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Nooksack River Rafting

[ Whitewater Trips | Accommodations ]

The "Jewel of the North Cascades" is the North Fork of the Nooksack River. This river is born at the base of the Nooksack Glacier, high on Mt. Shuksan. After mixing with many side creeks and tumbling over Nooksack Falls, this river's glacial silt laden water enters the upper gorge of the Nooksack River. Sightings of wildlife such as eagles, deer, and otter are a common occurrence in the lower section until we reach our conclusion at the take-out.

Unfortunately, the weather is often cold and cloudy in this part of Washington State... In addition, an abundance of drift wood and log-jams can make this a more unpredictable ride. We highly recommend that those interested in rafting on the Nooksack, consider our Rafting Trips on the Skykomish River.

Whitewater Trips

Nooksack Whitewater

• Season: June - July
• Ages: 14+
• Meeting location: Glacier, WA
• Meeting times: N/A
• Class/Difficulty: Class III+ / Intermediate
• Duration/Length: 3 hours / 6 miles
• Gear provided? Yes
• Meal provided? Yes
• Itinerary: Click here to download PDF (coming soon!)

The Nooksack River, just south of the Canadian border, is a decent late season whitewater run with a couple miles of whitewater followed by several more miles of calm water. We begin the 6-mile trip in a primeval canyon dripping with green mosses. This wild ride requires precise maneuvering through the tight and technical rapids in it's narrow canyon section. Rapids the likes of "Fir Drop," "Turtle Rock," "Landslide," and "Gallop Drop" give you the sense of this steep canyon and it's fast pace. This Class II-III glacial-fed river settles down into a liesurely float with views of 10,778 foot Komo Kulshan, "The Great White Watcher," better known as Mount Baker, Washington's second most active volcano. We meet near the town of Maple Falls, WA about 1/2 an hour east of Bellingham, WA. Click here for Nooksack River rafting rates, or request a reservation today.

Accommodations for rafting on the Nooksack River

Hotels / Motels

Camping / Campgrounds

A number of U.S. Forest Service campgrounds are located along the river, such as Douglas Fir, Siver Fir, and Shuksan. They fill up rather quickly on weekends so prepare for an early arrival to get your camping spot.

*Alpine Adventure's operates with a special-use permit under the U.S. Forest Service, Sedro Wooley Ranger District. We promote river preservation and forest clean-up projects and are an Equal Opportunity Employer and Recreation Provider.

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