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Puyallup River: McMillin to Puyallup, Sunday Oct 11
Class I+ moving-water day trip, open to canoes, kayaks and IKs

An easy fall float on the Puyallup from the historic McMillin Bridge down to Puyallup. The river is glacial, braided and gravel-barred, with riffles and channel choices rather than rapids. It’s a good trip for newer members, tandems, or anyone tuning up a new boat. iLeana led it in May and the group called it a perfect place to get back into moving water.

Meet: 10:00 at the Puyallup Fred Meyer, 1100 N Meridian (take-out), to set up the shuttle. Then we drive to the McMillin put-in under the SR 162 bridge (Foothills Trail McMillin trailhead). Expect to be off the water by about 3:30.

Distance: Roughly 6–8 miles.

Flow: We’ll go by the Puyallup at Alderton gauge (USGS 12096500), currently about 470 cfs. That’s low but runnable, so expect some scraping in the riffles. Go/no-go is above 300 cfs, and I’ll confirm Saturday evening.

Weather: The forecast is dry, with a high near 60 and morning lows in the mid-30s. Dress for the water, not the air.

Skill level: Comfortable in moving water, able to read braided channels and avoid wood, and able to self-rescue or do a canoe-over-canoe rescue.

Required: PFD (worn) and painters.
Recommended: Flotation, plus a drysuit or wetsuit. The water is cold glacial melt. Bring a change of clothes in a dry bag.

Hazards: Wood is the main one. Strainers and sweepers collect in the braids, so stay off the outside of bends and follow the lead boat’s line. It’s also salmon season, so give anglers room and watch for line and hooks in the brush near shore.

Après: McMillin Farm Brewhouse is a mile up SR 162 from the put-in (open noon–8) for anyone who wants a post-shuttle beer.