Floating the Skagit River from Marblemount to Rockport
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English: This page shows a trip by drift boat down a protected portion of the Skagit River in Washington State, U.S. on January 7, 2025. Further identification of mountain peaks and ridges would be especially welcome. The trip is pitched as "eagle-watching," and we did, indeed see 50 or so Bald eagles (about a quarter of which can be seen in images here), but it is at least as interesting just for the river itself and the views.
Cascade River Road Bridge across the Skagit.
Boat Launch at Marblemount
Looking back to the bridge.
Approaching junction with the Cascade River.
Mouth of the Cascade River.
Mouth bar.
Eddies.
View east, up the Cascade River Valley.
Bald eagle, appears to be a young adult.
Inspire Church on right bank of the Skagit at Marblemount.
Eagle landing on a tree near O'Brien-Riggs State Park.
This house is unusual for being a major structure on the left bank.
Cabins on the left bank about half a mile below O'Brien-Riggs State Park.
Marblemount Conservation Area on the right bank.
Power lines to Seattle from the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, near Corkindale.
Eagle's nest atop the upriver power pylon on the right bank.
Creek or stream enters from the right bank, possibly Rocky Creek.
Another Bald eagle.
Collapsed cabin on left bank.
I can't rule out that this might actually be Rocky Creek, and I was not as far downriver as I thought.
Cabin on left bank.
Eagle's nest on the left bank.
The shore near the center of this is what you see up close three frames later.
About a third of the way to Rockport from where the power lines cross the river…
…is a "man-made logjam" on the right bank: riprap and timber. …
This shores up the bank, where Washington State Route 20 runs almost immediately along the river. …
This is a narrow stretch of the river, and it's a left bend…
…from NNW to SSW…
…so flows can be strong, raising erosion potential on the right bank.
Young eagle on a gravel bar.
First view of Riverside Park (a.k.a. "Rest Area at Sutter Creek").
I believe this is Illabot Creek entering from the left bank.
Juvenile bald eagle
Rodale Insitute PNW Organic Center at Cascadian Farm.
Riverside Park / Washington State Route 20 Rest Area at Sutter Creek and St Martin-St Francis Episcopal Church.
Looking downriver…
…then back at the park.
At this point, we are in a relatively straight part of the river, running roughly WSW
In a small Class I rapids between gravel bars, near the left bank.
After that rapids, a panorama of the right bank, about two somewhat circuitous miles above Rockport.
Here we start into a pair of bends that bring us the rest of the way to Rockport.- One last look ENE up the mile-long, relatively straight river valley.
"Eagle Alley" above Rockport
First view of Rockport.
First view of Washington State Route 530 Skagit River Bridge.
Man fishing from a small boat
Howard Miller Steelhead Park
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