White Salmon River Rafting Half-Day Trip

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

The White Salmon River tumbles and charges its way down a narrow basalt canyon. The rapids are big and bouncy with many large waves and powerful holes. With rapids like Maytag, Corner Cave, Grasshoper, Siwash, Corkscrew, Waterspout, Stairstep, Highway Hole, Rattlesnake and Deadmans’ Corner (and many more), thrillseekers love this trip. This is an eight-mile trip with the first five miles consisting of continuous class III+ and IV rapids.

Additional Info

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Wheelchair accessible

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Minimum age is 8 years

Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Walking over uneven, slippery and rocky surfaces are required.

Due to comfort and weight / balance of the raft, guests must be able to wear the life vests and wet suits provided. Please contact us for further information if this may be an issue.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

White Salmon River

Rafting the White Salmon River is one of the best-kept recreation secrets of the Pacific Northwest! You may have seen photos or video of Husum Falls, the 10-foot commercially-run waterfall, or heard stories of incredible adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting and we could not agree more. The White Salmon River is located only 90 minutes from the Portland/Vancouver area so that you can experience some of the most thrilling and sporty III-IV rapids in the area. The glaciers of Mt. Adams combined with the immense aquifers in the area, keep the White Salmon bubbling all summer long. The river cuts its way through one of the most beautiful, constricted, and heavily forested gorges in the area. The water is gin-clear, the weather is fabulous and rapids are big and numerous; making the White Salmon River one of the most exciting half-day or full-day river rafting trips in the west!

3 hours • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Professional guide

All taxes, fees and handling charges

All Necessary gear including: wetsuits, booties, splash jacket, pfd & helmet

Gratuities

Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Options

White Salmon River AM Half-Day

A very exciting 2.5 hour rafting trip that is minutes from Hood River and just over an hour from Portland, Oregon.

White Salmon River PM Half-Day

A very exciting 2.5 hour rafting trip that is minutes from Hood River and just over an hour from Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

5.00

31 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great crew at River Drifters. Wonderful rafting experience
Marjory M,Jul 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great trip with our family from GA. Guides were excellent as was the trip leader. Everyone had an exciting, fun time.
Awesome family bonding experience!
Carina D,Jun 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We booked our water rafting experience for our family and it was amazing! We have never done anything like this so we were a bit scared but our tour guide Oscar was awesome and we had so much fun! It was my husband and I and our three kids ages 20, 16 and 14. Everyone enjoyed it, it was serene and the views were breathtaking. Would highly recommend.
Efficient fun on the White Salmon
2Alaska09,Sep 4, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great way to have a lot of fun in a short period of time. We picked RiverDrifters and the half-day White Salmon trip because of their proximity to Hood River and the availability of an afternoon rafting trip. Compared to other rafting trips we have taken, RiverDrifters did a much better job of letting us know in advance what to expect. This trip was very efficient. Unlike many rafting trips, this one did not involve a long bus ride to or from the put-in/take-out location. The ride to the put-in was quick, and we walked just a couple minutes from the take-out back to the RiverDrifters location. The wetsuits, splash jackets, and neoprene booties were all dry when we put them on - and they did a great job of keeping us warm. This trip does require a non-trivial walk on rocky terrain to get around BZ Falls, but it definitely was manageable and it wouldn't keep us from doing this trip again with RiverDrifters.
Sweet whitewater run with River Drifters
toddlY9740ET,Jun 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great white water trip with River Drifters! Andre was our guide and did an excellent job, very knowledgeable about the river. The water flow was too high so we didn't get to run Husun Falls, next time! I highly recommend Oscar and his crew!
Family Fun on the River
Brian K,Jul 9, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Michael was a great guide. He made sure that he understood everyone's desired level of adventure and made it fun for all of 6 of us. He also shared some background on the White Salmon River and the Hood River area. We did think he was kidding when he asked about jumping off a bridge. The brave souls that tried it loved it (but quickly got back in the raft!). River Drifters does a great job preparing you for the trip and making it easy to have fun. We'd do another trip with them!
First timers all girls trip!
alcalamonica,Aug 21, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Mary was an awesome guide. She was witty, professional and knowledgeable all in one! Very positive attitude helped too!
Highly recommend for river rafting.
Sara M,Aug 12, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Oscar was a terrific guide! Had a couple of hairy moments but he had prepared us well. A fun day on a beautiful river-glad I went over the waterfall!!
Worth It!
Tammy M,Jul 2, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00
All of it! The guides are friendly, engaging, knowledgeable and appear to enjoy what they do! I took my teenage son with; when he found out we were going white-water rafting, he was not the least bit excited about it. Once we got on the river, his attitude changed, and he even sat on the nose of the raft while going through the granny drop (?). He is looking forward to our next trip!!!
No skill needed - just a desire for fun :)
Lisa K,Jun 8, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Super fun. We are staying in Oregon but the Clackamas was closed due to road repair/post-fires so we opted for this Washington location. So glad we did! Took my teenager and we had a blast. The gear they provided was excellent - kept us warm. The raft guide Michael Fisher was awesome. Overall the perfect way to spend our last day of our trip.
Memorable Experience
drewr169,Aug 24, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Peter was the best guide ever! We got into some sticky situations and his ability to react quickly and command the raft saved us! Would recommend this trip to anyone who wants a good thrill. Also, if you’re going to be on a raft going down rapids in a river that’s full of water it’s a good idea to know how to swim. You are putting yourself and your entire raft in danger otherwise.