Tieton River Rafting

The Tieton’s claims to fame? A fast and furious season when water is released from behind Rimrock Lake Dam each September, plus its 50-feet-per-mile gradient, Washington’s steepest. The river sluices through a series of narrow volcanic gorges, dropping some 600 feet through an almost non-stop series of rapids like Wild Rose, High Noon, and the much-photographed Waffle Wall. West of Yakima and several hours from either Seattle or Portland, Oregon, Tieton whitewater only bares its teeth over several weekends each year, so makes for an ideal late-summer getaway. Better yet, the water is slightly warmer than other Pacific Northwest rivers after having been warmed in Rimrock Lake over the summer. There are also lots of nearby campgrounds and outdoor options throughout surrounding Wenatchee National Forest. (Check with the Naches Ranger District, 509-653-1400, for more information.)