White Salmon River
White Salmon River
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A popular river in Hood River, Oregon.
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5.0
71 reviews
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67
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3
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1
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LWoodyOregon
5 contributions
June 2021 • Friends
Columbia River Outdoors is a new company based in Hood River, OR and offering day trips on the Wild and Scenic White Salmon River. We picked this outfitter because we'd heard the two partners had a great reputation - experienced and extremely safety-conscious. The canyon is beautiful, the whitewater is exciting and refreshing. CRO's equipment and shuttle vehicles are top-notch. I'd definitely recommend this group and I'm sure I'll be back again this summer.
Written 21 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan W
Portland, OR1,931 contributions
Oct 2020
A group of us took a half-day trip downriver in kayaks and for me it was one of the better white water adventures I've experienced. It was one of the first where I was sincerely glad to have a helmet. The water runs high and cold due to it being glacier melt and the rapids are definitely challenging. Once or twice the river came so very close to the overhanging rocks - hence the appreciation of a helmet. A thoroughly enjoyable activity that I highly recommend.
Written 22 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephannie L
Vancouver, Washington1 contribution
Nov 2011 • Couples
I am a life long Resident of the Columbia Gorge and for the White Salmon River to have an Oregon address is wrong. It is in Washington State near the town of White Salmon ACROSS the Columbia river from Hood River Oregon. Please Correct your information
Written 28 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daydream27032
Bend Oregon4 contributions
We rafted two days in the White Salmon area. Day one was on the Klickitat river where we went through class 3 water and even saw mt. goats. Day two was on the White Salmon.... what a great class 4 ride. This was our first rafting experience and we could not have done it without the guides at zooraft.com. Joetta was our guide and although she is little, she knew her stuff BIG.This is a great area to visit.Louise Olson Bend, Oregon
Written 30 May 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kern22101
D.C.46 contributions
Aug 2011
My family and I (ages 7, 10, 13, 25, 29, 45, 45, 57, and 59) went white-water rafting with Zoller's in August 2011. The company is very well-run: clean wet suits, knowledgeable staff, great location. We asked if my 7-year old was too young and were told that adventurous kids like it and they were right, he had a blast!
One bit of advice:
-- get the long wetsuits and the jackets, the water is FREEZING and you essentially get submerged.
Also, our guide was Ben, he was really nice, safe, and even gave us a little eco tour during the trip -- ask for him if you can.
One bit of advice:
-- get the long wetsuits and the jackets, the water is FREEZING and you essentially get submerged.
Also, our guide was Ben, he was really nice, safe, and even gave us a little eco tour during the trip -- ask for him if you can.
Written 15 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jkauf1979
Middletown, DE41 contributions
June 2011 • Couples
My wife and I went white water rafting one Thursday afternoon. we asked at the skamania Lodge who to do it with. They only had one pamphlet as zoller's is the best around. we decided last minute to do this and called up that day. they were super nice. my wife is a bit of a fraidy cat and they reassured her. I was pumped for some white water.
when we arrived. everything went smoothly. they got us gear and had clean changing rooms. you really only need a bathing suit and a good attitude. we were under way in 30 minutes and the trip lasted 2 hours or so. we went with the owner Mark, and he told us all about the business of rafting and how he got into it. he made us feel safe and also had a great time.
the trip was about 2 hours long
it cost about 60 bucks per person
there was an optional cd of photos they take of you a little way down the river in some rapids. it was bout 35 bucks.
when we arrived. everything went smoothly. they got us gear and had clean changing rooms. you really only need a bathing suit and a good attitude. we were under way in 30 minutes and the trip lasted 2 hours or so. we went with the owner Mark, and he told us all about the business of rafting and how he got into it. he made us feel safe and also had a great time.
the trip was about 2 hours long
it cost about 60 bucks per person
there was an optional cd of photos they take of you a little way down the river in some rapids. it was bout 35 bucks.
Written 27 June 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
momofgreatteens
Kings Mills, OH25 contributions
We rafted the White Salmon with Zoller's. Zak St. Clair was our guide. He was funny and very knowledgeable on not only the rafting but also the geography, animals, and the area in general.
I went with my two teenage sons and we had a blast. We were in the area for a week including the Gorge, Mt. Hood, the coast, Portland, etc. and this was by far the highlight of the entire trip. We have memories of that rafting trip to last a lifetime and photos to prove it.
They offer a CD at the end for like $35 of your photos and people keep commenting that they can't believe the great photos from this trip. I have included a few but soooo worth it!
We did the waterfall at the end - it's not as bad as it sounds (or looks) and YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!
Thanks Zoller's and Thanks Zak!!!!
I went with my two teenage sons and we had a blast. We were in the area for a week including the Gorge, Mt. Hood, the coast, Portland, etc. and this was by far the highlight of the entire trip. We have memories of that rafting trip to last a lifetime and photos to prove it.
They offer a CD at the end for like $35 of your photos and people keep commenting that they can't believe the great photos from this trip. I have included a few but soooo worth it!
We did the waterfall at the end - it's not as bad as it sounds (or looks) and YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!
Thanks Zoller's and Thanks Zak!!!!
Written 28 August 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather_R80
Seattle, WA36 contributions
Our rafting trip was on Aug 1, 2009 with Zoller's Outdoor Oddysseys. The weather and water levels were both great. We had 6 people in our group, it was a first time rafting trip for 4 members of our group. Their site has plenty of parking, a changing room / bathroom, a gift shop, and picnic tables if you want to bring lunch, or you can get sandwiches from their deli. The deli sandwich we had was god, it came with chips and a cookie. They supply you with everything you will need for the trip, wetsuit (you have a choice of a sleevless long leg or short - the water is cold!), booties, life jacket, and helment. Pretty much all you need to show up with is dry clothes, towel, sunscreen, and a swimsuit. We had a great time! There was a how to class before we left, and the guides all provided great instructions on the river. We had Mark Zoller as a guide, he was great, and pretty funny! Husum falls at the end is optional, 4 of the 6 in our group went over, and what a thrill it was!
Zoller's is family owned, and reasonably priced. You can request a guide when you book your trip if you want (they have a contest going to see who gets the most requests). They operate 12 months out of the year. Our group is already talking about booking for next year!
We had to be there by 1:30 for the afternoon trip. Our drive time was about 4 hours, going down wasn't bad, but coming home was rough. Depending on where you are coming from you may want to think about staying the night in the area. Book your hotel ahead of time though, because it look like most of the hotels we drove past in Hood River were full. There are a lot of wineries in the area, we also so lots of kite surfing, so you could easily make this a weekend trip.
Zoller's is family owned, and reasonably priced. You can request a guide when you book your trip if you want (they have a contest going to see who gets the most requests). They operate 12 months out of the year. Our group is already talking about booking for next year!
We had to be there by 1:30 for the afternoon trip. Our drive time was about 4 hours, going down wasn't bad, but coming home was rough. Depending on where you are coming from you may want to think about staying the night in the area. Book your hotel ahead of time though, because it look like most of the hotels we drove past in Hood River were full. There are a lot of wineries in the area, we also so lots of kite surfing, so you could easily make this a weekend trip.
Written 2 August 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justforthefunofit
Wisconsin10 contributions
We whitewater rafted the White Salmon River north of Hood Oregon with Zoller's Outdoor Odyssey's. We ranged in age from 18 to 57 and everyone thought this was the highlight of our trip. The guide was knowledgable and explained everything to these novices very well. Everything was provided including wetsuits, and footwear. Just had to wear something that could get wet.
We did this as part of a driving tour of Oregon and Washington. Other areas we enjoyed were:
1. Crator Lake National Park - It's out of the way but one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen.
2. Oregon Dunes National Park near Florence, Oregon - The younger members of our group went sandbording. We had never heard of this before.
3. Seaside, Oregon - absolutely loved the beach here and experienced a georgous sunset.
4. Seattle, Washington - The space needle and Pike Place Market
We did this as part of a driving tour of Oregon and Washington. Other areas we enjoyed were:
1. Crator Lake National Park - It's out of the way but one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen.
2. Oregon Dunes National Park near Florence, Oregon - The younger members of our group went sandbording. We had never heard of this before.
3. Seaside, Oregon - absolutely loved the beach here and experienced a georgous sunset.
4. Seattle, Washington - The space needle and Pike Place Market
Written 29 October 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
arietow
Portland, OR1 contribution
Aug 2011 • Business
Met up with some friends for a great rafting trip down the White Salmon. We went with Wet Planet and they were awesome. They gave us everything we needed and drove us up to the river. All you really need to bring is a bathing suit. I particularity enjoyed passing the public launch site that was bustling with other companies and continuing up the road 2 miles to a private launch site. Our main guide talked to us under the shade of the forest along the river (which was well appreciated on a 90 degree day) about safety and what to do in case you fell in. After the group split up into our individual rafts the excitement began. We were well trained in a calm pool before we went into the first rapid: "Triple Drop" our first class IV rapid. That was followed by more fun rapids that I sadly don't remember the names to, but do remember how awesome they were. We got out and walked around a big waterfall and then jumped off a cliff back into the river, it was super fun! After about an hour of fun, we passed the launch site that we passed on the road where other companies were putting in (I wonder if they knew what they missed)! The rest of the trip was super fun, and I highly recommend the last falls (some folks walked around) where you drop over the edge of the falls to end up totally submerged! It's crazy and totally a blast!
We got done with our trip around lunch time and headed to town for good food and beer. What a great visit! I highly recommend rafting the White Salmon (particularly Wet Planet) and visiting the Columbia Gorge what a great time!
We got done with our trip around lunch time and headed to town for good food and beer. What a great visit! I highly recommend rafting the White Salmon (particularly Wet Planet) and visiting the Columbia Gorge what a great time!
Written 16 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are visiting the area in September. It has been a very long time since we rafted and our 7 and 9yr old kids have never rafted. Which company would you recommend for a great experience for first-timers?
Written 10 March 2018
Zoeller's White Water rafting is great for the whole family. They can accommodate the little ones as well as their grandparents. Top notch team and safety and fun are their top priorities.
Written 9 August 2018
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