East Fork to NE Old Cascade Highway

The Miller River is less popular with paddlers seeking cutting-edge steep creeks, but it offers a fun run for the occasional Class IV creek boater looking for adventure in the Skykomish River watershed. That said, the river still demands respect, with plenty of log and pin hazards. Flows are typically highest during fall rains and spring snowmelt, but access can be snowed in during the coldest winter months. The river begins with fun Class IV boulder garden rapids. Most have clear lines that are easy to read from the boat. The best whitewater lasts no more than two miles, after which the pace calms considerably through lower-gradient boulder gardens and gravel bars. This lower stretch is fine when water levels are adequate, but low water can make navigation tricky. Logistics: The Miller River is a short run with roadside access. The classic run starts on the East Fork Miller and continues past the confluence to the Old Cascade Highway. With the river crossing permanently gone, the lower gradient, minimal whitewater in the lower reaches, and plans to restore the floodplain, it now makes sense to take out further upstream. To access the river, take Highway 2 to mile 45.9 and turn onto the NE Old Cascade Highway (look for the sign for Money Creek Campground). Follow this road 1.1 miles past the campground, then turn right onto Miller River Road (FR 6410). Driving up Miller River Road, you will see your first good take-out option where the river comes close to the road. For a shorter run, continue up to the Miller River Group Campground, which is a possible take-out near the end of the best rapids. To reach the put-in, drive over the West Fork bridge (mile 3.5) to a location where the East Fork Miller approaches the road near mile 4.3 at an elevation of 1,290'. Note that the rocky channel you may have passed with little or no water is not the main channel. Be sure to put in higher upstream than the location described in Bennett's guidebook—his put-in at the West Fork bridge skips most of the best whitewater. Check put-in road conditions with the Mt. Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest; see the forest road conditions report under the recreation section of their website.