Whitewater Rafting in the Columbia Gorge:

Here in the Gorge you can choose between four of the best mild to wild rivers for white water rafting in Washington State and Oregon State.  The White Salmon River, Deschutes River, Klickitat River, and Wenatchee River offer some of the best whitewater in the Columbia Gorge area. Take advantage of the crystal clear water and stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest on these whitewater rafting trips for all skill levels of rafters in the Columbia River Gorge.

For those looking to develop the skills necessary to run rivers on their own, or experienced paddlers looking to improve their technique, several water schools offer kayak and whitewater rafting instruction for beginning to advanced students. If you are looking to get on the water, there is a rafting trip that suits every desire here in the Columbia River Gorge.

Best time to plan a trip:

May through September there are several whitewater companies that can guide you on your desired adventure. Certain tours are restricted by water levels and time of year.

Other helpful links:

Wet Planet Whitewater

Rafting the White Salmon River

Rafting the Deschutes River

Rafting the Wenatchee River

Rafting the Klickitat River

Kayaking in the Gorge:

The Columbia River Gorge area offers both whitewater and flat water conditions perfect for kayakers. Most beginners should use a guide and have some pool practice before attempting whitewater in an enclosed kayak. There are kayak schools that offer full whitewater programs, with pool and river lessons, as well as river rescue clinics and flat water kayaking tours in the Columbia River Gorge. They also have whitewater, flat water, and sit on top kayak rentals.

Kayaks are classified by their intended use. There are six primary classifications: polo, slalom, whitewater, surf, touring/expedition, light touring/day tripping and general recreation. From these primary classifications stem many sub-classes. For example, a fishing kayak is simply a general recreation kayak outfitted with features and accessories that make it an easier kayak from which to fish. A creek kayak is a certain type of whitewater kayak, designed to handle narrow gully-type rivers and falls. Also within these classifications are many levels of performance which further separate the individual models. In other words, not all touring kayaks handle the same!

There is no doubt that kayaking in the Columbia River Gorge area will evoke a deep respect for the local rivers. Kayaking truly takes river exploration and adventure to the next level.

Other helpful links:

Columbia Gorge Kayak School

Columbia River Kayaking

Mountain Biking in the Gorge:

Mountain biking in the Gorge is as popular as hiking the amazing landscape. During the spring and summer months the local towns are bursting with activity. In the summer it isn’t out of the ordinary for some biking enthusiasts to leave work early to get a bike ride in before dusk. Many of the best trails are unlisted and on private property, but locals can usually point you in the direction of a trail suiting your skill level and desired intensity. There is a fair amount of riding on the Washington state side and the Oregon state side of the river. The local bike shops have maps showing all the rides on both sides of the river except for the private ones. One of the better rides on the Washington side that is relatively close is the Syncline Trail but other than early spring this trial has abundant poison oak.

There are single-track bike trails in the forests as well as long rides on the Historic Columbia River Highway. This ride in particular exposes you to all the scenery along the Columbia River and highlights the Mosier Twin Tunnels, Rowena Crest Viewpoint, Cascade Locks’ Bridge of the Gods, and a series of beautiful waterfalls including Multnomah Falls. Regardless of your age or skill level, there are numerous trails to choose from. The Columbia River Gorge really is an outdoor playground.

Old roads, cross-country ski trails, and hilly, scenic terrain also makes the Columbia Gorge region attractive to some riders who love to “do it in the dirt.”

Other helpful links:

Map of Bike Trails in the Gorge

Biking the Historic Columbia River Highway

Local Bike Rides

Winter Sports in the Columbia Gorge:

There are plenty of opportunities for winter sport activities when you live in the Columbia River Gorge. Mount Hood is about 40 minutes away and makes for a winter playground for all ages. With annual precipitation amounts that are among the top in the United States, Mt. Hood Meadows offers tremendous ski and snowboard opportunities for all skill levels. It features 85 runs, and averages more than 450’ of snowfall per year. Residents can easily fit in a full day of skiing on the mountain, yet still get back in time to enjoy a clear-skies sunset from their home on the Columbia River Gorge.

Just a few minutes past Hood Meadows is Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark and frequent hangout for the U.S. Ski Team. Timberline Lodge was infamously portrayed as the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining, and features great skiing along Mt. Hood’s south face.

The opportunities to ski Oregon aren’t limited only to the daytime: within close proximity to The Dalles is Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, the largest night ski area in the country. Why wait for the weekend? Spending an evening on the slopes makes for a great way to break up the week. The possibilities for playing in the snow don’t end with the ski resorts; numerous snow-parks along highway 35 give quick access to a vast network of cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails.

Other helpful links:

Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort

Timberline Lodge

Mount Hood Ski Bowl

Ski Central

Hiking in the Gorge:

The dramatic drop from the Mt. Hood forest plateau to the Columbia River accounts for one of the highest concentration of waterfalls found anywhere, which makes for beautiful hikes through temperate lush forests to spectacular cascading rivers. The Gorge’s gorgeous trails range from the misty and mossy to the exposed and rocky. If you want to experience it all, the Columbia Gorge Trail stretches for more than 35 miles through the length of the Gorge. Whether you are looking for day hikes, long backpacking trips, or just a stroll through the beautiful landscape, the Columbia River Gorge region has a variety of hikes for all skill levels.

You can hike the Washington side of the Gorge on Sleeping Beauty Trail, 12 miles north of Trout Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Dog Mountain Trail, off of State Route 14 or visit Falls Creek Falls, off of Wind River Highway and Forest Road 306. This waterfall drops over 400 feet and you’ll see tier, fan and plunge falls all in one. If you are looking for waterfalls, Eagle Creek Trail offers more of them than any other trail in the Gorge. There really is a plethora of hiking trails, both well known and locally known, that characterize the Columbia River Gorge.

If you are interested in hiking around the Gorge you should check out Columbia River Gorge’s most beloved hiking and exploring guidebook (Curious Gorge). It’s a fun book that reads as if the author’s in the car with you explaining and directing you to all the amazing things to see and do. Curious Gorge is not your standard lifeless hiking guide. This book is lively and fun to read as it blends seasonal insights, humor, history, and just plain enthusiasm for all the Columbia River Gorge’s wonders.

Other helpful links:

Interactive Hiking Guides

Great Hikes for Kids

Gorge Hiking Trails

What is it?

Kiteboarding, or kitesurfing is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). Generally kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as freestyle or wake-style, whereas kitesurfing is more “wave-riding” oriented. These two styles usually require different boards and specific performance kites.

A kitesurfer or kiteboarder uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across the water. Kiteboarders change kite size and/or line length from the harness to the kite depending on wind strength — stronger winds call for a smaller kite to prevent overpower situations. It is important to avoid using too large a kite, particularly when the surfer is new to the sport. Training kites range anywhere from 1 to 3 meters, whereas bigger kites usually range from 5 to 14 meters. In the Columbia Gorge, usually a 5 or 7 meter kite is best for strong winds and a 11 to 13 meter kite for slower winds. The size of kite needed also depends on the weight of the rider and how intense the desired ride. 

The sport is becoming safer due to innovations in kite design, safety release systems, and instruction. Riding styles have evolved to suit riders and conditions, such as wakestyle, waveriding, freestyle, jumping, and cruising. [more]

When it happens?

Early season starts in April or early May and lasts through September, although you may see some kite enthusiasts on the river in October/November with thick wetsuits. West wind is most common with many windy days. Late season starts in September and goes through November with West and East wind days and more no wind days. A sailable day is defined by them as a day that contained a 3 hour time period where the one minute wind speed average was 10MPH or so. Wind can be blowing as early as 10am, so head to beach early to avoid the crowds. Winds usually shut down or at least start tapering 2-3 hours before sunset. The best wind and open water can usually be found far upwind of the Hood River sand bar.

Other helpful links:

Columbia Gorge Kiteboarding Association

Womens Kiteboarding

Kiteboarding information & Live Cameras of the Gorge

Event site in Hood river shown below:

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What is it?

Windsurfing is a surface water sport using a windsurf board usually two to four meters long and powered by the effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a mast, wishbone boom and sail. The sail area ranges from less than 3.0m² to more than 12m² depending on the conditions, the skill of the sailor, and the type of windsurfing being undertaken.

Once referred to as “surfing’s ginger haired cousin,” windsurfing has long struggled to present a coherent image of the sport to outsiders. Until the 1990s, participants would regularly use different names to describe the sport, including sailboarding and board sailing. Windsurfing can be said to straddle both the laid-back culture of surf sports and the more rules-based environment of sailing. Although it might be considered a minimalistic version of a sailboat, windsurfers can perform jumps, inverted loops, spinning maneuvers, and other “freestyle” moves that cannot be matched by any sailboat. When compared to surfing, Windsurfers were the first to ride the world’s largest waves, such as Jaws on the island of Maui. [more]

When it happens?

Early season starts in April or early May and lasts through August. West wind is most common with many windy days. Late season starts in September and goes through November with West and East wind days and more no wind days. Windsight has provided some data on sailable days for the year 1994. A sailable day is defined by them as a day that contained a 3 hour time period where the one minute wind speed average was 15 MPH or greater. This calculation does not include wind gusts. For a day to be considered sailable there only had to be one place on the river that met the above specifications. This means that there could have been sailing from Rooster Rock in the West to Arlington in the East or anywhere in between. East wind days were included which helped the numbers for March and November. [more]

Other helpful links:

Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association

Top 20 Sailing Spots in the Gorge

Windsurfing information & Live cameras in the Gorge

Top photo courtesy of Mike Godsey and Windnotes Design