The Nooksack River rises high on the slopes of Mt. Shuksan and the surrounding North Cascades and continues to make its decent down to Puget Sound through a steep, twisting gorge choked with huge boulders. It was named after Native Americans who lived in the area and were known as “mountain men.” One of the unique features of this run is that it is still great late in the season due to the glacial melt from the slopes of Mt. Baker. On this North Fork Nooksack rafting trip, rafters will experience tight, technical rapids through a narrow canyon that eventually settles into a leisurely float with mellow Class IIs at the end.

A Nooksack River rafting trip provides beautiful views of the magnificent Mt. Baker and other mountains in the distance on a clear day. Rafters might see eagles, deer and otter as well as five different species of native salmon. This is a very important river for salmon, and the Forest Service closes it to recreational use in mid-August to protect spawning Chinook salmon.