| Description:
Hidden away on Stevenson's Washington back yard
creek run is a small but amazingly good hole. Skamachuck is a
real gem of a play spot. This small hole seems to have a nearly
perfect layout for throwing cartwheels both ways. Skamachuck really likes to take your ends vertical and
let you link up a lot of
cartwheels. Additionally this hole is a good place to loop (air
loops?) at lower water levels.
Getting to the hole the first time can be a
real challenge. If you get lost on the way to hole don't get
frustrated almost everyone does on Skamania Counties maze like
roads.
Make sure that you don't block traffic at the
put-in bridge. The hole is located about 150 yards below the wooden
bridge. The fisherman's trails down to the creek are steep muddy and
treacherous. Seal launching below the bridge is the easiest and
safest way to get to the water. Be very careful making your way back
up to the road after your session at the hole, it would be easy to
get hurt if lost your footing.
|
| Eddy Service: The eddy service at the
Rock Creek Hole is a little on the thin side. A delayed or
missed roll might mean that you will miss the eddy and have to grab
a lower eddy on river-right and carry your boat back up to the hole.
There is a shallow class III/IV rapid 50 yards downstream of the
hole. If you miss all the eddies and have to run this rapid you
might be in for a minor epic getting back up to the hole and your
car. This is not a play spot for those with out a reliable roll. |
| Water Levels: The Rock Creek Hole is
usually in after a couple of days of heavy rain. |
| Gauge: None see above |
| Season: Rainy Season, October to May
during or after periods of heavy rain |
| Difficulty: Strong intermediate on
up! Anyone without a good solid roll will probably miss the eddy and
run into trouble. The hole is gentle but retentive and no place for
rookies. |
| Driving Directions: Exit Washington
Highway 14 at the 76 Gas Station and Mini-Mart at the west end of
Stevenson Washington on Rock Creek Road. Stay on Rock Creek Road until you have crossed the
creek and passed the fair Grounds then turn right just past The Rock
Creek Clinic onto Ryan Allen
Drive and head uphill and take a quick right onto Iman Cem.
(Cemetery)
Road. Keep going uphill on Iman Cemetary Road for about .3 miles and
then take a left at a dead end sign onto Iman Loop Road and follow
the road until it intersects with Ryan Allen Road at stop sign. Confused yet? The
Roads in Skamania County make little sense. Take a left onto Ryan
Allen Road and turn right at the first paved road, Red Bluff Road.
Follow Red Bluff Road until the pavement ends at an end of county
road sign. At the end of county road sign take a right and follow
this gravel forest road until you get just past mile post 2 where
you will take a right and head downhill to the wooden bridge which
is your put-in. Park out of the way so as not to obstruct large
truck traffic. |
| Closest Town: Stevenson, WA |
| Closest Services: Stevenson has
several restaurants, gas stations and market. |
| Other Local Attractions if the play isn't
in: Check out some of the classic creek runs in the Columbia
River Gorge. Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Skiing and Mt. Biking are
all viable options in the area year round. |
| Closest Camping: Camping at
undeveloped areas are in the forest nearby. |
| Local's Tips: Bring your creek boat
too. If the water level is either too high or too low for Skamachuck
then go creeking somewhere near by may be even on Rock Creek. |
| Local Kayak Shops: Kayak Shed and
Hood River Outfitters are the kayak shops in Hood River. Alder Creek and
Next Adventure are shops to hit in Portland. |
