Yakima
Indian Reservation boundary to Leidl Bridge
Location
Yakima
and Klickitat counties near Glenwood, south-central Washington
Driving Time
Seattle—-5
hours; Portland—2 hours
Difficulty
Class
III-IV; rafting experience recommended
Trip Length
15
miles (24 km)
Trip Options
Paddle
raft, paddle/oar raft; one and two days
Season
April-June
The Klickitat River, like
the White Salmon River 30 miles (48 km) to its west, flows southward
into the Columbia River Gorge. It beautiful scenery, within dramatic
basalt canyons typical of the Columbia Plateau, is a significant
part of the wilderness river experience. Because of the difficult
access to the Klickitat, however, its excellent whitewater and
breathtaking beauty can only be viewed from the river. Scrub oak and
pine trees cling precariously from the spectacular 200-foot columnar
basalt cliffs of the lower gorge. Scenic Wonder Falls, a natural
fresh water spring erupting from the basalt wall and cascading about
40 feet to the river, is a very unique attraction of the Klickitat. Although
most of the Klickitat's more technical rapids—Rattler,
Diamondback, Hatchery Drop, and Borde—are in the first half of the
trip, fairly continuous Class II-II+ whitewater fills the remainder
of the ride. Some
outfitters offer the Klickitat as a two-day overnight trip or a
Klickitat-White Salmon combination two-day trip.
The Klickitat River, like
the White Salmon River 30 miles (48 km) to its west, flows southward
into the Columbia River Gorge. It beautiful scenery, within dramatic
basalt canyons typical of the Columbia Plateau, is a significant
part of the wilderness river experience. Because of the difficult
access to the Klickitat, however, its excellent whitewater and
breathtaking beauty can only be viewed from the river. Scrub oak and
pine trees cling precariously from the spectacular 200-foot columnar
basalt cliffs of the lower gorge. Scenic Wonder Falls, a natural
fresh water spring erupting from the basalt wall and cascading about
40 feet to the river, is a very unique attraction of the Klickitat.