Green River: Franklin to Auburn

FLOW

• NOAA Gauge: GREEN--BELOW HOWARD HANSON DAM (HAHW1)
• NOAA Gauge: GREEN RIVER--NEAR PALMER (GPUW1)
• NOAA Gauge: GREEN--NEAR AUBURN (AUBW1)
• This section is runnable between 1,000 to 2,000 cfs at the Auburn Gauge. It quite enjoyable and good practice down to 650cfs on this gauge.
• The Howard Hanson Dam gauge provides a good forecast for dam release, and the Palmer gauge provides a good check on current flow.

PUT-INs & TAKE-OUTs

• Franklin Road Bridge: Also know as the Green River Gorge Bridge at SE Green River Gorge Rd by Franklin Ghost Town. There is a large dirt lot with large potholes. There is a fee to park here. The entrance is on the west side of the road just north of the bridge. It is a short 2-3 minute hike down to the river. Be sure to paddle up the eddy on river left to see Franklin Falls up close.
• Flaming Geyser State Park. Discover Pass required.
• Whitney Bridge: Whitney Bridge Park is located just north west of the 212th Way SE bridge. Facilities include parking for about 10 cars, easy river access, and a port-a-potty.

On the Water

LOWER GREEN RIVER GORGE

Put in at the Franklin Bridge and take out at Flaming Geyser State Park. The river mellows considerably below this point.  This is a 7.5-mile trip that offers several Class II and III rapids. The canyon walls in the gorge are hundreds of feet high and impressive. The Franklin Bridge is the typical take-out for the Upper Green River Gorge, a Class IV stretch of river. 

Yo-Yo Stretch

The traditional and classic run from the Flaming Geyser State Park to the bridge at 212th Ave SE is the 3-mile "Yo-Yo Stretch,"  so named or the short car shuttle and ease of doing "yo-yo" runs. It is a good beginner training run. At low flows (650-1,000 cfs at Auburn) the river is gentle and provides many opportunities to practice boat handling among small eddies and waves. At higher flows the rapids take on more power and approach mid Class II difficulty. It also has long stretches of flat water in between the three drops at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 miles from the Flaming Geyser State Park put-in.

Notes

• This is a dam fed section of river that has reliable flow throughout the year and is a good choice when wild rivers are running too low.
• Learn more on American Whitewater's Green River: 2 - Green River Gorge and Green River: 3 - Flaming Geyser State Park to 212 Way SE Bridge (Yo-Yo) web pages.

• Suitable Activities: Packrafting
• Seasons: Year-round
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Class II River
• Length: 5.0 mi

• Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
• Parking Permit Required: see "Put-Ins" & "Take-Outs" sections (above)
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 14
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 14