Mile 39.0 - Miles 39-35: LBD Santa Fe Chute

John Ruskey

20 Apr 2026

39 - 35 LBD Santa Fe Chute

The Santa Fe Chute is another name for the Back Channel of Burnham Island, and opens up top end around 12 CGG with slow flow, but increases steadily with each foot of rise. By 25 CGG the half mile wide opening will be bank to bank water with good flow, maybe 3mph, but be forewarned: WARNNG: turbulent 4-foot drop through devilish rocky teeth of cross channel dike around 25CGG. Best passage 30CGG or higher. There are no cross channel dikes occluding Sanat Fe Chute, but you might notice a series of alternating stub dikes along each shore.

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