Methow Rapids was a rapid on the Columbia River near the mouth of the Methow River by Pateros, Douglas County, Washington, at river mile 523. It has been submerged beneath Lake Pateros since Wells Dam was completed in 1967.
The falls
No rapid remains to run today: the reservoir behind Wells Dam, operated by Douglas County PUD, covers the site, so there is no current rapid class, put-in, take-out, flow range or gauge for it.
Getting there
The historical site lies within Lake Pateros, the Wells Dam reservoir. A public display at Pateros City Park preserves a section of rock along with a historic steamboat-hauling U-bolt from the former rapid.
On site
The rapid itself cannot be seen; it lies submerged beneath the reservoir. Only the shoreline display in Pateros marks the site today.
History and name
Steamboats once climbed Methow Rapids using U-bolts and winches installed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and in 1907 the Corps dynamited boulders in the channel to ease their passage. The rapid was named for the nearby Methow River.
Nearby
Reef Rapids is about 11.2 miles away, Crazy Rapids about 13.6 miles, and Eagle Rapids about 18.7 miles.
Distances are straight-line.