April – August · Daily 8AM – 6PM

Best whitewater river rafting near Seattle Washington.
Class 3–5 Opens soon

Our home river in Gold Bar · March – July

Skykomish River Whitewater Rafting

The best whitewater in Washington State.

Book online below, or call us with questions.

If you’re looking for heart pounding whitewater, you’ve found it. The Skykomish River offers the best in Washington State! Learn about our class 3 -5 rapids Skykomish Whitewater Trips below. Coincidentally, the Skykomish River is the closest whitewater rafting to Seattle, WA at just 1-hour away so it’s the perfect choice for weekend warriors and a quick one-day getaway. This Washington State protected scenic river is our Home River and no one runs it like we do!

Trip description

Alpine Adventures whitewater rafting trips launch just below the towering peaks of Mt. Index and the Lake Serene trailhead. The trip begins with paddle practice in the calm turquoise pools above the misty horizon line of the first rapid. A few miles downstream lies the famous Boulder Drop rapid. Standing on the river bank next to Boulder Drop causes hearts to pound just looking at the thundering Class IV-V section of whitewater. When the river is at 6,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) or above, Boulder Drop becomes Class V and you need a great team with one of our expert Skykomish raft guides to lead you between massive house size rocks. We always stop and scout this rapid, as some guests may choose to walk around and be picked up downstream, especially at big water! Check out our Skykomish River rafting photos on Facebook.

Boulder Drop is not the only big rapid on the Main Section of the Skykomish. There are plenty of other exciting Class III to Class IV type of rapids including “Bonsai,” “Aquagasm,” “Lunch Hole,” “Railroad,” ” and “Fisherman’s,” to max out your adrenal gland as you wind down the river to our take-out at Big Eddy State Park. The awesome power of this river along with stunning mountain views make this trip a true Northwest can’t miss classic!

Book your trip

Pick a date and meeting time below, then follow the prompts to complete your reservation. Questions? Call us and we’ll book it for you.

How to Prepare

We provide all the technical gear. Here's what to wear and bring on most trips — check your trip's detail page for its specific list.

Bring · Hot Weather

  • Bathing suit or lightweight clothes
  • Water bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses

Bring · Cold Weather

  • Thin, non-cotton base layer
  • Wool socks
  • Water bottle

We Provide

  • 3mm neoprene wetsuit & river shoes
  • Splash jacket, PFD & helmet
  • Rafts, paddles & river guides
  • Shuttles to & from the river

Before you arrive: every rafter needs a signed waiver (parent/guardian signs for under-18s). Please leave pets at home and don't bring anything you're not willing to lose to the river.

Good to know

Leave it at home

Don't bring anything on the river you aren't willing to lose forever: phones, wedding rings, dangly jewelry, extra bags. Pets stay home.

Waiver

Every rafter signs a release of liability; a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18. Sign online before you arrive to speed up check-in.

Weather and water

We raft rain or shine. If the river is too high to run safely on your day, we may change rivers, reschedule, or cancel with a full refund.

Refund policy: 100% refund if you cancel at least 30 days in advance, 50% if you cancel 10 to 29 days in advance, and no refund inside 10 days or for no-shows. If fewer people show up than spaces were reserved, you're responsible for all reserved spots.

Where to meet

Meeting address

221 Croft Ave. Gold Bar, WA 98251

Meeting times: Mon – Fri 10am & 2:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am & 2pm

Arrive 20 minutes early with a signed waiver for everyone in your group. Look for the Alpine Adventures vehicles.

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