Floating The Yakima River
76Places to Stay
- Bureau of Land Management - Sites on the Yakima
There are a small number of sites available on a first come first served basis along the river at Lmuma, Umtanum, and Roza, and Big Pines (The Slab). These are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. - KOA in Ellensburg
The KOA has camping spots right on the river, but suffers a little from highway noise. It is a great option if you have young kids, they have lots of activities for kids including a playground, a small swimming pool, and four wheel bikes. - Red's Fly Shop Lodging
Red's has wall tents, cabins, and tent camping available. They have a great location right on the river. They fill up early on weekends, so reserve well in advance.
Fishing on the Yakima
- The Evening Hatch - Yakima Fly Fishing
Good general guide to fly fishing on the Yakima River. - The Yakima River Fly Fishing Journal
Regularly updated page with the latest information on fishing conditions on the Yakima.
Good Raft for the Yakima
 | Amazon Price: $69.95 |
Floating the Yakima river is a popular way to spend a summer weekend. Ellensburg is the closest city to the start of the trip and is a 2 hour drive from Seattle. The Yakima moves fast and can be floated with an inexpensive inflatable raft, or a canoe. We used the Challenger raft displayed on this hub, but we recommend buying paddles, which are not included. Also, the Challenger can only fit 2 adults, not 4 as claimed. For a more comfortable and spacious ride, try the Fish Hunter, which does come with paddles.
Where to put in
Although there is a boat launch at the KOA in Ellensburg, only boats with frames are allowed to put in there, and even then it is not recommended due to obstructions in the water from the KOA to Ringer. The best put in site is Ringer Loop Rd, off Canyon Rd, and you need a fishing permit to park there. Fishing Licenses/ Parking Permits are available at the Fred Meyer in Ellensburg, among other places. If you are willing to carry your water craft to the river, you can park on the road just outside for free.
UPDATE Aug 2009: See the comment below, apparently it may not be safe to put in at Ringer Road.
Where to take out
Here is a good map of the Yakima from Red's website with places to take out marked. A good place is The Slab. Count on going about 3 miles per hour while on the river.
Highlights
The Smiley Face is a cliff along the river that is a popular place to stop and jump off a cliff. Currents can be tricky so only jump if you are a confident swimmer.
Warnings
The hills on the right side of the river, early on, are known as the Rattlesnake Hills and rattlesnakes can often be heard. Obviously, not a good place to take off for a hike.
Yakima River Photos
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beautiful pics.nice place.
Gorgeous pictures, and very informative article. You are a good travel writer -- your writing is clear and concise, easy to understand and gives the reader what he or she needs to know to make the Yakima rafting excursion pleasant and doable. I hope you are considering a career as a travel writer.
Brings back some very fond memories! Thank you for capturing a small piece of the great life of the Yakima Valley.
Nice info...the lower canyon route that you are suggesting can be quite busy in the summer. I recommend parking at the confluence of the Teanaway River near Cle Elum and floating down to
to the Thorp Diversion Dam. Takes about 3 hours. Parking is free and the water is clearer than the canyon stretch.
I floated this river a few weeks ago and what fun we had. I'm not brave in the water but it's basically quite calm. Nice, relaxing fun summer thing to do, especially if you have someone nice to float for four hours with!
Hi Mausmi,
I love your photos. It looks like a beautiful area, and very serene. Relaxing just to view and read your article. Thank you.
Roy
we float the river every year. last year we were on the oasis island with a bbq floating behind on one of those dirty black tubes. the big pines sure have changed alot but we still had a good time. ringer to the pines...aw yeah
I floated this 2 years ago with friends and had a blast! I am going there to do it again this summer~
Does anyone know of an official site to determine the conditions on the Yakima River before I go? I want to check out special problems such as snags and river flow so I don't run into trouble.
I am planning on floating this weekend, my only concern is how do we know when we reach "The Slab" to get out? And not keep on floating passed our cars? anything will help, thank you
We are floating the river in Aug. Need to know best place to put in and take out. thanks
Can you keep going past the Slab (all the way into Selah & Yakima)?
No Cam - The Rosa dam prevents floats downriver
I just tried to buy a permit to park at the WDFW site off Ringer Road and the clerk required not only drivers license info but my SSN !!! I refused, and hope I can indeed park just outside the site. I also sent a letter of complaint to the director of the WDFW and suggest other do the same --- SSN is so common in identify theft, and who knows how secure is the database that the clerk in the local store is entering it? I don't give that to get a snow-park permit or a NW forest pass (and never mind the question of just how many different permits a person must buy to enjoy the outdoors ...).
Regarding best place to put in, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH PUTTING IN AT RINGER ROAD IS VERY DANGEROUS this time of year. Me and two other floaters put in here yesterday and within 5 minutes were immediately in very serious trouble. We got rammed up against and then caught up in the low hanging trees and river debris along the river's edge. Unless you have the strength to manuever your craft (tube or raft)in to the middle of the river the instant you put in you will definetely get swept in to the fast current along the edge of the river where you will be forced directly in to fallen trees, branches and river debris. In effect, this bunch of caught up branches,tree trunks and old river tubes acts like a damm. The force of the dammed up current will drag you under water, it's that strong. We got help from the sherrif (thank you thank you) and a citizen (Barry, thank you!). The sherrif and the citizen told us that Ringer Road through about 2 miles down river is the most dangerous area on the entire river to put in, period. The local Sherriff and citizen know how dangerous this area of the river is but you won't find public notices posted about the danger of the Ringer Road plus two miles put in. We are three physically healthy, strong people and we nearly didn't make it. If you think you can beat this river, you are wrong, heed this warning.
Looks like a beautiful place to enjoy some leisure time. Thanks!
Fellow river junkies: the yak is the shit. ive seen several people go under the trees after putting in at ringer... the vast majority were idiots that had a beer in their hand and just plopped their ass in their tube and let themselves drift straight for them.....I get in at this spot several times a year and have had no problems. Just pay attention, learn to paddle, and somehow keep your smokes dry and you'll have a good float.
Ive floated the Yakima twice and am heading out for our third float next week.Both times were an absolute blast. We launched at Ringer both times with no problems. Although buy the stupid permit or you'll find yourselves walking a long way and getting a parking ticket to boot. Oh and River junkie buy a coleman waterproof case for dry stoges.
Floated the Yakima River on 7/10/10 from the ringer loop road down to the slab, about a 4-5 hour trip. Ringer loop has a launch if you have a Wa state fishing permit. Otherwise there is another lot close by with river access (the small lot with wood fence) that is about 500’ from the river. We floated a 2 person raft and were equipped with two paddles. I was prepared for the ringer since I had read the warnings on this web site. I did notice some people had got caught in the trees during the first stretch of the ringer area. These people were in tubes and unprepared to navigate. However, if you have any control of your raft or tube (paddles) you will be able to navigate with ease. Once you get through the ringer there are very few obstacles to watch out for. Just stay in the middle of the river. Also be aware that the speed on Canyon Rd. is 45mph and it is strictly enforced. I saw quite a few people had been pulled over including a few undercover officers. Stop at the Palace Café in Ellensburg for some good food afterwards.
Make sure to bring:
1. Paddles
2. Sun Gear: Sunscreen/Hat/Sunglasses
3. Ample supply of beverages and a way to dispose of the empties properly.
4. I would also recommend Teva’s or some type of aquatic shoe. You will probably lose regular sandals.
Yep I am a local and have never had any problems. Been floating this river for near 12 years now, always putting in at Ringer loop. In fact, about 20 of us went yesterday.
If you want to be a retard and not bring paddles, then you get what you get. We saw so many intoxicated college kids who were unprepared... floating on the most insane things. Looked like a blast... but funny how none of us came into any problems UNTIL we got to Pacman (formerly smiley) cliff.
The idiots there were astounding. Now I have seen several cliff jumpers over the past 12 years... but never in this strong of an undercurrent. These kids were totally unprepared. One almost nailed our paddle boat caravan... with mothers and children. Maybe a 12 inch buffer between him and the paddle boat. We got out to swim over to the rocks as we were going to jump as well. I got dragged down into the water by a college boy who couldn't pull out of the under current. Aside from a bruised arm... and one hell of a paddle to shore, we were fine.
The potential for hazzard there was infinite. I urge all future floaters to use caution... several people a year drown in that river. Please don't think you are super man/woman. Undercurrents are real. When you jump off cliffs... there may be obstructions that are under neath. Use caution and your head. I would hate to hear of another person dying due to carelessness.
ALSO... PLEASE REFRAIN FROM FILLING YOUR EMPTY BEER CANS WITH RIVER WATER TO SUBMERGE THEM. I DON'T THROW GARBAGE IN YOUR POOL, SO KEEP YOUR GARBAGE OUT OF MINE.
What time of year is the best to go? We are thinking of either the last weekend in July (30th) or August (28th)?
THanks!
I think the point breenfour is making is this is not just a relaxing float. You have to be on your toes from the start and paddling like crazy to stay away from branches and rocks. If you want a nice relaxing float there are plenty of slower rivers, the Yakima moves fast. Do not tie up to anyone and bring paddles. This is not your slow relaxing beer float. It definitely gets better after the first two miles but be prepared to work.
I would't say this river is THAT fast..def a relaxing easy float. I lived in eburg for 4 years while going to school and floated every chance i got. Bring lots of beer and enjoy...this river is the shit.
Can anyone tell me where to camp with two couples? We want to float the yakima and want a camp ground with some privacy so were not waving to our neighbors or being told to be quiet all the time? There have got to be some great camping spots..right now I only see RV parks and gravel parking lot camp grounds. Please help! Any response is appreciated :).
Jeani, you can pick a spot on the right side of the river. The road runs down the left side heading down stream so about a half day flout down the canyon, pick a nice pull off and camp next to the rail road traks. Keeps you away from the road and give you the quit space you need for couple time!
ben their done that lots of fun
its lot of fun to have water fights and more aint it
Anyone know how deep the river is in mid-August, or right now? I used to float shallow rivers all the time in MT but haven't floated the Yakima. I'm organizing a float for 8/20/11 with 8+ friends, most of whom are inexperienced on rivers. Sounds like paddles are a must. And anywhere to rent tubes nearby?
we just went yesterday and tubed from Umtanum to Roza. we used "let's go tubing" since it was our first time. They are fine, but way overbooked and not enough shuttles to pick up people at the end. We wouldn't use them again. Also, there are no signs or any indication you are getting close to Roza beach where you have to get out. We were so lucky a boater was there to throw a line out to us and help pull us in. The water was moving fast enough and if you're not on the left side you can be too far away to get over in time. But those things aside, a very fun leisurely, safe trip - we'll be doing it again.
Ralph Deeds Level 6 Commenter 5 years ago
Looks like fun!