Skip to content
RiverBrain

Snake River

Alpine Canyon (West Table to Sheep Gulch)

Wyoming – US

Class
III- to III+
Length
8 Mile(s)
Gradient
20 FPM
Put-in elevation
5,746 Feet
Take-out elevation
5,642 Feet
Typical season
April to September
Author
Dan Bunker

Current Flow

8,030 CFS

Gauge height: 6.27 FT

Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:30 PM

-2.50/hr (12h) -1.25/hr (24h)

Running

Hit some laps

Primary gauge
SNAKE RIVER AB RESERVOIR NR ALPINE WY Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗

Recommended levels

Minimum1,000
Average9,000
Maximum18,000

Recommended use

  • Kayaking
  • Rafting
  • Canoeing
  • SUP
  • Packrafting
  • Fishing

Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.

Flow history — last 6 days

Photos

No photos added for this run yet.

Open in full map →

Description

This stretch of the Snake River through Alpine Canyon is one of the most popular raft runs in western Wyoming — commercial trips run the canyon all season, so solitude isn't the draw. What is: eight miles of read-and-run, wave-train whitewater rated Class III to III+, dropping about 20 feet per mile from West Table to Sheep Gulch. The season typically runs April through September, and it's friendly to kayaks, rafts, and, at the right levels, canoes.

The canyon is best known for its surf. Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna are the headline waves — Lunch Counter especially shines at higher flows and holds a surf across a wide range of levels — while Taco Hole is a dedicated kayak-surfing feature whose stickiness tracks the flow. Both have their own park-and-play access (the Lunch Counter/Kahuna lot and the Taco Hole lot), so paddlers often lap the waves rather than run the whole stretch. California Curler, Rope, Champagne, Cottonwood (Holy City), and 3 Oar Deal fill in a continuous, forgiving run. Flows range from about 1,000 CFS up to 18,000, with a sweet spot near 9,000.

Rapids

# Rapid Class Recommended flow Description Scout
1 Big Kahuna III- to III+ 4,000–20,000 This rapid gets better at lower flows. Very good surfing can be had on the main wave. You can stop river left and scout this rapid but this is a read and run rapid.
2 Lunch Counter III- to III+ 2,000–22,000 At high water this is probably the best rafting rapid on the river. Surfing can be had at any levels for the kayakers. After the first 2 waves expect some lateral waves that bounce off the walls. Many IK floaters have gone over in those lateral waves. Read and run. You can scout this on river left if you stop above Big Kahuna.
3 California Curler III 4,000–15,000

At higher water this feature washes out a little.  But at medium to lower flows this lateral wave off of the left bank creates a nice wave that looks much like an ocean wave curling at the top.  Surf it or hit it head on with the raft for good times.

Read and run

4 Rope Rapid II+ to III 4,000–15,000

This is a fun series of waves.  Line up right down the middle of them for the best wave train ride.

Read and run

5 Champaign Rapid II+ to III 4,000–15,000

Hit this at the top left dropping into the main wave as you move right.  Below this rapid are some strong eddies.  The river is deep here and the oxygen in the water bubbles up like champaign.

Read and run

6 Cottonwood Rapid (Holy City) III to III+ 4,000–15,000

The river bed widens here and at low water the river depth can be quite shallow.  There are lots of rocks in this rapid and the rapid runs for about a quarter of a mile.  This is an area you don't want to swim since getting banged or caught up on a rock is a good possibility.

You will know when you reach this rapid because at the top, just left of center is shipwreck rock.  This is a huge rock you don't want to get caught up on.  You can run left or right of the rock.  At high water this rock can be covered and create some nasty holes around it.

Speckled throughout cottonwood rapid or holes.  Nothing big enough to eat you but they have stopped many kayakers and IK'ers to make them realize the power of the water.

Read and run of follow one of the hundreds of commercial boats down

7 Taco Hole III to III+ 4,000–15,000

This feature is mainly used for kayak surfing.  How sticky this hole is depends on the CFS.  Mid levels are usually the best.  Around 6000 to 8000 CFS.  

Check this hole out before getting into it and make sure your skills are up to par.

From river right or pass the feature on river left and pull into the eddy below it and check it out.

8 3 Oar Deal III+ 4,000–15,000

This is a benign looking hole that is easy to run into as you come around the corner on the river and just follow the wave train on river left.  Many deaths and accidents have occurred in this hole and it is recommended to simply not hit this feature at any water level.  All commercial guides are not allowed to hit 3 oar deal.  

Stick close to the right bank as you round the corner and you will miss it no problem.

Access

Type Name Elevation Camping Water Boat ramp Vehicle access Description
Put-In West Table 5,746 Feet No No Yes All Vehicles

Head east out of Alpine WY on highway 89. You will see a signed turnoff for West Table boat ramp.

Take-Out Sheep Gulch 5,642 Feet No No Yes All Vehicles

Just a few miles east of Alpine WY on highway 89 you will see the signed turn off for Sheep Gulch.

Park-n-Play Taco Hole Lot 5,812 Feet No No No All Vehicles

A couple miles west of the West Table Put-In is a parking lot.  There is a small access trail that heads down to the river.

Park-n-Play Lunch Counter and Kahuna Lot 5,732 Feet No No No All Vehicles

A couple of miles east of the Sheep Gulch take-out is a parking lot for lunch counter and big kahuna access.  A trail heads to both features.  This is also a good place to take pictures of people hitting these rapids.

Camps

No river camps added yet.

Permit

Application deadlineJanuary 1

Full permit page →

Fishing

No fish species have been associated with this run yet.

Community Run Notes

Total community notes: 1

5-18-11 Snake River Canyon Mudslide

CHEYENNE, WYOMING - The Wyoming Department of Transportation says it can't do anything to stop a large, slow mudslide that has closed a highway between Alpine and Jackson in northwest Wyoming. WYDOT engineers say the mudslide is still moving down and across the U.S. 26-89 in the Snake River Canyon and spilling into the river. The mudslide began May 14-15, about 25 miles south of Jackson. It has covered about 100 yards of the highway. Engineers said Wednesday the slide is moving at a rate of about one foot per minute and there's no way to stop it until it stabilizes naturally. Weather will be the main factor in when the slide stops. Motorists traveling between Jackson and Alpine must detour through Idaho and back into Wyoming over Teton Pass.

SOURCE - http://www.kulr8.com/news/wyoming/Must-wait-for-mudslide-to-stop-on-its-own-122243959.htm

dlbunker · May 20, 2011

Sign in to add a community note.