PEWEE FALLS, PEND ORIELLE RIVER
PEWEE FALLS, PEND ORIELLE RIVER
PADDLE DISTANCE: 17.5 miles
ELEVATION: 1990’
LENGTH AND ACREAGE: NA
MAPS: BLM maps & brochures, Colville National Forest, Metaline Falls & Boundary Dam topos.
LAUNCH GPS: 48°58’58”N 117°21’02” W
PEND ORIELLE COUNTY SHERIFF: 509.447.3151
ELEVATION: 1990’
LENGTH AND ACREAGE: NA
MAPS: BLM maps & brochures, Colville National Forest, Metaline Falls & Boundary Dam topos.
LAUNCH GPS: 48°58’58”N 117°21’02” W
PEND ORIELLE COUNTY SHERIFF: 509.447.3151
DESCRIPTION:
WE HAVE ADDED THE AREAS SHERIFF’S EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS FOR EACH TRIP WRITE UP UNDER THE RANGER DISTRICT INFO. IF AN EMERGENCY OCURRS, EVALUATE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND CALL ONLY IF NEEDED.
I prefer to launch at the Boundary Dam launch, because it’s located in the Boundary Dam camp sites. (See the end for my reason to launch here.)
As you leave the dam site and launch, head over to Ratt Island first. In the morning, the dams are making power for Seattle. So the island is about half submerged. Later in the day, swing by the island. The dam has made power all day, hence the water levels are lower. And more of the island are above the water level. In the morning, Wildflowers are under water.
After enjoying Ratt Island, head SW for about .6 of a mile to Pewee Falls.
Because of the change in water levels during the day, the plunge pool, has a large round area of rocks that have dropped off the cliffs above. In the morning, this rock circle is under water.
After leaving the bay that Pewee Falls is in, hug the right (west) shore line, paddling up stream, which in this case is south. The Z Canyon walls are hundreds of feet tall right out of the water. In the afternoon, there are two caves that appear after the water level drops. They are on the left (East).
Continuing south up stream, three mikes from the launch is another larger island to paddle around. West of the island is a spot to stop for lunch, with picnic tables.
About 7 mikes up stream from the launch, is one of the most spectacular sights and sounds on the Pend Orielle River. Look for two waterfalls, one on each side. As you hear the sounds, position your boat in the middle of the river and listen for stereophonic waterfalls. You are about 7.7 miles from the launch.
If you want to continue and camp, there is a nice camp site at about 9.3 miles.
A WORD OF CAUTION...because the water levels fluctuate about 5 to 16 feet every day, pull your boats up very high from the water line.
Years ago, I led a paddle trip to this area to camp. At 5:30am, one of the crew got up to use the facilities. She was shocked, and woke us all up in a panic. The morning water level floated our boats. Only one was close, caught in an shore line Eddie. We rescued a kayak, and he went to get one nearby boat. Then two kayakers paddled fast to reclaim the rogue floaters.
During breakfast, we all had a good laugh. But we all learned a huge lesson. Sleep and stow your boats at least 16’ above the evening water levels.
From this camp site, there is a narrow channel heading up stream towards a Metaline Falls and beyond.
I personally do not paddle down stream from the town of Metaline. Right after you go under the Metaline Falls bridge, there is an obstruction in the river that makes this section very dangerous.
Decades ago, after the Box Canyon Dam and Boundary Dam were built, they decided to use explosives to bring down the old powerhouse. After the dust settled, they discovered that a huge section of rock, came down with the powerhouse. This obstruction causes a whirlpool on the east side of the river. I’m just not comfortable to paddle near the whirlpool.
So, from the camp site, head north, down stream, back the way you came.
Along the paddle back to Boundary Dam, notice the unusual rock formations all the way back to the launch.
I prefer to launch at the Boundary Dam launch, because it’s located in the Boundary Dam camp sites. (See the end for my reason to launch here.)
As you leave the dam site and launch, head over to Ratt Island first. In the morning, the dams are making power for Seattle. So the island is about half submerged. Later in the day, swing by the island. The dam has made power all day, hence the water levels are lower. And more of the island are above the water level. In the morning, Wildflowers are under water.
After enjoying Ratt Island, head SW for about .6 of a mile to Pewee Falls.
Because of the change in water levels during the day, the plunge pool, has a large round area of rocks that have dropped off the cliffs above. In the morning, this rock circle is under water.
After leaving the bay that Pewee Falls is in, hug the right (west) shore line, paddling up stream, which in this case is south. The Z Canyon walls are hundreds of feet tall right out of the water. In the afternoon, there are two caves that appear after the water level drops. They are on the left (East).
Continuing south up stream, three mikes from the launch is another larger island to paddle around. West of the island is a spot to stop for lunch, with picnic tables.
About 7 mikes up stream from the launch, is one of the most spectacular sights and sounds on the Pend Orielle River. Look for two waterfalls, one on each side. As you hear the sounds, position your boat in the middle of the river and listen for stereophonic waterfalls. You are about 7.7 miles from the launch.
If you want to continue and camp, there is a nice camp site at about 9.3 miles.
A WORD OF CAUTION...because the water levels fluctuate about 5 to 16 feet every day, pull your boats up very high from the water line.
Years ago, I led a paddle trip to this area to camp. At 5:30am, one of the crew got up to use the facilities. She was shocked, and woke us all up in a panic. The morning water level floated our boats. Only one was close, caught in an shore line Eddie. We rescued a kayak, and he went to get one nearby boat. Then two kayakers paddled fast to reclaim the rogue floaters.
During breakfast, we all had a good laugh. But we all learned a huge lesson. Sleep and stow your boats at least 16’ above the evening water levels.
From this camp site, there is a narrow channel heading up stream towards a Metaline Falls and beyond.
I personally do not paddle down stream from the town of Metaline. Right after you go under the Metaline Falls bridge, there is an obstruction in the river that makes this section very dangerous.
Decades ago, after the Box Canyon Dam and Boundary Dam were built, they decided to use explosives to bring down the old powerhouse. After the dust settled, they discovered that a huge section of rock, came down with the powerhouse. This obstruction causes a whirlpool on the east side of the river. I’m just not comfortable to paddle near the whirlpool.
So, from the camp site, head north, down stream, back the way you came.
Along the paddle back to Boundary Dam, notice the unusual rock formations all the way back to the launch.
Ratt Island, 200’ tall Pewee Falls, two caves, 300’+ walls, and the most beautiful paddle in our region. During the summer months, Gardner Caves in The Crawford State Park, are not to be missed. Below is an image f a Christmas tree cave feature in the cave.
Also, if the dam folks are doing tours of the dam, don’t miss it. Across the dam from the launch site is the Boundary Dam Vista House. You may be able to walk across the dam and up to the Vista House. Don’t miss this view. It looks back at the spillway across the river. There is a road to it, but you can’t drive across the bridge. You have to drive down to Sullivan Lake to reach it.
While camping in the area, watch for auroras from about 10pm on. They may appear to the north over the massive power lines.
Also, if the dam folks are doing tours of the dam, don’t miss it. Across the dam from the launch site is the Boundary Dam Vista House. You may be able to walk across the dam and up to the Vista House. Don’t miss this view. It looks back at the spillway across the river. There is a road to it, but you can’t drive across the bridge. You have to drive down to Sullivan Lake to reach it.
While camping in the area, watch for auroras from about 10pm on. They may appear to the north over the massive power lines.
DIRECTIONS:
From Spokane, take U.S. Highway 2 north. Just past the Pend Oreille County line turn northwest for WA-211 toward Usk. Just before Usk, join Highway 20 north to Tiger, following the Pend Oreille River. At Tiger, continue north on WA-31 to Metaline. Just north of Metaline, turn west on Boundary Road and follow the signs to Crawford State Park. Discover Pass required.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Crawford Caves, Gardner State Park, Sullivan Lake, Priest Lakes, and the American Selkirks.
Also, the drive from Metaline to Boundary Dam is an exceptional fall color drive.
Also, the drive from Metaline to Boundary Dam is an exceptional fall color drive.
R & P:
NA
PLAN YOUR TRIP:
PHOTO GALLERY
THE OLD HOMESTEAD AT THE CAMP GROUNDS AND LAUNCH
RATT ISLAND, PEND ORIELLE RIVER DURING LOW “TIDE”.
RATT ISLAND DURING HIGH TIDE
PEWEE FALLS AS YOU ENTER THE BAY THAT IT'S IN
200 FOOT PEWEE FALLS
PEWEE FALLS
PEWEE FALLS DURING LOW TIDE. NOTICE THE HUGE ROCK PILE BENETH THE FALLS.
AT ONE TIME, THERE USED TO BE A NATURAL ARCH TO PADDLE UNDER. BUT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THOT IT WOULD BE OKAY TO ALLOW JET BOAT TOURS. HENCE THE ARCH IS NO LONGER STANDING
ONE OF TWO CAVES TO PADDLE INTO.
THE PEND ORIELLE RIVER WITH HOOKNOSE ABOVE
MICHELLE PAUSES TO ADMIRE ONE OF THE TWO WATERFALLS ALONG THE RIVER.
ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RIVER IS THIS WATERFALLS. IF YOU SET YOUR PADDLE DOWN AND CLOSE YOUR EYES, THE SOUNDS OF THE TWIN FALLS ON EACH SIDE OF THE RIVER, PRODUCE A STEREOPHONIC EFFECT THAT YOU CAN MEDITATE TO.
BOUNDARY DAM’S ELECTRICAL POWERLINES
BOUNDARY DAM FROM THE VISTA HOUSE ACROSS THE RIVER
FIVE TURBINES MAKING POWER FOR SEATTLE
POWERLINE EXIT PORTAL
ONE NIGHT I CAME BACK FROM CANADA AND STAYED THE NIGHT AT BOUNDARY DAM.
AS I WAS HAVING DINNER, I NOTICED THE AURORA BOREALIS WAS BUILDING.
I WENT AROUND TO EACH CAMPSITE AND TOLD THE CAMPERS OF THE AURORAS.
NOT ONE PERSON GOT UP TO SEE THEM.THEIR LOSS.
CAN YOU FIND THE BIG DIPPER IN THIS IMAGE?
