Whitewater
There’s something quite special about whitewater in the Gorge. When most rivers have run dry, the White Salmon is still runnable by both rafts and kayaks. It’s a beautiful little river that runs through a shady Gorge, with a class II section, a class III section, a class IV section, and a class V section.
In early spring, the half-day raft trip – I book with Wet Planet – includes the Middle and Lower sections, class III, with a portage around Husum Falls. After the river drops below 2.5 feet or so, they start running the class V Husum Falls. If you want to run it, be prepared for carnage and swimming, along with possible recirculation in the hole at the base of the Falls. That said, it’s a pretty exciting run.
When the river drops below 2 1/4 feet, Wet Planet starts running the Class IV upper section, concluding with Husum Falls and one more class II+ rapid, Rattlesnake, located just before the takeout.
Also available for local rafting (and boating) is the Class V Wind River, run early to late spring, and the Class II+ Klickitat, a great place to learn to kayak.
More information coming soon, of course…
My wife and 13 year old nephew did a trip with Wet Planet on the White Salmon River and really enjoyed it. Supposedly Wet Planet owns land along the river that allows them to start further upriver than the other guys. The highlight of the adventure is a 12 foot waterfall they had to go over. The price was right and they had a real positive experience that they couldn’t stop talking about when I met them later.
Can’t wait to get some of your great beta coming to the White Salmon and Hood Rivers! Maybe even the Klickitat, too… Have an awesome day!
Tim