The first 3 to 4 miles of this run contain the best rapids. After that the canyon opens up and the river widens and meanders down towards Maple Falls. The river is very scenic here but the difficulty drops to class II which is good for beginning kayakers.
Late in the season there are river use restrictions because of spawning Chinook fish. Check with the local fish and wildlife division if you plan on floating late in the season or at low water levels.
Near the douglas fir campground there is a decent play wave. See below or the map for details.
There is also an annual slalom river race on this section of the Nooksack. Click here for more details on that.
| Class | II+ to III |
| Current Flow |
323.0 CFS 12-04-2024 10:15 |
| Recommended Flow |
Minimum: 650.0 Average: 1200.0 Maximum: 2100.0 |
| Typical Season |
Begins: April Ends: October |
| Recommended Use |
Kayaking: Yes Rafting: No Canoeing: No SUP: No Packrafting: No Fishing: Yes |
| Primary Gauge | NF NOOKSACK RIVER BL CASCADE CREEK NR GLACIER, WA |
| Length | 9.0 Mile(s) |
| Gradient | 50.02 FPM |
