Whitewater River Rafting or Kayaking

With rivers spanning throughout our area, whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities abound. The rivers vary from big water paddling to technical creek runs and offer some of the most beautiful paddlings in the world. Our scenic and snow-capped mountains that call Washington State home make for many different outdoor adventure options for our visitors including dramatic whitewater kayaking and rafting choices that these mountains provide that offer memorable experiences for all ages and abilities.

We suggest that you may consider starting this adventure with the expert guides at Wildwater River Guides will help you learn to kayak or push your current skills to the next level. They offer day-long or multi-day beginner kayak instruction courses and private whitewater kayak instruction near Bellevue. They also offer specialty clinics and guided whitewater kayaking adventures for intermediate and advanced paddlers as well. They have provided an overview of the many whitewater experiences depending on the time of year or type of adventure you are seeking. 
 

Skagit River

If you’re lucky, you’ll see bald eagles overhead on this relatively gentle 9-mile river run, which is punctuated by Class II and III rapids as the river courses through old-growth forest.
Outfitters/guide: Triad River Tours
Season: March–September
Distance from Seattle: 80 miles northeast of Bellevue

Wenatchee River

Waves of Class III and III+ white water combined with long peaceful stretches make this geologically unique river Washington’s most popular river-running destination.
Outfitters/guides: Blue Sky Outfitters, Action Rafting, Osprey Rafting, River Recreation
Season: April–August
Distance from Seattle: 100 miles northeast of Bellevue on U.S. Highway 2

Tieton River

Open only in the early fall, the fastest-moving and fastest-dropping river in Washington features 14 miles of practically nonstop Class III+ white water through rugged basalt cliffs.
Outfitters/guide: Alpine Adventures, Action Rafting
Season: September
Distance from Seattle: 130 miles southeast of Bellevue

Hoh River

Novice paddlers and families with smaller kids will love paddling the glacier-gray Class I and II rapids of the Hoh as it passes through some of the most verdant temperate rain forest this side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Outfitters/guides: Rainforest Paddlers
Season: February–September
Distance from Seattle: 200 miles west of Bellevue on the Olympic Peninsula

White Salmon River

Covering some of the hairiest and most remote white water in the state, a rafting trip down the White Salmon—a federally designated Wild and Scenic River—delivers “gin clear” water, rolling and tumbling over nearly nonstop Class III and IV rapids.
Outfitters/guides: River Drifters
Season: April–October
Distance from Seattle: 220 miles south of Bellevue to the north side of the Columbia River Gorge

Methow River

Pass through the stunning ponderosa-pine-lined Black Canyon over Class III and IV rapids on this gnarly eastern Washington ribbon of water.
Outfitters/guide: Methow River Raft and Kayak
Season: May–July
Distance from Seattle: 210 miles northeast of Bellevue across North Cascades Highway