Skookum Creek

Vitals

Locale: Squamish, British Columbia
What It's Like: Big, clean waterfalls and tight canyons.
Class: V
Scouting/Portaging: Difficult to almost impossible - it's easier to just walk out if you want to portage the big stuff.
Level: Visual at the take out. Possible correlation to the Mamquam web cam gauge (the Mamcam).
Time: 2-4 hours, or more.
When To Go: Summer snowmelt run, or after rain.
Info From: June 2009.
Other Beta: None.
Map: Click here for a map of the river zone.

Description

Skookum is a small creek with some big waterfalls found deep in the forest north of Squamish. Another in a long list of classic class V whitewater runs in the area, this one is a big mission to access. It is currently under direct threat for a hydro development, one of several in the area that are slated for diversion in the next few years. If you come to paddle get ready for tough scouting, challenging gorges and some of the best waterfalls in the Squamish area.

The take out is easy to find, at the confluence of Skookum Creek and the Mamquam River. Simply follow the Mamquam FSR, found on the far west side of Squamish, for about 15 km until you cross the Mamquam. Immediately on the other side of this bridge is a bridge over Skookum, which is the take out.

The put in is also easy to find but the road is grown over, rough and steep. Continuing past the take out bridge, a spur road will break left after about 100 meters, heading up the Skookum valley. Follow this road for almost 3 km, stay left and park at the obvious dead end. There is an old cabin just below the parking area. Although you can't see the river this is where you'll want to gear up. It's also possible to access the creek from the river right logging road.

There is no gauge for Skookum Creek - river levels are visual at the take out. The season is somewhat of a mystery on this run, although it seems it's usually at a good flow when things in the area are medium. Look at this run both before and after the high water season in mid summer in a normal year. Basically, someone has to drive up and look to see if it's running or not. Compare what you see at the take out bridge to the photos below as a point of reference. Compared to the size of the riverbed the river will look low.

The walk down from the parking area to the river is steep and might require using a rope to deal with boats. Pick a spot that looks good and give it a try (this beta is based on hiking in about 100 m down the road from the parking). There is a section of whitewater that extends well above the two well known waterfalls that is supposed to be good, but little concrete beta is available on how far up it goes, how to access it or what the character of the whitewater is.

Hiking in just downstream from the parking lot/old cabin resulted in immediately encountering a series of narrow canyons that are difficult to scout and seemingly impossible to portage. Wood will forever be a potential issue on this run so scout carefully.

A section of relatively open class III-IV precludes the ultra classic 30ish foot waterfall that is tricky to scout and can't be walked. It is awesome. The river lands in a beautiful polished granite cauldron that boogies around the corner and shortly arrives at an even bigger waterfall.

This 50-60 foot drop has a weird lip and lands in relatively green water. Portaging this drop is almost impossible and you should come to Skookum Creek with the intent to run it, or be prepared to hike out. Below here are a few more rapids, some corners, good scenery and finally the bridge at the take out. It's a good river with classic waterfalls but it's a real mission - have fun getting in there and sorting it out.

The view up the river from the take out bridge.

A rock in the center of the river just upstream from the bridge - it looks permanent enough to use as a gauge rock - what you see here felt like a medium flow.