Showers (Class IV rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): To run Showers, put on in Benson/Hollsopple or park at Foustwell and walk up the dirt road. The river funnels into a fast-moving wave train that spits your boat into a V-shaped hole that has a tendency to flip many kayakers. The hole is not sticky. There are two smaller holes just downstream and a heavy rock garden below the main rapid that paddlers can pick their way through.
Surf Lab (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): This rapid is packed with play spots. From the beginning of Test Tube Hole down to an overhead railroad bridge, there are 10 to 15 nice play spots, depending on the water level. This rapid is 1/4-mile below where Shade Creek enters the Stony on river-right.
Lower Railroad (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): Just downstream of a railroad bridge, this rapid begins with a long slide that ends with a nice haystack wave. Immediately after this comes the Locomotive – a ledge that stretches nearly across the width of the river. At mid- to high-levels, the ledge transforms into a mean hole that can reach the size of a large locomotive. The hole can be avoided easily on river-right, and three to five great surfing waves usually form over the next 100 yards.
The Wall (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): This rapid easily can be identified where the river makes a hard drop to the right and a shear slope is on your left.
Three Sisters (Class III rapids at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): Soon after The Wall you will enter a succession of rapids named the Three Sisters that provide wonderful surfing at medium to high levels. The Third Sister is a near-river-wide hydraulic than can be enjoyed at low levels also. There have been up to nine boats in that hole at the same time on numerous occasions.
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Rooster Tail (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): This rapid is run left of a river island through a mid-sized shoot. Try to stay along the left side of the island to avoid the odd-shaped “rooster tail” hole.
Scout (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): The river eventually will bottleneck into a hole named Scout on river-right. This hole is a play-boater’s dream at low to medium levels.
Hydro (Class III-IV rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): Just after Scout there’s a large boulder in the middle of the river. Hydro is run by pointing the boat at “1:00” in front of this boulder. Depending on levels, there can be a standing wave in the middle of the drop and a nice-size hole at the bottom that can be a little sticky, followed by a large pool after the rapid. These two features can provide some of the best play-boating on the river between 4.75 and 6 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge.
Beast (Class IV rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): Affectionately named, this rapid features one of the steepest drops on the river. Not known for play-boating, Beast can flip paddlers at the top of the rapid and make them thankful they can roll back up – as a swim always ends with bumps and bruises. After Hydro, stay right of the river island. After bending back to the left, there are two choices at the top of the rapid: left through a slot and over a pour-over, or right through a series of chicane-configured rock gardens. At the bottom of the rapid is a medium-sized moving pool.
Backward (Class II rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): Stony Canyon veterans traditionally run this rapid with their bows pointing upstream and hold that position until they float through the rapid and into the Border Dam pool.
Pipeline (Class IV rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): This rapid should be scouted by first-timers and portaged if the line is not apparent. The unnatural pipeline across the river forms a potentially dangerous hydraulic and should be avoided. There is always a tongue on river left that can be successfully and safely run. Start left over the drop then make your way to the middle to avoid a nasty rock garden.
Hermit (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): A series of mild rock gardens that is run most easily on river-right.
Dislocation (Class III rapid at 3.25 to 5.5 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge): Dislocation Rock is tucked against the right side of the river and has a noticeable undercut feature. A nasty hole is just above the rock and should be avoided between 1.75 and 5.5 feet on the Ferndale Gauge. There are a series of glassy surfing waves with good eddy access just behind the rock when levels are between 4.5 and 6 feet on the USGS Ferndale Gauge.
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