Chehalis River

Overview

The Chehalis River is a river in Washington that flows for 115 miles. It originates in several forks in southwestern Washington, flows east, then north, then west, in a large curve, before emptying into Grays Harbor, an estuary of the Pacific Ocean. The river is the largest solely contained drainage basin in the state.

History

The river was once much larger during the Ice Age when the tongue of the glacial ice sheet covering the Puget Sound terminated near Olympia and glacial runoff formed a large torrent of meltwater. This carved a large oversized valley that is much larger than the current river could have produced. The river's mouth was out near current Westport until rising sea levels at the end of the ice age flooded the broad Chehalis Valley to form a ria, known today as Grays Harbor. The Quinault Indian Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation are stakeholders of the river. Though the people ceded the lands surrounding the Chehalis River upon the signing of the 1856 Treaty of Olympia, the tribes have retained fishing and hatchery rights. Plans were raised during the presidency of Franklin Pierce to use the river as part of a canal stretching from Olympia to Grays Harbor. The idea was reintroduced multiple times during the 19th century but no official acts, nor construction of the waterway, materialized.

Course

The Chehalis River is the largest drainage basin completely within the state. The basin covers approximately 2,700 square miles in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties. It begins at the confluence of the West Fork Chehalis River and East Fork Chehalis River, in southwestern Lewis County. From there the Chehalis flows north and east, collecting tributary streams that drain the Willapa Hills and other low mountains of southwestern Washington. The South Fork Chehalis River joins the main river a few miles west of the city of Chehalis. The Newaukum River joins the Chehalis River at Chehalis, after which the river turns north, flowing by the city of Centralia, where the Skookumchuck River joins. After Centralia, the Chehalis River flows north and west, collecting tributaries such as the Black River, which drains the Black Hills to the north, then in the Chehalis Gap collects the Satsop River and Wynoochee River, which drain the southern part of the Olympic Mountains. The Wynoochee River joins the Chehalis near Montesano, after which the Chehalis River becomes increasingly affected by tides and widens into Grays Harbor estuary. The city of Aberdeen lies at the mouth of the Chehalis River. Just east of Aberdeen, the Wishkah River joins the Chehalis, and just west, between Aberdeen and Hoquiam, the Hoquiam River joins. At this point the river has become Grays Harbor. Before the estuary of Grays Harbor empties into the Pacific Ocean, the Humptulips River joins.

Trips

Segment 1

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on W 4th Ave

Coordinates: 46°34'11.0"N 123°18'13.6"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Chandler Rd

Coordinates: 46°37'52.3"N 123°15'03.4"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 2
Distance Traveled: 8.75 miles
Estimated Time: 4-6 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 2

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Chandler Rd

Coordinates: 46°37'52.3"N 123°15'03.4"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Ceres Hill Rd

Coordinates: 46°36'07.1"N 123°08'42.4"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 2, Class 4 due to Rainbow Falls
Distance Traveled: 8.75 miles
Estimated Time: 5-7 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Rainbow Falls

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 3

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Ceres Hill Rd

Coordinates: 46°36'07.1"N 123°08'42.4"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Old Hwy 603

Coordinates: 46°38'31.0"N 123°01'01.3"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 2
Distance Traveled: 13.45 miles
Estimated Time: 7-9 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Islands in Channel

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 4

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Old Hwy 603

Coordinates: 46°38'31.0"N 123°01'01.3"W

Take Out Location: Fort Borst Boat Ramp

Coordinates: 46°43'09.2"N 122°59'07.6"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 1
Distance Traveled: 11.04 miles
Estimated Time: 6-8 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 5

Put In Location: Fort Borst Boat Ramp

Coordinates: 46°43'09.2"N 122°59'07.6"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Independence Rd SW

Coordinates: 46°48'25.2"N 123°07'09.9"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 2
Distance Traveled: 12.58 miles
Estimated Time: 7-9 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 6

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Independence Rd SW

Coordinates: 46°48'25.2"N 123°07'09.9"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Oakville Rd

Coordinates: 46°49'47.5"N 123°15'31.3"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 2
Distance Traveled: 9.92 miles
Estimated Time: 6-8 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 7

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Oakville Rd

Coordinates: 46°49'47.5"N 123°15'31.3"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Boat Ramp on Porter Creek Rd W

Coordinates: 46°56'18.4"N 123°18'54.2"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 1
Distance Traveled: 10.30 miles
Estimated Time: 6-8 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 8

Put In Location: Chehalis River Boat Ramp on Porter Creek Rd W

Coordinates: 46°56'18.4"N 123°18'54.2"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Wakefield Rd

Coordinates: 46°58'55.3"N 123°24'45.6"W

Pass: N/A
Difficulty: Class 1
Distance Traveled: 9.80 miles
Estimated Time: 5-7 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 9

Put In Location: Chehalis River Bridge on Wakefield Rd

Coordinates: 46°58'55.3"N 123°24'45.6"W

Take Out Location: Chehalis River Public Access on S Monte Rd

Coordinates: 46°57'45.5"N 123°36'12.9"W

Pass: Discovery Pass
Difficulty: Class 1
Distance Traveled: 10.70 miles
Estimated Time: 6-8 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

Segment 10

Put In Location: Chehalis River Public Access on S Monte Rd

Coordinates: 46°57'45.5"N 123°36'12.9"W

Take Out Location: F Street Boat Launch on F St

Coordinates: 46°57'27.6"N 123°46'16.8"W

Pass: Discovery Pass
Difficulty: Class 1
Distance Traveled: 10.70 miles
Estimated Time: 6-8 Hours
Potential Hazards:

Hypothermic Water Temperature

Strainers

Woody Debris

Recommended Flow: 200-20,000 CFS

Gauge: Chehalis River Near Doty, WA - 12020000

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