We often get asked to offer a day trip. If you can make the effort to get out with us, the difference between spending the night with us and coming out for a few hours is quite literally night and day. So we don’t offer any day trips ourselves.
But you can book an incredible trip rafting the White Salmon River With Portland Rafting, and ask for Eric as your guide!
Be sure to check Eric’s availability, or book a trip with one of the other highly qualified river guides!
the White Salmon River is a unique river that runs through the heart of a collapsed lava tube! Undammed from its source (a glacier on the side of Mt. Adams) to its confluence at the Columbia River, it is nestled in the fern, pine, and moss-lined beautiful scenery of the Pacific Northwest. It’s as special as it is unique.
The White Salmon River underwent historic changes with the demolishing of the nearly century-old Condit Dam in October 2011. This was, at the time, incredible progress in the history of the dam removal community, spearheaded by local fishermen, whitewater enthusiasts, scientists, and Native American tribes (often the driving force in dam removal actions). For those interested in this topic, the Movie “Damnation” (free on YouTube through Patagonia) is a critically acclaimed movie that details this wonderfully!
May is the beginning of the season and is a great rafting experience for the more adventurous outdoor enthusiast. This is when the river is a true class IV, as the river is at its highest, packed with monstrous holes!
It will be colder though, often you’ll be paddling in the rain while the river is really pumping! Portland Rafting does provide neoprene wetsuits, booties, splash jackets, and more!
Please note that the snow levels on Mt. Adams and the snow melt is the driving force of the water level far more than the amount of rainfall.
June is still early in the season and the water levels are typically high, though the water level typically drops rapidly through the month while the weather gets a bit warmer. Crowds are still smaller, and the experience is more personalized.
June usually provides many of the best all-around days of the season.
July is the beginning of peak season, when things really start getting hot!
The river starts getting lower as the summer months go on, making the rafting more about dodging rocks than hitting the big, exciting waves. Still, during the hottest days, there’s nowhere better to be than out on the cool, clear water. At least it beats just about anything outside of our longer Nature Based Experiences. We may be running Husum Falls, though it is water level dependent.
During August hussum falls will be open, as it’s too dangrous to run at high water. The water level for the White Salmon River is always low enough to run it this time of year.
August may seem like a great month for rafting. It is certainly the hottest and the White Salmon River is glacially fed and a great way to cool off. But it’s risky. Within the last decade wildfires and the haze from other major wildfires, anywhere from California to Siberia, have become nearly an annual occurrence. This has caused us to cancel trips in the past, and the trends suggest it will continue.
Come out if this is the only time you can make it, but be aware of the risks.
The fall is associated with low water levels, no crowds and spawning salmon.
We have to be quiet, and limit our impact on spawning season. You will be dry, as the waves are small. While it’s not ideal for everyone, it is great for those looking for a mellow float with different wildlife (salmon brings Osprey and such).
The White Salmon River is renowned for its nonstop whitewater action amid the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and surrounding communities.
Portland river runners can drive an hour and 15 minutes to Northwest Park, where we meet and outfit the group with wet suits, PFDs (Aka life jackets), and helmets. The whitewater action begins right at the boat launch, near BZ Corner, where the Class 3+ “top drop” follows shortly after the entry.
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