Skykomish, S. Fork, Washington, US

2. Baring to Sunset Falls

Eagle Falls

Eagle Falls

Gauge Information

River Description

This section isn't really a run, but this page is here for those wondering what's here and if it's been run. This section of the river is all flatwater with the exception of three major waterfalls: Eagle Falls, Canyon Falls, and Sunset Falls. Most would consider the drops on this short stretch unrunnable, and for practical purposes surviving any of them would involve far more luck than skill; there have been several fatalities along this stretch of river particularly during summer with swimmers or tubers who didn't realize the danger of the falls.

Eagle Falls has been the site of an impressive high water run by Tao in Twitch. This has also been the site of a kayaker fatality. If you're on the beginner run upstream of this falls be sure you know exactly where the take-out is. This waterfall is located right along Highway 2 near milepost 40 and many travelers stop and take a look at the falls. Check out the Eagle Falls page on Bryan Swan's waterfall site.

Canyon Falls is located along private property making it difficult to access. There have been fatalities here when tubers floated up to the edge of the falls without realizing the hazard. Check out the Canyon Falls page on Bryan Swan's waterfall site.

This section ends at Sunset Falls where the Skykomish drops 104 vertical feet over a 275' granite slide. See Liquid Locomotive for Whit Deschner's story of Al Faussett's ride over Sunset Falls in 1926 in a 34 foot canoe with sheet metal spray deck. Take a look at this thing in low water sometime (around 400 cfs). As SteveB described it, "this Falls must have the highest concentration of unrunnable features: sieves, terminal toilet bowl holes, offseting huge undercuts, bottomless caves, & more pinning spots that a half finished hand-made suit." Check out the Sunset Falls page on Bryan Swan's waterfall site.