab across from the hole.

800 to 1100 cfs: On the river-right side of the ledge that make the normal play-spot at higher water there is another pour-over that will let you link-up the left cartwheels at lower water.

1350 to 1800 cfs: These are the levels when Paradise Ledge is "in". Most people consider the optimal level (most retentive) to be between 1400 cfs and 1450 cfs. As the water level rise toward 1800 cfs the hole gets less retentive. At 1800 cfs most paddlers would consider the hole to be flushy and hard to stay in.

2000 cfs to 2700 cfs: After the hole flushes out with higher water levels a hole forms on the ledge.

***It is worth noting that during or soon after periods of heavy rain the minor tributaries adding water to The Green River below Howard A. Hansen Reservoir might make the flow at Paradise Ledge a bit higher than the gauge upstream at the reservoir would indicate. Conversely, during very dry periods the flow at Paradise ledge might be slightly lower than the gauge would indicate.

From I-5 South of Tacoma, take exit 127 off of Interstate 5 and head East on Highway 512 toward Puyallup. Continue East from Highway 512 on Highway 410 toward Enumclaw and Yakima. Once you reach Enumclaw exit Highway 410 and turn left heading North onto State Route 169. On the outskirts of Enumclaw on State Route 169, take note of note of the entrance to Thunder Mountain Middle School and proceed just over two miles up State Route 169, where you will turn right onto Enumclaw-Franklin Road not long after going through a major intersection at SE 400th St. Drive Enumclaw Franklin Road 3.9 miles until you reach the first intersection on the road and turn left (down hill) on Green River Gorge Road drive past numerous mobile homes and wrecked cars and you will quickly reach the one-lane Franklin Bridge. Cross the Bridge the parking area and river access will be at the first gated road on your left just North (uphill) of the one-lane Franklin Bridge. This gate is at first break in the fence uphill of the bridge. Park near the gate but off the road and out of the no parking area that surrounds the bridge. Ignore the numerous no trespassing signs and notice there isn't one on the gate and that the gate is not fenced in completely. If you are a member or know a member of Washington Kayak Club, they will have the combination to the gate's lock (the club pays for access to the site). On weekends during the paddling season the gate will generally be open to allow access to the parking area during daylight hours.

If there are not any parking spots that don't obstruct entry to the gate and you don't have the combination to the gate, you will have to leave your gear there and park far enough up the road to get out of the no parking area. During spring and months the no parking area is vigilantly enforced especially on weekends.