If you love spending time outdoors, a Sit-on-Top Kayaking Trip is the perfect way to spend a summer day! Imagine spending an entire day winding downstream, taking in the natural beauty of the Klickitat River along the way. You stop for a riverside lunch, and a Great Blue Heron lands just a few feet away. Just to cool off, you jump in the water for a quick swim and get in splash fights with your family. Perfect for families, youth groups, and anyone interested in learning whitewater kayaking but not yet ready to take a 2-day beginner kayaking course, Sit-on-Top kayaking is a great trip for all skill levels! Here are our top 5 reasons to take a Sit-on-Top kayaking trip this summer:
- It’s fun for all skill levels
- The Klickitat River is beautiful
- It’s a great intro whitewater kayaking
- It’s a change of pace from whitewater rafting
- You’ll escape the crowds
Sit-on-Top Kayaking is FUN for all skill levels
Even if you’ve never seen a river before, sit-on-top kayaking is fun for all skill levels and abilities. This guided trip on the Wild & Scenic section of the Lower Klickitat River includes mostly class II whitewater, which means it’s beginner friendly! Wet Planet’s experienced instructors will be there for support. The fun and convenient benefit of a Sit-on-Top kayak is the ease of maneuvering downstream combined with its stability and forgiving nature. Should you tip over, it is very easy to recover and get ‘back on the horse’. At the end of the day, you’ll even have the chance to paddle a fun class III called Ishy Pishy, which makes a for an exciting grand finale!
Sit-on-top kayaking is just plain fun!
The Klickitat River is beautiful!
Seriously, we love the Klickitat River! The water is warm, the trees are brilliant green, and you might even spot wildlife! We commonly see birds like Bald Eagles, Mergansers and Great Blue Herons. An added bonus is that it’s always sunny and warm on the Klickitat River – we rarely get bad weather. Paddling downstream on your sit-on-top kayak, you’ll have plenty of time to take in the view.
Blue skies on the Klickitat River during a sit-on-top kayaking trip.
Sit-on-Top Kayaking is a great introduction to whitewater kayaking
Are you interested in whitewater kayaking, but worried that that being upside down in a kayak and learning to roll might not be right for you? We know it can be intimidating! Sit-on-top kayaking is a great way to see if you like paddling your own kayak down a river before trying a hardshell kayak. The basic skills and strokes for sit-on-top kayaking translate to paddling a hard shell whitewater kayak if you decide you want to pursue the sport!
Budding kayakers learning to navigate Class II in a sit-on-top kayak.
Sit-on-Top Kayaking is a change of pace from whitewater rafting
Even if you’ve rafted the White Salmon River with Wet Planet 100 times, sit-on-top kayaking is a fun change of pace from whitewater rafting. On this trip, you get to be in charge of your own boat! It’s challenge by choice, but if you’re picking it up quickly, our instructors can teach you how to find the biggest waves, show you how to surf, and keep you on your toes. If you want bigger rapids, just wait for Ishy Pishy!
Ishy Pishy Rapid is a grand finale at the end of the day. It’s optional, but so much fun!
You’ll escape the crowds
As fun as it can be to go shopping in downtown Hood River, everyone likes to escape the crowds for a day. The Klickitat River is located on the east side of the crest of the Cascade Mountains, flowing into the Columbia River Gorge by the town of Lyle (10 miles east of Hood River and White Salmon). With less river traffic, a private sit-on-top trip makes for an intimate day with your family or friends. It’s an opportunity to disconnect for the day and be present with the people you love to spend time with!
Escaping the crowds on the Klickitat River.
Try something new this year and paddle down the Klickitat River with Wet Planet’s experienced instructors on our guided Sit-on-Top Kayaking Trip! We include lunch and all gear needed, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. All you have to do is pick your date and get excited! No matter where you come from, what kind of group you’re bringing, or what your prior experience is, Sit-on-Top Kayaking is a day of summertime fun that everyone in your group will enjoy!
Sit-on-top kayaking with Alpengirl Summer Camp!
