The Klickitat River - Class III+
19 miles, 45 fpm, spring and early summer
The Klickitat River starts on the Glaciers of Mount Adams and flows through the Yakima Reservation and beatiful, forested canyons on it's way to the Columbia River. Boating the Klickitat River is not allowed through the reservation so the best put-in is at an abandoned gauging station on road K140.
The whitewater is continuous Class III and the scenery consists of vertical walls of columnar basalt and huge Ponderosa Pines. You'll really have a sense of being in a remote wilderness area while floating the Klickitat. The named rapids on the run are rapids are Spearchucker, Rattler, Diamond Back, and Hatchery Drop and the river is nearly one continuous rapid. At flows above 3,000 cfs the river is big water Class IV.
This trip is best done in it's entirety, but there is a possible take out point at the Klickitat Salmon Hatchery about half way down. Most groups take out at the Leidl Bridge or continue down for another 12 miles of pleasant Class II and great scenery.
Email
This Page