Ohanapecosh River: Hawt-Fire Park + Huck

This section along the Ohanapecosh River was made popular when a group of paddlers checked out the section above, which starts at the Stevens Canyon road bridge and ends at Ohanapecosh Campground. The paddlers got boxed into a Class VI rapid and had to climb out with rope just upstream of Hawt Fire.

Hawt Fire is a great addition to a weekend visit to the Ohanapecosh River sections, and it's easy to do a few quick laps on your way out of Mount Rainier National Park. The rapid itself varies in difficulty depending on the water level, but in general it is more forgiving than it appears.

To avoid putting in above the boxed-in Class VI rapid, walk in 100 yards before Stevens Canyon Road turns left off of U.S. Highway 12. It is a short walk (veer to the right of the ephemeral stream) to the drop. And it is easy to scout Hawt Fire before giving it a go. 

After running the drop, portage the next rapid and Silver Falls to the right of the river, cross a footbridge, and hike a short distance on a trail to return back to the vehicle pull-out.