• Families in our area have enjoyed Big Cedar Creek for years. It is a very family friendly creek with some fun mini rapids. When the water is up you can even experience some white water. You have to steer your kayak or canoe through some tight areas and paddle some long flat water. It has a mix of everything. It has a lot of nature watching.

        

    Big Cedar Creek is a large creek about 30 to 40 feet in width. Generally the depth is not over seven feet at normal pool. It is rain and spring fed and may change levels throughout the year. It is important to know how to read the flow gauge. The gauge measures the water flow in CFS (Cubic Feet per Second).  Reed the Most recent instantaneous value on the following page. http://bigcedarcreek.com/canoe-kayak-rentals/current-water-levels/

    • 25 - 50 CFS is low. You will need to get out and walk your boat through some areas. Still a lot of fun, but you will not float the entire stretch without getting hung up a few times. Fishing is excellent during this flow. We do not rent canoes or tandem kayaks when the water is at this level.
    • 50 – 100 CFS is very family friendly. Most experienced kayakers can navigate the river with a minimal of hang-ups. Canoes/tandems will hang on some rocks and you may have to get out at times. Still fun to take a canoe, but kayaks are much better at navigating the creek at these levels. Spillways have some very small white caps.
    • 100 – 150 CFS is a good brisk ride. Most people will not hang up on the rocks, but you may be turned over in the spillways if you are not experienced. The water is still pretty shallow and pretty easy to recover if you do fall out. But, expect to get wet. This is the most fun for beginners and intermediate paddlers.
    • 150 – 200 CFS is a fast ride. Spillways and drops are showing white caps. Intermediate paddlers may get wet on this. It is fast enough that the canoes are hard to keep upright on some spillways. The kayaks are much easier to maneuver and avoid rocks in the white water. Experienced paddlers can have a fun fast run and usually are thrilled with the ride and the river. It is still safe for beginners, but you will definitely get wet and need to have a get-it-done personality.
    • 200 – 250 CFS is best for paddlers with some experience. We recommend that you have some knowledge of canoe and kayak paddling prior to taking the trip. White caps are on most of the drops and spillways. You may be fall out and find yourself in water that you must float on your PFD until you get to calmer water. Most folks that are not experienced may get wet.
    • 250-300 CFS is mainly for folks that know what they are doing. Intermediate and experienced persons should always use caution. Spillways may have measurable white water. Eddies begin to form and you may find yourself getting wet if you try to take a recreational boat. Whitewater and play boats are best at this level. Although more experienced paddlers may be able to navigate this alright.
    • 300 – 500 CFS is only for well experienced paddlers. WE DO NOT RENT EQUIPMENT WHEN THE WATER IS OVER 300 CFMs. But, we will shuttle your boat.
    • 500 + CFS is for those extreme kayakers you see on the videos. White caps tend to go away as you get above the rocks. Some holes and whirlpools form. We do not shuttle people that want to ride this. It can be very unpredictable since the water is beginning to flood.