Washington whitewater, Nisqually River Thurston county, McKenna to Yelm Hydro Plant section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS III     7 miles   Hey guys! I am interested in kayaking from the Mckenna park all the way out to the Nisqually Reach in Puget Sound. Anyone interested? Email me rooster2410@hotmail.com I would like to go sometime this august but a little later is fine. The more the merrier. Says Brandon Very bad log over a bad part of river past pines. Very dangerous. Says Brian Peterson Hey, I have rafted the Nisqually river since I was about 13 years old     (27 now). The thing you should know about the Nisqually is that it is like most rivers, every year there is something new and unexpected. There are a few notable obstacles and log jams that have stuck over the past ten years or so. One of them is between McKenna and the Nisqually railroad trestle. It has been there as long as I can remember. But the river isn't too fast there and you should have plenty of time to get outta the way. The other problems are further down the river, the log jams that are past the Nisqually pines aren't too bad. Most of them are so far up on the river bank that only a few trees hang into the river ( not to say that there are none   of them.) But the problem is that you raft right under the cliffs on FT. Lewis. They seem to like to throw cars off the cliffs and watch them hit the water.. Or this is a good way to dispose of stolen cars.. Because the water just churns and turns these cars into a spiky nightmare for the rafters and tubers of the Nisqually. I have yet to see one person go over the cars and not instantly blow there raft apart.. Just keep a good eye out for any colors that don't belong in the river. Sometimes its just a small corner hanging out of the river. Says Tim I noticed you would like a little info on rafting the Nisqualy river. I raft the river alot every year and would say it is a very mild float. From Mckenna to the Nisqualy pines park in yelm is very mellow and there are no places to worry about. You can make this float with minimal knowledge in almost anything that floats. There are 3 small/fun rapids sections. Says Yelm-ite I would like to know if anyone has been down this and can let me know of any log jams that are on the Mckenna-Hydro stretch that need to be avoided. Says Lori Nisqually River, McKenna to Yelm Hydro Plant road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.     Map Detailed Map Stats Stats for this river stretch Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Nisqually River.   Whitewater Near Nisqually River: Nisqually River, Thurston County, 1 miles away       Class III - 7 miles long (McKenna to Yelm Hydro Plant) Deschutes River, Thurston County, 6 miles away       Class II - 9.3 miles long (Vail Loop Road to Military Road) Whitewater Outfitter - McFarland Rafting, Pierce County, 12 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Nisqually River, Thurston County, 17 miles away       Class II - 14 miles long (Mashel River to Mckenna) Nisqually River, -blank- County, 19 miles away       Class V - 1.9 miles long (La Grande Reservoir to Mashel River) Tilton River - North Fork, -blank- County, 20 miles away       Class IV - 2.5 miles long (above Tilton confluence) Tilton River, Lewis County, 20 miles away       Class III-IV - 11 miles long (Bremer to Ike Kinswa State Park) Little Nisqually River, Lewis County, 21 miles away       Class IV+ - 5.7 miles long (Winston Creek to Alder Lake) Cowlitz River, Lewis County, 21 miles away       Class I-II - 10 miles long (salmon hatchery to Blue Creek access) Mashel River, Pierce County, 23 miles away       Class II-IV - 7.5 miles long (Eatonville to Nisqually River confluence)   Ski Areas Near Nisqually River: Crystal Mountain, Washington , 75 miles away, 3100 foot drop, 11 lifts, 50 runs Hurricane Ridge Ski Lodge, Washington , 82 miles away, 800 foot drop, 3 lifts, 10 runs Alpental, Washington , 82 miles away, 2280 foot drop, 5 lifts, 19 runs Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington , 82 miles away, 2280 foot drop, 26 lifts, 96 runs White Pass, Washington , 83 miles away, 1500 foot drop, 6 lifts, 32 runs Stevens Pass, Washington , 95 miles away, 1800 foot drop, 10 lifts, 37 runs Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Oregon , 96 miles away, 1500 foot drop, 9 lifts, 65 runs Timberline Lodge, Oregon , 97 miles away, 3590 foot drop, 6 lifts, 32 runs Cooper Spur, Oregon , 98 miles away, 500 foot drop, 2 lifts, 10 runs Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon , 99 miles away, 2777 foot drop, 12 lifts, 87 runs   Marinas Near Nisqually River: Day Island Yacht Harbor, Tacoma , 14 miles away Delin Docks, Tacoma , 17 miles away Dock Street Marina, Tacoma , 17 miles away Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma , 17 miles away Breakwater Marina, Tacoma , 17 miles away   Beaches Near Nisqually River: Caledonia Beach, Pierce , 19 miles away Northilla Beach, King , 20 miles away   Hotels Near Nisqually River: Prairie Hotel, Yelm , 2 miles away Hampton Inn - Suites DuPont, DuPont , 8 miles away Home2 Suites By Hilton DuPont, DuPont , 8 miles away Best Western Liberty Inn DuPont, DuPont , 8 miles away Fairfield Inn & Suites Tacoma DuPont, DuPont , 8 miles away   Campgrounds Near Nisqually River: Fort Lewis Travel Camp, Tacoma, 7 miles away Camp Murray Beach, Tacoma, 8 miles away Holiday Park FamCamp, Tacoma, 10 miles away   Public Lands Near Nisqually River: Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford - WA , 42 miles away Eagle Island State Park, Washington , 14 miles away Tolmie State Park, Washington , 17 miles away Ike Kinswa State Park, Washington , 17 miles away   Golf Courses Near Nisqually River: Nisqually Valley Golf Course, Yelm , 3 miles away Va Golf Course, Tacoma , 9 miles away Whispering Firs Golf Course, Mcchord Afb , 9 miles away   Lakes Near Nisqually River Harts Lake, Pierce , 7 miles away American Lake, Pierce , 8 miles away Chambers Creek Reservoir, Pierce , 11 miles away