Difficulty: Class III to V, 8 miles

Season: October to July

Trip Lengths: Half-day

Skyomish is the nearest whitewater to Seattle—but don't let the proximity to urban lush-life fool you. The Sky rocks. This river has three forks: the North, the South, and Main. The main Sky is the heavy, with the long Class V passage known as Boulder Drop that's perhaps the toughest commercially run whitewater in Washington. The craggy peaks of Mount Index and Mount Persis tower over the river valley. If you're in the market for a run that's a little milder and more secluded, the North Fork has some prime Class III to IV along a narrow riverbed that is accessible only by an unpaved county road.