I have put a trip for the Yakima this Sunday August 10th.
Please sign up for the trip on the Washington Kayak Club Page here.
https://wakayakclub.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=821680&item_id=2694836
If you have questions you can call me at 253-709-2624
Here is a Description
Yakima River Class II
Description
Yakima River from Teanaway to Thorp or Dam
This is an easy Class II River but there are many surf waves to catch on the fly. The trip is suitable for kayakers of many levels, inflatable kayaks, rafts and canoes. The river is large, and swims may be cold and long, but except for the dangerous dam after the take-out there are few hazards.
I will try to catch the surf waves, but many people will continue down the run. Most waves must be caught on the way down. I remember catching about 9 waves. A water level of 3000 is perfect for creating big waves for surfing. It is a 16-mile run to the first takeout and 19 miles to the second. Bring a lunch we will be stopping for a break along the way.
Start Date and Time
Date: Sunday August 10, 2025
Time 10:30 AM Meet at the Put-in
Meet at the Put In
We will put in on the Teanaway River and paddle a short distance to the river confluence with the Yakima. Google Link to the put in is here. https://maps.app.goo.gl/MqKh8twZCbSHqnPP9
Parking is off the main road at the bridge over the Tenaway. Washington State Discovery pass is required.
There is a dangerous log jam showing on the air photos and mentioned on the American Whitewater site, so we will not go to the upstream put-in, described on the route description.
American Whitewater
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2276/main
Difficulty II
Length 16 miles bring a lunch
Gradient 14 feet per mile
Flow Rate is 2950 ft3/sec Good level because releases for irrigation in Yakima County
Put In at Teanaway confluence Discover Pass Required
Water Levels
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-12484500/#dataTypeId=continuous-00060-0&period=P7D&showMedian=true&compare=true
River is running about 3000 ft/sec
A Map is here:
https://jeffreyholden.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=a8dd7cf59bd94b148dfe83d52412a2a1
Takeout will be
Takeout will be at the Highway 10 takeout River Fish and Wildlife Access Point for rafts shown on Google as River Access Point on Google maps with this link. https://maps.app.goo.gl/qEZRutcoJ4NmyqiY6.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Site:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/water-access-sites/highway-10-take-out-1086
Take out will be at the large boat access. There is a dam shortly after the take-out. A Washington State Discovery Pass is required at this site. According to the American Whitewater, 3 people have died on similar low head dams on the Yakima River.
From American Whitewater:
Ran this at 3625 CFS. Easy trip except the takeout at the Thorp Highway Bridge. This is a tricky and narrow takeout on river R underneath the green bridge. The current is strong and the eddy is easy to miss if you don't time it right. Hug the R bank as you approach and paddle hard until you're sure you are in the eddy.
If you miss it, be sure to stay on river R. About 50 yards downstream on the R, there is a bank with a path back to the parking lot.
Put-in to both takeouts
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8C1xmybB61QWfyK39
Alternate Take out is
Green Bridge Thorp Public Access Google Link https://maps.app.goo.gl/3jFMf4t95cQeKmxv8
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Link at https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/water-access-sites/thorp-1044
This takeout is just after the green bridge in Thorp. There are two good surf waves just after this bridge, but the river does start to calm down.
To reach the take-out from the put-in, head back out to Highway 970, turn right, and in 0.1 mile turn on to Highway 10. Follow it 9 miles to Highway 10 mile marker 97.3 where you turn right on Thorp Highway. Continue 0.9 mile down Thorp Highway to the bridge across the river. Access is available on the downstream river right side of the bridge.
Directions from Put-in to Take-out
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5dsFbzq6HN4XPvHi8
Travel
Driving from Seattle is about 88.5 miles or 1 hour 31 minutes or from Federal Way, 100 miles and 1 hour 47 minutes. There is also parking at this site. I am not sure if a
https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/water-access-sites/thorp-1044
Map
This is a map of the trip.
Circles in the route may indicate surf waves of eddies that I played in.
https://jeffreyholden.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=a8dd7cf59bd94b148dfe83d52412a2a1