Kayaking Seattle

If you want to go kayaking in one of the most beautiful areas of the United States, go kayaking in Seattle. Surrounded by water and mountains, Seattle offers stunning views from various vantage points throughout the city. The awesome height of the majestic Mount Rainier, some two hundred miles away, is breathtaking and the many views located in Seattle show the easy access to an abundant amount of outdoor recreational activities that take place year round.

Located just minutes from downtown Seattle in the charming city of Edmonds, you will find some of the best kayaking in the state of Washington. There you can experience one of the Sunset tours that provide you with some of the most beautiful sunsets for a romantic evening in a fully naturalized setting.

The Green River Gorge, which is located less than an hour from Seattle, is one of the most beautiful canyons in the state. The canyon is made up of rain forest-like scenery with ferns, moss and other plants dripping stunningly off the surrounding walls and resembling nothing more than a breath-taking and vast hanging garden.

The Green River sports numerous rocks that make kayaking down it a technically challenging, class three or four river and the rapids come in quick succession to give kayakers a heart-pounding ride. Most of the drops and rapids are then followed by a pool that is brief and calm. The main difficulty in kayaking in the Green River is timing the unpredictable dam releases. Most people go kayaking in the gorge during March and April to take advantage of the spring rains, which causes stronger releases from the dam.

Enthusiastic rafters usually start their kayaking trips in Kanasket-Palmer State Park, where they are soon surrounded by the high canyon walls of the beautiful Green River Gorge. Early challenges are supplied by Ledge Drop one and Ledge Drop two and rafters are kept alert and ready by the class four rapids like The Nozzle, Mercury and Pipeline. Once you’ve successfully navigated Paradise Ledge, you might want to take the time to stop and enjoy the scenery before continuing your whitewater journey. Then, when you are through Green River Canyon, you come to the easy class two and three rapids, where you can relax and float into Flaming Geyser State Park. There you’ll find picnic areas, restrooms and plenty of grassy expanses to relax and romp.

Flaming Geyser State Park is named for the seven fire pits where methane gas seeps out, which, when ignited, creates a small torch flame in a rock pit. It has 4,800 feet of shoreline along the Green River, a shop building and seasonal housing.

Located about an hour and a half drive north of Seattle is the Sauk River, which is a federally protected scenic and wild river. The fantastic mountain views make kayaking this class three and four whitewater a thrilling and challenging experience with rapids names like Jaws, Whirlpool and Popeye on the main part of your trip. It is then followed by calmer waters, which gives you plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the scenery.