If you’ve ever been white water rafting most of what surrounds the rivers is either non-existent dirt roads for miles or huge touristy attraction towns selling foam fingers. It is hard to believe a river could survive without the latter, but being inside the Colombia River Gorge does have its perks. The White Salmon River is a hidden gem, not only for the river itself but also for its location.
Small town, big river!
The White Salmon River is a big river that flows through Trout Lake, BZ corners, Husum, and the town of White Salmon. All the towns are not big dots on the maps, but places that revolve around this mecca of whitewater. When you drive down the main road, every other car has a kayak on the roof or a raft being dragged behind them on a trailer. The river’s public boat launch always has people lined up ready to go boating! And the takeout is usually filled with license plates from all over the country. All the nearby stores have sunscreen and stickers, awaiting your rafting trip. This is a whitewater town for sure!
Another plus of the river flowing through said towns is that a road can be easily accessed through most of the gorge. Being able to get to a road throughout the trip is very convenient and makes the river that much safer.
Not too hidden!
Although we love our small-town community, the White Salmon is not too far from some big places. It is only an hour from Portland, Oregon, and 20 minutes from the Washington-Oregon borderline! We are very lucky to get guests from both states most of the time. We like to think that when you discover this river, you can feel how special it is that you found a place like this. This is a world-class whitewater river. Without the people traveling to go boating in the area, there might not even be a dot on the map showing any of the tiny towns it happens to flow through. You come to the area and notice how it is not an amusement park. But you’re also not driving down nothingness for hours to get to the river. It is easily accessible but still tucked away. We do not want to keep our hidden gem all to ourselves!
Zollers Outdoor Odysseys was the first company to start rafting on the White Salmon River. This family-owned company is proud to say that everyone we take rafting is treated like family. We want to share our river with everyone and anyone! Book a rafting trip with Zollers to experience how the White Salmon River is a hidden gem.
She is a lover of the river and what the Pacific Northwest has to offer!