There are some days that feel less like a vacation and more like you accidentally wandered into an…read moreaction movie directed by a sugar fueled mountain man, and Wet Planet in White Salmon was exactly that kind of glorious madness. Four of us rolled in on a perfect sunny day, the kind where the sky looks so blue it feels suspicious, like somebody turned the saturation too high. Right away the crew greeted us like old friends who owed them money. Everybody was laughing, cracking jokes, getting us geared up, teaching us how not to immediately perish in the river. Confidence inspiring, honestly. Then came the bus ride down to the river, packed with excitement, nervous laughter, and two groups of Boy Scouts who apparently had been training for a Broadway musical in the woods. These kids were singing songs, hyping each other up, chanting like tiny warrior poets preparing for battle. By the time we got off the bus I felt like we were either going rafting or marching into medieval combat. And then there was Marcus. Sweet merciful Neptune, this man was born for whitewater. The guy had spent seven years guiding in Colorado doing extreme rafting and had enough wild stories to fill three campfires and a History Channel special. One minute he was talking about brutal rapids, the next he was casually mentioning adventures in Japan like this was all perfectly normal human behavior. Meanwhile I'm over here trying not to lose a sandal. The river itself was absolute chaos in the best possible way. At one point we straight up rammed another boat like two pirate ships fighting over treasure. Our raft launched sideways into a wall of waves and half the crew disappeared into the water face first. I came up sputtering like an old lawn mower while everybody screamed and laughed like maniacs. Somewhere in the madness Marcus was calmly steering us through the carnage with the confidence of a man who has absolutely seen worse. Halfway through the trip we stopped near this insane waterfall pouring down dripping cliffs that looked like something out of Jurassic Park. Then the instructors started jumping off the bridge into the water because apparently these people have no fear and possibly extra bones. Naturally everybody followed because once adrenaline takes over, common sense quietly packs its bags and leaves the building. By the end of the day our entire crew was completely jazzed, soaked to the soul, exhausted, and grinning like fools. Wet Planet delivered one of the finest adventures I've had in years. Great guides, incredible scenery, nonstop laughs, and enough excitement to make you question your life insurance policy. Absolutely smashing experience. I'd recommend these guys to anybody who wants to laugh, scream, get launched into a river, and come home feeling gloriously alive.

We had such a fun experience and 10/10 would definitely recommend. I had friends visiting me in…read moreOregon so we did the full day. Some first timers for a few of them and they had a blast. This was my 2nd trip with Wet Planet on the White Salmon river and it did not disappoint! Derek was our raft guide and he was awesome. Super professional, conversational, knowledgable, funny and overall great vibe including Kirk and Denison who also kept it safe and fun! Even the photos came out great and for sure would do it again.

Had such a blast white water rafting with this group today! River Drifters is well prepared, and…read moretheir guides are complete experts in taking you down the river. Spencer and his fellow guides made our day so enjoyable and fun. The camaraderie they have with each other and their guests makes this adventure, nice and easy. It was my first time doing it, and even though I wasn't nervous, Spencer did an incredible job guiding us over the rapids. I will definitely do this again with them and I highly recommend!

This was the PERFECT mix of slightly terrifying and completely amazing for my first experience…read morewhite river rafting. SO. MUCH. FUN!. Our guide, Peter, was awesome (he is the G.O.A.T., but not to be confused with the 'goat river guide' from TikTok). He was incredibly informative, entertaining, and very safety-conscious. And he could move like Gumby which was pretty impressive. Our trip consisted of a half day on the White Salmon River, class III-IV rapids with an optional V at the end, which we opted out of on first trip...it gives us something to look forward to and bring us back for a second round. We did have to hop out of the raft at one point and hike about 150 yards down the river over some rocky terrain (take a minute to absorb the amazing beauty all around you) and then rappel down the side back into the river...just made for a more interesting and exciting trip. The views are truly beautiful. And the water is freezing cold! They supply the necessary gear from head to toe to wear over your swimsuit and keep you warm. I wore my own water shoes and quickly wished I'd opted for a pair of their booties because my Florida toes were freezing! Tips: Arrive on time! Bring a change of clothes, drinks and snacks for the ride home. Sunglasses kind of got in the way and there's a lot shade during the afternoon trip.

I had never done river rafting before, but everything was well organized clearly explained and done…read morein an entertaining while still serious manner. We had 3 rafts of people in our party and all the guides were knowledgeable, personable, encouraging and very safety minded. It was thrilling while at the same time as safe as it could be for novices. I would recommend it highly.

We had an incredible first trip of the 2026 season with Mark! He agreed to take us a couple days…read moreahead of planned opening and was such a wealth of knowledge and fun. Our whole family (including kids age 6 and 14) had so much fun. They thought of every detail and it was the highlight of our trip. Couldn't recommend it more!

Northwest Rafting Company is great for anyone interested in developing rowing skills and safety for…read morerivers. Their staff is very skilled and implement best practices in teaching. Additionally, all the instructors and support staff were very helpful in creating a safe, well held container for learning. I felt well prepared before arriving, received feedback often and was comfortable asking questions. Everyone on staff is kind, knowledgable and easy to connect with. I will continue to take the classes they offer.

We had an incredible week on the River with this a group! By coincidence, my. Issues and I (NOT…read moreexperienced) went with a larger group of VERY experienced kayak and rafting enthusiasts. I was initially worried that we'd be in dangerous waters, so to speak. But, this staff showed a level of professionalism above and beyond! Their skill, their devotion to safety, and their drive to make every day entertaining and fun, was amazing! Big thanks to Daniel, Claire, Michael, Joshua, and Austin! I feel like I have new family!! Simply the BEST!!!

I did the whitewater rafting experience on a Saturday afternoon, and it was great! Very safety…read moreoriented but also very fun. Highly recommend this rafting company! Our guide Big Al/Alex was awesome. When we decided we all wanted to do the optional big waterfall, she coached us and drilled us many times so that we'd be able to raft down the waterfall as safely as possible. There was also an optional cliff jumping spot for people who wanted to get out of the raft and do that. Those of us who didn't want to do the big waterfall weren't pressured to do it & were given the option to skip it.

This is the company to go through for the best time. This was SO fun! First time rafter, and they…read moremade it so easy! All we had to do is show up. They have everything set for a great day. All the staff was friendly and helpful! Absolutely try this adventure. We did White Salmon half day. Will do again!

Thoroughly enjoyed our kayak trip out! It was our first time with the Gorge Paddling Center (via…read moreTodd!), to celebrate a birthday. It was a great experience! Our guide was fun, friendly, knowledgeable, and made the overall sunset kayak outting a memorable experience. Book it and create some awesome memories. I know I'll be back with them here over the years to come!

Had a great time taking a tandem kayak out to Wells Island and back. A nice, easy paddle-- very…read morerelaxing. We were told it was a really calm day and we were the first kayakers of the season! Todd was very friendly and helpful. He suggested that we hit the Bonneville Locks on the way back to Portland and we got to see the chinook fish ladder, which was very cool!

I'm always grateful when I can get an indoor or outdoor swim and Hood River Aquatic Center provides…read moresummer. Typically covered pool, during the summer months they open a few panels to let the sunshine and warm air shine through. Oh, and the wind, too! It is Hood River so fierce winds are to be expected. You can do a Day pass for $5 or buy punch card of 10 swims for a discount, more of a discount if you live in Hood River and are a senior. Even though I'm from Portland, I purchased o e because I know it will get used. I'm in Hood River frequently - my Happy Place- even happier when I get in a swim. There are 4 lap lanes and 2 per lane, splitting rather than circle swimming, always a plus. There is a timer clock on each end making it super easy to know when you've accomplished your time or to see how quickly you are swimming. Lap lanes are usually available all day but always check their website for the most accurate info. A large play area is available for kids and families as well as an individual shallow pool. A few lounge chairs and lots of metal bleachers on the perimeter. You can also walk a few feet to an outdoor patio if you need more sun. I did! Needed to speed up my drying time after my shower. Locker rooms are typical, a few private showers and an open shower pit area. Staff is friendly. They were super helpful and informative when I called to inquire about usage and the same friendliness greeted me when I arrived. Happy to have discovered this pool and will be back! I have a punch card to use up!!!

I am so grateful for all the staff at HRAC. During this time with COVID, their jobs are more…read morestrenuous and they're under more pressure but they all have such positive attitudes. I swim here weekly, almost daily, and they keep the pool and locker rooms immaculate. I feel safe coming here! Thank you staff for taking COVID seriously and keeping everyone safe!

We were on an ACL cruise at the end of April with a stop in Hood River and we signed up for the…read morekayaking excursion. Fantastic experience! Justin was very thorough with explanations of the surrounding environs and it seemed everything around. He pointed out different wildlife in the area and our group even saw a white bunny (in the wild). We also went looking with him for morel mushrooms on land (sadly, none found). The company provides most everything you need for a comfortable kayaking experience, (outer wear, life jacket, dry bag, two types of single kayaks, or double, paddles) included (refresher) instructions for paddling, and helpful tips, assistance and corrections throughout if needed. Even though it was a bit chilly (50s) windy and slightly misting, we stayed warm enough throughout. Would recommend waterproof shoes or watershoes (bring a change of shoes and socks for afterward). Just enjoy the scenery. Such a great way to spend an afternoon! Thank you, Justin for the amazing experience and contributing to our memorable 30 year anniversary!

We had a terrific kayak tour with Hood River SUP and Kayak. Our two guides were super, very helpful…read moreand encouraging with our novice paddling skills. The scenery is spectacular and it was the perfect way to end our first visit to the Columbia River Area. We would recommend this tour company highly.

First rafting experience....ABSOLUTELY THE ONE OF THE BEST FIRST TIME EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE!!!…read moreCountry was beautiful the rafting trip was absolutely cool it started off with a bang right off the bat Steve was so very professional, chill, relaxed and on point the entire time. William was Very cool professional collective educated knew his stuff Paul was cool as all get out, courteous, funny, and very good at his job. all three were so much fun to be around. It was like having my friend guide us down the river!!!! I am booking a trip soon as I can to take my family down with all star river rafting! I can't wait to see you guys again Sincerely appreciated, Beardo McBaggins

WE HAD THE BEST TIME. Mike was our guide. He made us all feel safe and we loved his stories, felt…read morelike we were hanging with a friend. Also his style was tight as hell. All around A+ experience.