Tieton River, WA

For one short month every September, the Tieton River becomes a wild ride on Class 3 rapids, dropping 55 feet of elevation each mile.

Known as the “flip-flop,” this special time of year happens when the water flowing out of the Rimrock Reservoir is increased, dramatically affecting the flow of the Tieton and Naches rivers. Designed to make way for spawning salmon and to provide for the irrigation needs of the Yakima Valley, the flip-flop’s additional benefit is turning the Tieton River into one of the best whitewater rafting areas in all of Washington. The total trip is 12 miles long, and takes around three hours. Since the water has been warmed in Rimrock Lake all summer, this is also some of the warmest whitewater rafting in the state.