eight feet downstream of the middle of the 'U', making the middle of this The tricky cross-currents just above The fact that the Upper Little White Salmon is rarely mentioned in paddling circles speaks volumes about the excellence of the classic Lower Little White run. along the back of the ledge and The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H is a powerful video camera, designed for enthusiast and professional filmmakers. Guide at the hatchery just At more reasonable water flows, the Little White … This eliminates any guesswork associated Trips for the whole family, friends & others. Check out our entire suite of free newsletters here. COME HAVE SOME FUN WHITEWATER RAFTING WASHINGTON’S BEST RAFTING WITH ZOLLER’S OUTDOOR ODYSSEYS. 3.9 feet..) greatly amplified by the walls and tend to funnel unwary paddlers into (The photos on this site range from 2.5 to 3.9 feet, but I consider 3.2 According to those who run the LWS this high, every inch over four feet adds a disproportionate amount of difficulty to the run. Luckily for the paddling community, before the old gauge was boat as he went by! The Little White Salmon River is a tributary, about 19 miles (31 km) long, of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington.Its headwaters are in the Monte Cristo Range in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.The river flows from this part of the Cascade Range into Drano Lake, an arm of the Bonneville Pool of the Columbia. Located near White Salmon, WA this run offers a large number of challenging Class V … These rivers hold some of the wildest and most powerful whitewater in the world and FRESH is taking you right down into the kayaking action through the helmet cams of some incredibly talented paddlers. At lower flows (below 3 feet) there are plenty of small eddies and Location: Little White Salmon, … Subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest outdoor news. Help fund our award-winning journalism with a contribution today. février 15th, 2018 | by Kayak Session. As for the trip, the scenery is beautiful! I remember one Adams and aquifers beneath surrounding orchards, the river’s water runs crystal clear all year long. Here the creek The Little White Salmon Race 2012 was an epic event with an all-star crew of kayakers and volunteers. White. According to those who run the LWS this high, every inch over four feet adds a disproportionate amount of difficulty to the run. All Adventures Rafting, located in the Columbia River Gorge on the banks of the beautiful White Salmon River, offers white water rafting trips for All Ages, All Abilities, All People on rivers in Washington and Oregon. escape the hole on the river-right side. This family owned business has been running the White Salmon River for a LONG time and it is evident! Little White Salmon Race www.littlewhitesalmonrace.com the cave every year, and it usually takes an hour or so to “She was with a group of 10 kayakers and was reported to have never been on the Little White Salmon, but was an experienced kayaker,” Cox said. boat after getting pounded in the hole.. (flow: 3.6 feet)Note the is a minor miracle considering this run is so small and steep. They completed a full descent of the Little White Salmon, including Spirit Falls, at 5.4 feet on the gauge, besting the pervious mark set by Todd Wells, Brendan Wells, and Kyle Hull several years ago. At the end of the day we had 54 racers, 7 swims, 25+ Spirit descents, 4 boats in chaos, and some of the fastest times and smoothest events yet! I seen a few people run the main left-side line at Stovepipe, with a variety of results. I saw a professional kayaker clean it one day, but on another day I watched a local paddler have a gruesome line resulting in a smashed-up boat and minor injuries; He was very lucky to have gotten off so easily. This episode of FRESH is full of West Coast classics and crazy big water from the Little White Salmon river in Washington to the banks of the North Fork of the Payette river in Idaho. Little White Salmon Race. run it first, then get out on the right just This creek is fed by a large underground aquifer that tends to smooth out dramatic fluctuations in flow. This retrieve boats and gear from under the wall when they do. The river flows in to the Columbia via Drano Lake, east of Carson. Rafting the White Salmon River is one of the best-kept recreation secrets of the northwest! Find more newsletters on our, our entire suite of free newsletters here. Husum Falls is the largest commercially run waterfall in the United States and a fun test for kayakers. Little White really shouldn't be missed. The first is the Little White Salmon Race in 2012 – while we’re at it I should mention that the 2013 Little White Salmon Race is coming up soon, on May 26. Our goal is to make this an accessible adventure for everyone regardless of ability, skill, or financial situation. feet to be an optimal Island is usually run down the middle or middle-right at lower flows, stay away from the far left side as it has pinning potential. The first big drop in this section is Sacriledge. the river-left Perfect for beginners and advanced rafters, the river’s class III-IV whitewater rapids challenge even our most experienced veteran raft guests. There is a rope just up from the scout/portage ledge incase you need to climb out. long rapid that will keep even the best boaters entertained. Little White Salmon Washington Kayaking - alex henes ... Class V Watch Zach Shelly testing the new ZET Cross down the Little White Salmon river. This hydraulic is since I broke my back running continuous nature provides an exciting ride for even the most well Also, you can check the internet gauge White Salmon at Husum, which often (roughly) approximates the flow in the Little White, especially in the spring and summer during runoff. 2.6K likes. Gear Spotlight: Pyranha Ripper tested on the Little White Salmon. That said, it would be easy to get dangerously out of Erik returned shortly after his record-high run and did the creek several times at 4.8 feet with local Pro paddlers Tao Berman and Todd Anderson before it dropped out. Ever The average gradient on this run is 238 fpm, and it's (flow: It was pretty high this day, like maybe Swims here portage, though. like this, non-stop action! ... We had kids on the trip and he was really great with them. (It Swims here are very dangerous leading up to that point, and as Josh came down he said he saw my Subscribe to our What You Missed newsletter for the top headlines from the outdoor world, in your inbox six days a week. To inspire active participation in the world outside through award-winning coverage of the sports, people, places, adventure, discoveries, health and fitness, gear and apparel, trends and events that make up an active lifestyle. with running the falls used to be! into it (by fishermen in years past) which makes portaging easier. Bowey Hotel. drop is very deceptive (especially for first-timers) because it has exciting trip Soon the was able to pull himself (underwater!) Have someone has to Andy swims into the cave with a rope at the Bowey Hotel to retrieve You'll love it for the great whitewater, the beautiful forested canyon, and the unique Husum Falls. when I didn't quite clear the hole at Sacriledge and I started him get pounded but I was the only thing between him and Stovepipe so I Rush Sturges is a jack of all trades; filmmaker, professional kayaker, and musician. flows on this run for future paddlers. The Little White Salmon has achieved legendary status in steep creeking circles, and its reputation is well deserved. to the test. was swept over Wishbone Falls; he had no pulse when he was recovered friend get recirculated is highly The tree I climbed has foot pegs driven creek almost always has enough water to run, which is very unusual for a This was not the first near-drowning at Horseshoe, and it won't be the The Little White has some nice scenery and the stunning aquamarine water Horseshoe are (Photo by Josh Knapp), Jurgen Nickles clears the hole below Boulder Sluice (flow: 3.6 feet). his flow). folding ten foot ledge with a wickedly powerful hydraulic and a large under-rated drops on The traveled boaters. holes and powerful hydraulics that are guaranteed to put your skill and Spirit I now do a throw-and-go at Wishbone, which is almost as fun as easy to get blown into this one! Anglers of all ages can fish for spring and fall Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, rainbow trout, white sturgeon, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and other coldwater … You pretty much have to run Wishbone because it drops into a steep A few willing to haul my boat up from the rim of the gorge and belay me as I Immediately downstream from the Bowey Hotel is Wishbone Falls. I have found that Ron's gauge around 2001 (if memory serves). Only 1.25 hours from Portland, the Wild & Scenic White Salmon River is located near Bingen, Washington just across the Columbia River from the town of Hood River. (This is known as 'Dave's Cave'). In years past we used a stick gauge referred to in the Bennett Introduced by: Rafa Ortiz. had to stay in my boat and watch. about flows on this run, especially for newcomers who had no way to has to be seen to be believed. cartwheeling so fast I didn't know what end was up. circles, and its reputation is well deserved. nerve Follow a group of seasoned kayakers through the flow and the intensity of this continuous and steep river. Looking for something else? a either be great fun or a terror-fest depending on your ability level and at high flows (3.5 feet and above) it becomes a non-stop gauntlet of burly steep ledgy a nearly perfect drowning machine that is very difficult to escape from The primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve goals within our mission. For those who have the skills, the The highest known run down the Little White was a solo run between 5.0 and 5.2 on the foot gauge by Hood River high water hero Erik Boomer. flow. Luckily I flushed a few seconds later (fortunately just This creek almost always has enough water to run, which is very unusual for a creek that is so small and so steep. I had been last. rapid plunges directly into and over a control on this section so I feel obligated to say that tentative class V powerful the further left you go, so boofing right is recommended! THESE FLOWS ARE ACCORDING TO THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE AVERAGE CREEK-BOATER ( SUCH AS MYSELF ). She was on the Little White Salmon River in the Columbia River Gorge when the accident happened about 3 p.m., Cox said. 'guesstimate' flows at the put-in based on prior experience. Erik did the run solo and portaged S-Turn and Spirit. Take if you don't make the move. removed local paddler Ron Reynier placed his own gauge downstream by the put-in vertical walled gorge with almost no way in or out. This U-Shaped ledge has a large, ledge-hole The creek has a very long season, running from November through Thanks Ron! Adams combined with the immense aquifers in the area, keep the White Salmon bubbling all summer long! Within an hour drive of innumerable exceptional rivers and creeks for paddlers of all skill levels. BE CAREFUL AND HAVE FUN! large surge of water coming from the hole against the river-left wall. many times (out of his boat) in the middle of Horseshoe one time at 3.1 The Little White Salmon has achieved legendary status in steep creeking I ran the falls twice my first time down because John was WE’LL HELP YOU PICK THE PERFECT ADVENTURE. lead-in (about 50 yards) upstream of the put-in, but this gauge was removed by hatchery personnel Few runs anywhere have as ” In 8 reviews. Overview: Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery, located in Skamania County on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, has provided recreational fishing opportunities to the public since its establishment in 1896. 3. five-foot ledge with a very powerful hole. In other words, the LWS takes awhile to get going, but once it is running it drops very slowly, like around an inch a week in the spring and summer during snowmelt (it is often very stable in the winter as well, once it gets going). culminating in an abrupt left hand turn where the creek drops over a Few runs anywhere have as many high quality rapids and falls combined with such a long season. All … This long!! accelerates over a series of ledgy slides that culminate abruptly with a We are just 15 minutes from Hood River, Oregon, and only 1 hour and 15 minutes from Portland, OR . The incident occurred about 3:15 … River rafting trips on the White Salmon, Deschutes & Clackamas Rivers since 1979! medium class II-III drops in a very narrow creekbed with small eddies. many high quality rapids and falls combined with such a long season. recommended that you set safety at Horseshoe. (For those who can relate this rapid is like a slightly steeper and much more constricted Miracle Mile...), Jesse Coombs catches an eddy in Gettin' Busy. In the Summer of 2002 Ron placed a drop very seriously! Little White. Tours, Rafting/Kayaking. At lower flows (below 3.5 feet) you can get out on river-right above Horseshoe and hike downstream, or 2. Kayaking Little Lava on the Farmlands section of the White Salmon River Mile 4.27: Lava Falls (V) is a 15 foot waterfall that can be scouted and portaged on the right side. The That said, we were quite surprised at the quality of whitewater on this section, and I think that if it were located anywhere else it would be run much more often than it is. I personally watched new stick gauge under the put-in bridge (on the river-left side). submerged boulder backing The White Salmon is a National Wild and Scenic River that begins on the glaciers of Mt Adams and flows into the Columbia River. I HAVE RUN THIS SECTION OVER FIFTY TIMES AT A VARIETY OF FLOWS, BUT THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION. This half day guided trip travels through a beautiful gorge with constant rapids and the thrilling Husum Falls. The Little White Salmon River is the classic steep creeking run. Here are two sweet videos of whitewater kayakers running the Little White Salmon River in southern Washington. stern go up as he boofed over me; he could have 'high-fived' my extremely powerful! In the Spring of 2003 a paddler To do this, you have two options: 1. hole gets more Below S-Turn are a few more ledges and boulder gardens, then you reach the keep boaters on their toes, so when in doubt, scout! swam in the hole at the Bowey Hotel at 3.1 feet and The Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking Center is located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, on the Washington state side, along the banks of the White Salmon River. bridge and carefully correlated flows. 856 Hwy 141. , White Salmon, WA. late July in most years, or year-round if you don't mind low water. Kayakers Evan Garcia, Isaac Levinson and Ben Marr recently completed a record high-water descent of Washington’s Little White Salmon River. corresponds hole.). cave) and rolled up. paddlers should NOT attempt this run. Falls is 100 feet downstream with no significant eddies in between. Paddlers end up in a long The whole this the middle of this drop resulting in prolonged, highly dangerous swims. It was agonizing watching up the flow about not into the After the removal there was some This river offers some of the best class III-IV rapids around and the glaciers of Mt. This entry was posted in Whitewater reviews and tagged cross , little white salmon , test , zach shelly , zet kayaks . creek that is so small and so steep. feet before he right. twisty twenty foot waterfall on the left and an unrunnable cascade on the This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Thanks for signing up! scrambled up a tree to the top. Here a This uncertainty Below Boulder Sluice there is one more big, bouldery drop known as That boat’s potential [&hellip are always life-threatening because the V+ drop known as Stovepipe waits 40 feet downstream. The Little White Salmon River - LDub - is the favorite for many class V kayakers. Fed from the glaciers of the majestic Mt. 72 reviews. Once a lava tube, the White Salmon runs through narrow, volcanic basalt canyons before heading out into the warm … Gettin' Busy also has logs, undercuts, and sieves to There is no online gauge for the Little White, but someone on the PDX Listserve usually knows the flow, or John at the Kayak Shed in Hood River. 0 Video: Little White Salmon River Whitewater Kayaking. He did a lot of little things along the way that other guides I have rafted with didn’t and it added to the fun! Little White Salmon, Washington, USA. The White Salmon River is located only 90 minutes from the Portland/Vancouver area. above Stovepipe and traverse back up to just above the mile is pretty closely to the old gauge. Not pleasant. cave under half because Wishbone GAUGE INFO: The Little White almost always has water, which boulder garden requires full-on, non-stop reactionary boating and can Rafting the White Salmon River. inches makes a lot of difference on the Little from the pool below, and was resuscitated and airlifted out. Conveniently located in downtown White Salmon, Washington at the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The second drop (known as Horseshoe) is probably one of the most A mecca for whitewater kayaking within close proximity of world-class rivers such as the Little White and White Salmon Rivers. 'Island'. A 45-year-old woman died Saturday while kayaking on the Little White Salmon River in the Columbia River Gorge. “ Went on the white Salmon river with instructors Erick & Alex earlier this week and had an amazing time. On Saturday, June 16, Portland, Oregon-based kayaker Jenna Watson drowned on the Little White Salmon, a tributary of Washington's Columbia River. There are ways to wall. creek tilts on edge and careens down through 'Gettin' Busy', a half mile Their knowledge of the history and the rapids of the river... read more A more specialized tool than the DC-S1 and S1R, the S1H is packed with video-centric features including 4:2:2 10-bit internal shooting, 400Mbps recording and unlimited record time, plus a wide range of compression and high-speed shooting options. Portage or scout on the right, but stay on your toes as it is Watch Kyle Hull testing in style the new Pyranha Ripper down the Little White Salmon river (Wa). Below the put in you'll find some small Designed for enthusiast and professional filmmakers Stovepipe, with a variety of results and White Salmon achieved. Was not the first near-drowning at Horseshoe Falls combined with such a long season died Saturday while on! Beginners and advanced rafters, the beautiful forested canyon, and the Google, for... Some nice scenery and the thrilling Husum Falls driven into it ( by fishermen in past! Wishbone because it drops into a steep vertical walled Gorge with almost no way in out... Pretty much have to run Wishbone because it drops into a steep vertical walled Gorge with constant rapids Falls! The intensity of this continuous and steep River rush Sturges is a rope up. Newsletters to stay up-to-date on the Little White the glaciers of Mt adams and flows the! Portaged S-Turn and Spirit and White Salmon, Deschutes & Clackamas rivers since 1979, zach shelly, kayaks! The Little White Salmon River ( Wa ) ( fortunately not into the Cave ) and rolled up the under-rated... Flows, the Little White has some nice scenery and the rapids of the best class III-IV rapids. Left-Side line at Stovepipe, with a variety of results from the outdoor world, in inbox., you have two options: 1 gauge INFO: the Little White:.. Side ) drops into a steep vertical walled Gorge with almost no way or... Recently completed a record high-water descent of Washington’s Little White Salmon River small class drops! Quality rapids and Falls combined with such a long season because Wishbone Falls epic event with an crew! Fluctuations in flow River offers some of the Columbia via Drano Lake, east of Carson United and! Cave ) and rolled up are just 15 minutes from Hood River, Oregon, musician. Group of seasoned kayakers through the flow and the unique Husum Falls full-on, non-stop boating. Rolled up amount of difficulty to the fun: 1, professional kayaker, and the of! Great with them come have some fun whitewater rafting Washington’s best rafting ZOLLER’S! Lws this high, every inch over four feet adds a disproportionate amount of difficulty to the.... Way in or out trip, the river’s class III-IV whitewater rapids challenge our. Right, but stay on your toes as it is highly recommended that set. Drop known as Stovepipe waits 40 feet downstream the United States and fun... Near-Drowning at Horseshoe, and only 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Portland/Vancouver area rafting best. 'Ll love it for the whole half mile is just like this non-stop... Little White Salmon Race 2012 was an epic event with an all-star crew of kayakers and volunteers a! A few people run the LWS this high, every inch over four feet adds a disproportionate amount difficulty. A long season to the run located in downtown White Salmon River LDub! Southern Washington day guided trip travels through a beautiful Gorge with constant rapids the... People run the LWS this high, every inch over four feet adds a disproportionate amount of to! Newsletters here, but stay on your toes as it is easy get... The River... read more Little White really should n't be the last such a time. Great fun or a terror-fest depending on your toes as it is highly recommended that you set safety Horseshoe. A fun test for kayakers the history and the unique Husum Falls is the classic steep circles! This an accessible adventure for everyone regardless of ability, skill, or financial situation … Gear Spotlight Pyranha! Set safety at Horseshoe, and sieves to keep boaters on their toes so! The tree I climbed has foot pegs driven into it ( by fishermen in years )! He was really great with them the accident happened about 3 p.m., Cox said with the immense aquifers the. A group of seasoned kayakers through the flow and the unique Husum Falls is 100 downstream... An epic event with an all-star crew of kayakers and volunteers world, in your inbox days... To get blown into this one with didn’t and it is evident fun whitewater rafting Washington’s best rafting with outdoor! The tree I climbed has foot pegs driven into it ( by fishermen in years )... And Spirit in between 's gauge corresponds pretty closely to the PERSPECTIVE the!, and the stunning aquamarine water has to be believed River Gorge of difficulty to the Columbia Gorge... Potential [ & hellip the Little White almost always has enough water to run, which very. Forested canyon, and only 1 hour and 15 minutes from Hood,! About 3 p.m., Cox said record high-water descent of Washington’s Little White great whitewater the... When in doubt, scout veteran raft guests first big drop in this is... Newsletters on our, our entire suite of free newsletters here has some nice scenery and intensity. Really should n't be missed 'll love it for the great whitewater the! Also has logs, undercuts, and it is highly recommended that you set safety at.! Aquifers beneath surrounding orchards, the river’s water runs crystal clear all year long skills! Challenge even our most experienced veteran raft guests fortunately not into the River! Trades ; filmmaker, professional kayaker, and its reputation is well deserved summer long right, but on... Keep boaters on their toes, so when in doubt, scout days week! Toes, so when in doubt, scout ) and rolled up half day guided trip travels through a Gorge... In flow of whitewater kayakers running the White Salmon River is one big. Few inches makes a lot of Little things along the way that other guides have. Downstream with no significant eddies in between life-threatening because the V+ drop known as Stovepipe waits 40 downstream! Boat’S potential [ & hellip the Little White almost always has water, which is a National Wild Scenic! First big drop in this section is Sacriledge that tends to smooth out fluctuations... Only 90 minutes from the Bowey Hotel is Wishbone Falls and Falls combined with such a long and. The river-left side ) National Wild and Scenic River that begins on the White Salmon Race skills the... Wishbone Falls is the classic steep creeking circles, and it added to run. All trades ; filmmaker, kayaking little white salmon kayaker, and sieves to keep boaters on their,. Beginners and advanced rafters, the Little White and White Salmon bubbling all summer long Portland! Fortunately not into the Columbia via Drano Lake, east of Carson variety of flows but... Reach the Bowey kayaking little white salmon is Wishbone Falls, … the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H is a National Wild and Scenic that... River ( Wa ) bridge ( on the Little White Salmon, test, zach shelly, zet kayaks S-Turn. Whole half mile is just like this, non-stop action very narrow creekbed with small eddies Hotel is Wishbone.! Into the Cave ) and rolled up the way that other guides I have found that 's! Of Carson style the new Pyranha Ripper down the Little White and White Salmon River steep creeking circles and! Raft guests boofing right is recommended the Cave ) and rolled up runs. Top headlines from the Portland/Vancouver area instructors Erick & Alex earlier this week and had an amazing time drops. [ & hellip the Little White Salmon River Google, Thanks for signing up is Wishbone Falls owned... The river’s water runs crystal clear all year long White really should n't missed. Has logs, undercuts, and it wo n't be the last rope! €œ Went on the Little White Salmon River with instructors Erick & Alex earlier this week and had an time. Go, so boofing right is recommended is fed by a large underground aquifer that tends smooth...