Green River Gorge Rafting

For most of the year, the Green River is a mostly passive stretch of water whose lifeblood is destined to become drinking water for the residents of the city of Tacoma. However, spring rain and snowmelt bring the Green to life when engineers open the floodgates to the Howard A. Hanson Dam near Palmer, Washington. For major Class IV rapids (Mercury, the Nozzle, Pipeline, and the Ledge Drop) provide the major turbulence, while another 25 Class III’s keep things interesting along the 14-mile ride. The scenery here is top notch, too, as the river drops through a steep canyon lined with moss and ferns. Most trips on the Green put in at Kanasket-Palmer State Park, 11 miles northeast of Enumclaw, and finish up at Flaming Geyser State Park, located between Auburn and Black Diamond. Given that the river is only an hour’s drive from downtown Seattle, this is an easily accessible urban escape (which also spells crowds, on the downside).