Okay… it’s not like the picnic area at Asahel Curtis/Denny Creek was lost, hidden, or new. I had seen the signs for the associated exit hundreds of times. It’s just that, well, I had wondered what it could really hold, being wedged between separated East-bound and West-bound portions of an interstate?
To be fair, when those sections diverge, between the exit for NF-55 and Snoqualmie Pass, they do get almost half a mile apart. There is also that Snoqualmie River (South fork) that nestles between them, by virtue of these throughways being built up the slopes, on opposite sides of a valley.
Okay, I should have known better than to ignore the exit.
Sorry.
Might not happen again.
Maybe.
The roads into this area quickly set the tone, though.
If you listen, you can get the sounds of passing semis, in the background, but the river actually tends to cover the majority of this, with its rushing hum.
Not too many twists and turns later, you find that the picnic area (much like the separate road leading to the Denny Creek part), opens up to a beautiful section of the river.
Even this late in the spring, there were some patches of snow to be found, and parts of the road up to Denny Creek were still not cleared of fallen trees, but in terms of an area to stop, rest, eat, and (on future days, when my gear is in the car) fly fish, this has huge amounts of promise.
Excellent water clarity, as you can see. I’m concerned that the water level may drop, in the summer, to a level that could prevent fish from retaining habitual feeding patterns, as all the other rivers were running fairly high on this day, while this looked largely wadable, still.
Ample parking, picnic benches, and bear…resistant?…garbage cans all point to a fairly well maintained access path. In fact, this may well become my designated “stop for lunch” now that Fly Fishing season is open (Getting ready to head out, NOW!).
This fairly quick tour did also highlight for me the numerous instances of moderate river-bottom trough sections, overhanging trees, log jams, and other concealment for smarter fish, though. Many nicely “fishy” areas to try.
Great little area, with trails leading to some kind of waterfalls (per their naming), a campground at Denny Creek, and some excellent spots to pull off and fish (avoiding the areas with “Private Property” signs, along the road towards the Denny Creek portion) all make this a nice rest spot on the long drive to/from Seattle.
Looking forward to today’s activities, with the opening of Fly Fishing season!
More to come, I’m sure.
Tight lines…