I've never had such an amazing Mother's Day! I ended up going on this rafting trip alone because we couldn't find a babysitter so my husband could come too, and I was honestly a little nervous at first. But from the moment I arrived, everyone made me feel so comfortable and welcome that those nerves disappeared immediately. Our guide, Peter, was absolutely amazing. He was extremely thorough with safety instructions and made sure everyone felt safe and confident throughout the trip, while still keeping everything fun and exciting. He had such a great way with people and really helped make the experience memorable. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and even the owner took the time to be kind and personable, which made the whole experience even better. You can tell they genuinely care about giving people a great experience. This trip made me want to come back before it was even over, and I'll definitely be returning this summer to hopefully try one of the more challenging rafting trips. Thank you all so much for giving me such a fun and unforgettable Mother's Day! read more

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Came all the way from San Francisco to a quick adventure! Went on a River rafting expedition. For a first timer, I had an amazing memorable experience. Our drifter was awesome..he is very funny, attentive and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this to whoever wants to have a quick fun adventure whenever you guys are traveling to Washington. read more

Max was the absolute best guide we could've had with our group. The 6 of us were all 18-23 yo and we all vibed super well. Super freaking fun, he kept us talking and having a blast the entire time we went down the river. Thanks to his training, we didn't flip over on the 10 foot waterfall!! Definitely would come here again in the future. Max was aura farming the entire time with us, we styled on all the other rafters read more

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Thrilling experience! If you want an exciting experience for the whole family, book it!! We went for a family reunion trip and they were accommodating of our entire group, with funny and extremely skilled guides. Matt was the BEST raft lead, if you book this, get him!!! He navigated our raft through the waterfall to the point that even my little sister, who was scared of the falls, came out smiling and excited to go again. The photos provided were extremely high quality and a great deal. I cannot speak highly enough of this company! read more

River Drifters - About to go down a small waterfall! - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

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So happy I booked with this company. I went rafting by myself and was paired with a cool group and even better guide. Mary was FANTASTIC really made me feel comfortable and guided with such knowledge and positivity. They really prioritize safety and ensure a good time. read more

River Drifters - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

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Matt was the goat of all goats he was fun and informative on my school trip there. Very good services. Highly recommend.

Matt was awesome! Highly recommend this group of incredible humans. We had such a great time cruising through rapids and waterfalls. 10/10

We came to the Oregon area looking for a time and we sure did all the guides were great we had Zane and he was amazing, he did a great job teaching use how to paddle and I it was cool hearing his stories and one of the other guides mentioned how Zane is a top kayaker so we definitely knew what he was doing, I would 100% recommend River drifters and specially Zane but all the guides were great. read more

Had such a blast white water rafting with this group today! River Drifters is well prepared, and their 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! read more

River Drifters - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

max was great, highly recommend. super super funny, very knowledgeable. PM forever!!!!!!

This was the PERFECT mix of slightly terrifying and completely amazing for my first experience white 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. read more

River Drifters - White Salmon River - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

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What a nightmare of an experience. We booked an all-day trip with River Drifters months in advance while visiting the area for a wedding. The day before, we got a cheerful confirmation email reminding us what to bring--so we thought, great, everything is set. A few hours later, I get a text saying our trip might be canceled because we were the only two booked. Really? After confirming us earlier that day? I told them we'd just cancel so we could make other plans, but instead they told us we had to wait until the end of the business day "just in case" someone else called in. So instead of enjoying our time, we're left hanging. Completely unacceptable. At 5:30 I finally messaged them myself and got the response: "I was just going to message you." Sure you were. They refunded the $30 quickly, but here's the kicker: when I got home I saw a $292.50 charge on my credit card. Mistake? Intentional? You can decide. It was eventually refunded, but I shouldn't have had to check. Bottom line: we never even got to go rafting, so I can't comment on the trip itself. But the customer service was awful. They expect customers to play by their rules, yet when it comes to respecting your time and money, don't expect the same in return. read more

Hands down best place to go white water rafting! Staff makes sure everyone is safe, and has a great time. I have already been multiple times over the years and it's always a blast! Shout out to Oscar, such an amazing guide!! read more

River Drifters - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

The guides at River Drifters made our rafting experience one to remember.. in all the best ways! They were welcoming, knowledgeable, well prepared, and very clearly excited to have us! They walked through what to expect on the water, as well as safety precautions thoroughly before getting in the rafts. Our guide, Brent was experienced, patient, and his passion for rafting and the nature around us made the experience that much more enjoyable. We had a family with 2 younger kids w us and he did a really nice job of explaining and reviewing his commands with some practice before we started to ease any nerves.. (mine included!) We even had the opportunity to ride Husum Falls, the largest commercially run waterfall in the US! The absolute coolest thing, I couldn't wipe the smile from my face the rest of the day. Definitely recommend!! They also provide the mandatory wet suits, life jackets, & helmets you need, as well as optional splash jackets & shoes to change into. Stop your search and BOOK YOUR TRIP!! =) read more

We had a wonderful tour with River Drifters! Mary was an excellent guide and expertly guided us for our half day trip. Highly recommend them! read more

Literally the most amazing experience!! We felt so safe, had an amazing time, and saw so many beautiful views!! Oscar was an absolute fantastic guide down the river!! Highly recommend!! read more

Made a reservation 3 weeks in advance for a 2pm time slot. Two days beforehand they text to inform me that time is not available and all they have is 11am. Screwed up our plans for the day and they didn't seem to really care. They wouldn't say why which leads me to believe they screwed us over for a larger party. Plenty of other reputable companies out there. read more

I can't say how much I would recommend this place at and above 5 stars. Let me explain. I met a guy a few weeks back at a party who said he and his wife had done all of white water rafting. I asked for a company recommendation and he said, by far, River Drifters were the way to go. So my wife and I, my brother, and 3 others packed up and headed there this weekend. They gave us a brief before the trip, got us suited and booted, and bused us to the starting point while giving a safety brief. Once in the boat, each guide schooled their group on the boat, went over some safety tips, and got us going down the River. My guides name was Ian. Ian got us going down the river, with brief stops to jump from a high rock, avoid a huge drop, and to ensure the group stays together. Safety seemed to be a priority with this company. At the end of the trip, there is a Level 5 drop right before you disembark the rafts and pull them out of the water. We were lucky enough to be the first raft to go from River Drifters group. To clarify, there were two other company's boats on the river that day. Before going down the drop, Ian had us practice a getting into a safe position for the drop, warning us of the dangers that could happen. After we complete the drop, we pull to the side under the bridge, and get the advantage of playing "safety raft" as other rafts come down to assist with pulling others out of the water in case anything were to happen. We watched as boat after boat (from all three companies) came down the drop. One thing we noticed was the difference in how every raft got into position for the drop. There seemed to be a big difference in how the other companies got into position (didn't seem like they did at all) compared to how the groups on River Drifter rafts got into a safe position. One of the other rafting company's rafts even came up to the drop wrong, got stuck on a boulder, and ended up going down the drop BACKWARDS, causing their raft to flip upside down! Yikes! We were there helping to pull them out of the water, noticing one guy's shoulder got dislocated. One of the guides from River Drifters helped him reset his shoulder, get his arm secured within the jacket, and on his way to a hospital to be checked out. All in all, BIG thank you to the River Drifters crew. They were awesome and everyone in my crew were happy by the end of that excursion. read more

Holy cow what a ride!! This company was amazing. Great spot they start and the guides..Peter Ely...kept my kids entertained and gave us such ease in this rapid water adventure! Highly recommend...and do the waterfall!!!! Thanks Peter and a River Drifters!! read more

River Drifters - White water rafting!! - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

Went on the full day white salmon river rafting trip last week and it was amazing! I highly recommend it. And our guide, Harris, was awesome. Our family tries to include some adventure in every vacation and I think the whole family (2 parents, a 13 yo, and a 14 yo) would agree this is officially our favorite. We had been on a rafting trip in Utah when the kids were younger and were looking for something with more rapids and more adrenaline. This trip fit the bill. You hit the first rapids immediately upon entering the water and they just keep coming for the whole first half of the trip. There's very little time to sit back and relax, which was perfect for our family. The waterfall comes right before lunch. Harris walked us through what to do in the worst-case scenarios but in our case, we completed the falls with no issues. You have lunch at the River Drifters outpost, which is within walking distance from the waterfall, and then start the second half of the trip. We debated between the full and half day after reading that the first half is the most exciting. It's true that there is less white water in the second half of the trip but you do hit a few good rapids and you raft through this beautiful part of the river with tight spaces to maneuver through and canyon walls soaring straight up from the water. The experience on the second half is something you can only see from the water so I highly recommend doing the full day; we were glad we did. I was nervous about the water temperature, since it was only 38 degrees on the late July day we took the trip. It is certainly cold...but bearable and worth it for how good the trip is. I'm a freeze baby and there was only one time, after falling into the water, that I felt cold. We wore wet suits but no rain jackets. The warm summer air certainly helped. read more

This was so amazingly fun. I've been white water rafting my on my own before but these guys took it to another level. They gave very clear instructions that ultimately helped us stay safe but also have more fun. Our guide Ian was especially outstanding as it was clear he put a great deal of effort into helping us have the most enjoyable experience possible. The gear they provide is also so helpful to keep us warm while being soaked by large rapids. I couldn't recommend these guys enough and I will definitely be coming back! read more

So much fun! Our guide Michelle was a rockstar! I would 100% do this again. This was the highlight of the Girls Weekend.

100% the highlight of our Oregon trip and my friends and I couldn't stop talking about our white water rafting trip! In my group there were 2 of us who had done IIs and IIIs and 1 person who had never rafted before. All of us had a great time and the adventure level was just right! The final waterfall V rapid at the end of the trip is optional. So if there's someone in your group who is not as adventurous then they can hop out of the boat and watch you go down the waterfall! The rest of the river rapids are very doable so don't be intimidated by the ratings! Our guide Jeremy helped a lot to make our trip super memorable as he was very knowledgeable and friendly! His safety talks were great and he really took the time to walk through what to expect with the grade V waterfall at the end so each person could make the best decision for themselves. One of my friends did get caught in the waterfall and it took her for a spin. But she said Jeremy's safety talk helped her to stay calm and she knew what to do in the moment. The outfit provides wetsuits, booties, and a water jacket. They also provided me with a light fleece which I appreciated as it kept me warmer since the water was about 40 degrees. I didn't feel cold at all so the gear they provide for you is great! Some of the helmets have a go pro mount so if you have one be sure to pack it with the right accessories as you need the sliding clip to attach your go pro to the helmet! You are also supposed to show up at least 15 min early so you can change if needed or use the bathroom and get settled. I arrived about 5-10 min late and was surprised that they started right on time. So don't be like me, be on time because they start on time and they jump right into getting you geared up. I would definitely recommend River Drifters to people of all experience levels from beginner to advanced. I was nervous because my friends were very inexperienced and one was not a great swimmer. But we all felt very safe and all the guides were very professional and you could tell that they took safety very seriously. At the grade V waterfall they had guides posted at the bottom waiting with the safety rope in case rafters fell out. My boat lost almost everyone but we were all picked up immediately and never felt like we were in serious danger. Thank you Jeremy and River Drifters for a great trip and making our trip to Oregon unforgettable! read more

We really enjoyed our experience at River Drifters. I've done one other organized trip and this one was very organized. We did the half day trip--got there around 9 but didn't get in the boat until about 10. There is a safety briefing and there's usually a lot of people/rafts. Decent rapids! Mostly worth it for the Class 5 you have the option to do at the end. None of the rest are too crazy. We dealt with some tourists who didn't listen to the guide well, but not River Drifters fault. Thanks for a great day! read more

TLDR: Rafting guide is being creepy and got our personal information to message us. A group of us went rafting for one of our friends birthdays. The trip itself was great! Our guide, Chris, was friendly and made it super fun. It wasn't until a few hours after, though, that we got a bit creeped out. It seems as though our guide had gone through our registration information to find our names, and then proceeded to find each of us on Instagram. He then messaged two of us, first with a ruse of "You guys forgot something at the rafting place" (we had not). He then asks if he can come hang out with us. Bear in mind, we are a group of 18-20 year old girls, and this man is in his mid to late 30's, so we are immediately put off. We politely decline. Now, almost a month after our trip, Chris has gone into our information once more and retrieved my phone number. He has texted me, as well as DMed me on instagram again. Sure, this could be seen as just being overly friendly, but it's highly unprofessional and downright creepy. Again, we are young, college age girls. Have some decorum, and maybe get some friends your own age, man. Otherwise great trip! read more

Whether you are visiting the greater Portland area or live here full-time, some decent whitewater rafting is just an hour to an hour-and-a-half up the Columbia River Gorge on a tributary originating from the glaciers of Mount Adams and better known as the White Salmon River. The price ($60 weekday/$65 weekend) seemed fair enough for a 3.5 hour whitewater rafting trip, but the first hour plus was consumed by a safety briefing, putting on a wetsuit, booties, helmet, and life vest, then driving seven miles upstream to begin our trip. We finished about 30 minutes early, so you can plan on having less than 2 hours on the river itself. The staff were all a bunch of "gnarly dudes", reminding me of Ridgemont High's Jeff Spicoli ("People on 'ludes should not drive") and equally suited for shredding waves as they are for whitewater rafting guides. There were four or five on the ancient Blue Bird bus, all making goofy jokes along the seven mile journey to start our trip. Once we finally got on the river, there was a succession of rapids that were fun and exciting. However, after the first few Class III and IV rapids, there was not much excitement. We floated for what seemed like the last half of the trip with nary a thrill. The canyon was spectacular and quite beautiful, so it was not a total waste, but I would have preferred a few more thrills spread out over the entire trip. The highlight of the trip was the jump into the river after portage around a waterfall midway downstream. The canyon was narrow, so we had to jump into the middle of the river 20 feet below in order to miss the submerged ledge, plunging into the 41 degree Fahrenheit glacial runoff from nearby Mount Adams ... BRRRRRRRRR! I told the guides about being a disabled veteran with knee, back and shoulder issues, but I was made to feel like a burden, a PITA, and was not allowed to go over the falls with my son and teammates at the end of the trip. I was not given an option by the guide and felt ripped off. Lesson Learned: Don't put people with mobility/knee problems in the front of the raft. I nearly fell out of the raft three times sitting front-left because I couldn't get a decent foothold and the guide took several drops with my side facing downhill, causing me to lose my balance. Once he put me in the back row, I was able to anchor my feet under the seat in front of me and had no further issues. Not a bad deal in retrospect, but the trip would have been much more fun for me had they put me in the rear of the raft from the beginning and allowed me to participate in the grand finale with my son and three other teammates. CombatCritic Gives River Drifters 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better! read more

It's the equivalent of river rafting with your best guy friends. The guys you want to end the day with a beer at the local pub. These tour guides are just...cool. For my birthday, my boyfriend surprised me with some whitewater rafting. Add in the fact it was the HOTTEST WEEKEND SO FAR this year and it was perfect. We rolled up (I was surprised) and also immediately nervous. Something about having a baby makes the most innocuous things scary. But never fear! Every single person here puts your mind at ease. They are a chill bunch and it reflects on your experience. They provide you with all the gear. Wet suit, booties, optional splash jacket and fleece. Here's a good hint - if you get cold easily, TAKE THE SPLASH JACKET. You may be hot before the river, but keep in mind the river is a glacier-temp flow from the mountain AND you aren't going to be basking in the sun on the river. You can take off the jacket. You can't bring it along. Also those wet suits kiss your body like an unfaithful lover. A swimsuit underneath will suffice. We did an afternoon half-day. It was fabulous. Scenic, adventurous, calm then splashy and bouncy again. You even get a chance to jump off a bridge (highly recommend). The river was too high for us to go over the waterfall (boo) but the trip was so fun, so causal and fun it didn't matter. I cannot, simply cannot, suggest this company high enough. We've already discussed coming back again. read more

The guys at river drifters deserve each and every one of these 5 stars. Went on the white Salmon river with instructors Erick & Alex earlier this week and had an amazing time. We got to raft some class 4 rapids and I can't wait to do it again! Both instructors were friendly, funny and really knew what they were doing. There is a short safety class before you get geared up which was informative, and I felt safe the whole trip. I will most definitely use this company again for my next white water rafting adventure. read more

River Drifters - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

Have drifted with this company twice now and have nothing but good things to say. The staff are always very friendly and outgoing. It is a bummer when a party shows up late because everyone has to wait for them so dont show up late! Read the directions they give you before. We had such an awesome experience because the water level wasn't too high. We were able to jump off a rock which was fun. The place isn't hard to see on the side of the road. There is free parking. I would recommend bringing dry clothes to change into after. Wear synthetic clothes on the drift. Also, tip your guides! read more

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Friendly and knowledgeable staff, $60.00 during the week and $65.00 weekends per person. Five intense hours of fun. There is a surprise hike around a class 6 rapid with the option to dive into the river from a ledge 16 to 20 feet in height depending on water level. This company provides the helmet, neoprene, paddles, raft and plenty of conversation. The water running down these lava plumes carved into the mountain is icy and a beautiful turquoise blue. A complete marvelous five hours. read more

We had a great experience. Registration and checkin was very easy and frictionless. The guides were all very professional and made us feel safe and secure. Our guide, Isaac, was awesome, definitely entertaining and made the experience very enjoyable. read more

River Drifters - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

This group is awesome! This was my first time every rafting and I made it out safe with no injuries or damage. Super fun! A+ service! It was the most funniest thing I have ever experienced. The staff is awesome and funny! The guides know their stuff and rest assure they know how to control the raft! I felt safe throughout the entire ride. It was about a 7 mile ride that took about 2 hrs to go down the river. For $60 that's a hell of a deal. The guides will share some history about the river and teach you a thing or two. But beware because if you make a reservation and don't show up they will charge you 50% of the cost. So make sure this is something you really want to do before you book a reservation. The river also has some calms spots where you can get out and swim. We went at the end of July and the water wasn't too bad. A couple spots were really cold but overrall it was warm. There is a big drop towards the end. I believe it was named Husum Falls but you can't go on it if its high tide (3ft or higher). They also let you jump of a bridge towards the end for all you jumpers out there. For all you adventurous people ask to "ride the bull" You will have a great time and won't have to paddle for a while. LOL Thanks for the good times River Drifters! read more

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We booked our outing on the White Salmon months before our mid-June trip - but when we found out the day before it was going to be exceptionally cold and pouring rain, we almost cancelled. Apparently, others had the same thought - it ended up being only my husband and I and one other couple upon arrival. "Oh no," we thought. "What are we getting into?!" WE ARE SO GLAD WE WENT! The guides were excellent and made sure we were kept relatively warm with wetsuits, spray jackets and fleece. Having never rafted before, we really appreciated their thoroughness during the safety orientation and in answering our questions. When we launched right away on a class IV rapid, us newbies in the front got soaked but had SO MUCH FUN! Our guides gave clear instructions and plenty of history about the river along the way. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful! We only wished we had more in our party because they didn't have anyone taking pictures of us due to our small size. We would have definitely bought them if they were made available. If you found out the weather isn't going to be ideal before your trip, don't be apprehensive and please don't cancel. You'll have the time of your life! read more

I went on a day trip float with my bridal party (me and five ladies) and we had the BEST TIME. Mike Fish was our guide, and we easily had the best trip of the entire day! Mike made us feel comfortable and we all laughed a ton, but mostly he made the day (and my whole bachelorette trip) the absolute highlight! He is funny and sweet, and really informative about the river, and we had a really good time!!!! All of of the other boats were jealous because we had such a great day HA. Cannot recommend this company, and especially Mike Fish, enough! read more

River Drifters - Tours Near Me - White Salmon, Washington

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Alex is a super knowledgeable guide. He knows about the history and geology of the surrounding area, and makes sure everyone is having fun!

What an amazing experience. My first time rafting and what a rush. Class 4 rapids in the first min and a waterfall drop at the end. We felt safe with the main guide and enjoyed every minute. We will be returning for sure! read more

Came out 4th of July with a HUGE group -- 9 adults and 8 kids -- and had an amazing experience! The entire River Drifter team was super helpful, friendly, and enthusiastic. Given the ongoing pandemic, the River Drifters team took every precaution for social distancing during the set up and ride up, and sanitized all equipment upon our return. Will definitely come back! read more

Awesome Crew! Beautiful scenery. I booked last minute and was so happy with the experience.

Simply incredible rafting experience. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly, and helped to alleviate my concerns of imminent death, hahah. Safety demo was great, and all the gear provided, making for a half-day on the river well-spent. I'd recommend for anyone new or experienced on rapid rivers, of any athletic ability. Bring your friends for an enriched experience! Check out Big Man's Rotisserie on the way out for some delicious BBQ!!! read more

After spending a half-day rafting the White Salmon river with the crew at River Drifters, I can say with confidence that they are a fantastic outfitter. From the time we arrived, hey took excellent care of our group of 6 and everybody had a great time. I'd go on an adventure with the River Drifters crew anytime. We arrived at 930 in the morning for the half-day trip down the river, a bit worried about the unseasonably cool weather. It turns out, that's a pretty dumb thing to worry about as 1) glacier runoff is generally the same temperature at all times and 2) they had all the gear we could possibly need to stay warm and dry. After getting changed and going through a brief-yet-thorough safety demonstration, we were on the bus to our drop-off location. We spent the trip going through a series of rapids, mostly class 4 but a couple class 5. We were in a raft with Alex, who was friendly and full of information about the river (and others in the area). He kept us all working as a team, and things always felt in control. There were a few surprises. First, we had an opportunity to jump off a cliff and into the water, which was awesome. Those that didn't feel up to it had an alternate route available, but only 2 people in the larger group of 4 boats took the chicken route. Also, we were given the chance to "buck the bronco", or ride on the front of the boat, hanging on for dear life. Good times, I tell ya! The trip went faster than I had imagined, and next time I'd gladly sign up for a full day. This is an awesome activity for summers in the NW, and River Drifters is an awesome outfitter to select. You'll be happy with the choice. read more