Ride the Heartbeat of the Gorge: Whitewater Rafting Adventures on the White Salmon River
Whitewater rafting season has arrived in the Columbia River Gorge, and there’s no better place to experience the rush of the river than near White Salmon. Surrounded by volcanic cliffs, evergreen forests, underground springs, and glacier-fed rapids, the White Salmon River delivers one of the Pacific Northwest’s most unforgettable outdoor adventures.
For travelers looking for more than just a ride downstream, Columbia River Outdoors (CRO) offers an experience rooted in exploration, education, and genuine connection to the river itself.
An Early Season Opportunity at Husum Falls
This season is already shaping up to be a memorable one. Due to lower-than-average snowpack, Husum Falls, the White Salmon River’s iconic waterfall drop, may become runnable earlier than usual, potentially beginning in early June. Columbia River Outdoors expects to be among the first companies guiding trips over the falls this season, giving adventurous visitors an early chance to experience one of the region’s most exhilarating whitewater features.
But rafting with CRO is about far more than adrenaline.
Perfect for Groups, Gatherings, and Team Adventures
The company specializes in custom and group rafting trips for parties of 8 to 24 people, making it an ideal outing for corporate retreats, family reunions, bachelor and bachelorette weekends, youth groups, and team-building adventures. Their trips are intentionally designed to foster connection, teamwork, laughter, and a little healthy splash warfare along the way.
CRO works closely with guests to customize memorable river experiences from start to finish, including accommodating dietary preferences for post-trip meals and gatherings.
Meet the River Guides Behind the Adventure
What truly defines Columbia River Outdoors is the people behind it. Co-owners Sean “Woody” Woody and Max Sisson are not only managers and outfitters, but lifelong river guides who have built their lives around whitewater, outdoor education, and the Columbia River Gorge itself.
Woody first began guiding the White Salmon River in 2006 and later expanded his experience to the Klickitat River and multiday expeditions through Hell’s Canyon on the Snake River. Raised in a rafting family, he was rowing legendary rivers like the Middle Fork of the Salmon, Main Salmon, and Rogue River while still a teenager.
His background in biology and ecology gives his trips a distinctive blend of adventure and storytelling. Between rapids, guests might hear about volcanic geology, native ecosystems, birdlife, or the layered human history of the canyon itself. Certified in Swiftwater Rescue and Wilderness First Response, Woody combines technical expertise with a deep passion for helping people connect with the outdoors.
Max Sisson’s path to the Gorge began in the Appalachian Mountains of southeastern Kentucky, where a love for wild places eventually led him to whitewater rafting at age 19. Within a year, he had enrolled in guide training and spent the next several seasons guiding Class III-V rivers throughout the Southeast and internationally in Costa Rica.
Drawn west by the world-class paddling opportunities of the Columbia River Gorge, Max has guided full-time on the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers since 2014 and has trained professional rafting guides since 2011. Guests rafting with Max quickly discover his calm professionalism, deep river knowledge, and endless supply of stories gathered from thousands of days on the water.
A New Vision for Gorge Rafting
Together, Woody and Max purchased the longtime Washington outfitter All Adventures Rafting in 2020, launching Columbia River Outdoors with a fresh vision for what rafting in the Gorge could be. With nearly three decades of combined industry experience, they built CRO around the belief that outdoor adventure can inspire positive action both on and off the river.
This philosophy shapes each and every trip.
The CRO Difference
CRO is committed to providing exceptional outdoor experiences for guests of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds while promoting environmental stewardship, river safety, and education about the places they explore.
Their guide team averages more than 15 years of rafting experience, bringing an extraordinary level of professionalism, safety awareness, and river knowledge to each outing. Affectionately called “Crofessionals,” the guides are known for blending technical expertise with humor, warmth, and a genuine enthusiasm for the canyon they call home.
More Than Just Whitewater
Trips move at a more immersive pace than many visitors expect from a rafting excursion. Depending on river conditions and group interest, guests may stop to surf waves, leap from cliffside jumping spots, explore lava tubes carved by ancient volcanic activity, or drink ice-cold water directly from underground springs flowing into the canyon walls.
For curious travelers, the White Salmon River becomes a floating classroom. Guides share stories about the region’s ecology, geology, and history while navigating one of the most scenic stretches of whitewater in the Pacific Northwest. Others may choose to simply soak in the spray, paddle hard through rapids, and enjoy the unmistakable pulse of the river beneath them.
Guests can also feel confident knowing CRO uses high-quality equipment and transportation, operates with full licensing and insurance in the state of Washington, and is permitted by the United States Forest Service.
Most importantly, when visitors call Columbia River Outdoors, they speak to real people who genuinely love talking about rivers, rafting, and helping others experience the magic of the Columbia Gorge.
To book your trip, visit www.columbiariveroutdoors.com
Plan Your White Salmon Getaway
In a landscape shaped by volcanoes, waterfalls, and wild water, rafting the White Salmon River feels less like a tourist activity and more like stepping directly into the heartbeat of the Pacific Northwest itself.
Make a weekend of it by booking a stay in White Salmon or nearby Bingen, where you’ll find boutique lodging, incredible dining, scenic hiking trails, and some of the Columbia Gorge’s most celebrated wineries and tasting rooms. Spend your morning conquering rapids, your afternoon wine tasting, and your evening watching the sun set over the Columbia River.
For Gorge locals, supporting businesses like Columbia River Outdoors helps sustain the outdoor recreation economy that makes our communities so vibrant. Whether you’re hosting visiting friends and family or finally checking a White Salmon River trip off your own bucket list, there’s never been a better time to get out on the water and experience the Gorge from a whole new perspective.
