FREQUENT PADDLER PROGRAM

What could be better than getting out on the river multiple times in a season? Getting out on the river multiple times in the season and being eligible for our Frequent Paddler Program, that's what!

All guests of Wildwater have the chance of receiving free apparel and discounted trips if you join us for a few trips in the season.

The rafting season starts in April and goes until the end of September. Which means you have plenty of time throughout the year to become eligible for the different incentives that we offer through our Frequent Paddler Program.  Not only do we raft for at least 6 months out of the year, but we also offer 8 different rivers to raft in Washington, and offer stand up paddling trips near Leavenworth.  

FREQUENT PADDLER PROGRAM 

- For your 3RD trip with us you will receive a FREE Wildwater River Guides' custom t-shirt.

- For your 4TH trip with us you will receive 50% off the trip price. 

Trips must be within the calendar year to count towards the frequent paddler program. Participants must all have rafted/or Sup'ed the 3 -4 times to be eligible for the program.  

RIVERS OR TRIPS THAT COUNT TOWARDS THE PROGRAM 
Raft the Wenatchee River
Raft the Skykomish River
Raft the White Salmon River
Raft the Methow River
Raft the Green River
Raft the Toutle River
Raft the Skagit River Whitewater
Raft the Skagit River Bald Eagle trip
Stand up paddle on the lower Wenatchee River
Stand up paddle on Icicle Creek 

STAFF HIGHLIGHT: RIO

 NAME: Rio
NICKNAME: Rio dog or Little dog.

I love to smile. 

Here is a photo of me, doing my job and watching the office as the security manager.

GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF.

I'm only a year and nine months old but boy, have I done a lot in my life so far. I've hiked mountains, rafted and SUPed rivers, met tons of new dog friends, and played a lot of fetch.. I sure do love fetch.

Some of my favorite things to do other then playing fetch is to go hiking, chew on my dog toys, roll in dead things, playing with my Cat sister Kyra, and give lots of kisses.

I love people, and other animals and get really excited when ever I get the chance to make new friends. My parents tend to scold me when I jump up on people, but all I'm trying to do is give them kisses on their face. I've heard that's what you do to people you care about, and I haven't met anyone that I don't care for.

This is a photo of me at my favorite beach along Tumwater, just outside of Leavenworth. That is my favorite Frisbee (Zisc) made by West Paw Design. 

I love every season.. here is a photo of me making turns down the hill this past winter.

When I was 5 months old I got to visit the Columbia River Gorge for the first time, and now we go back every August for our White Salmon rafting season. I especially like picking up poison oak while hiking and giving it to all my co-workers that pet me.

I love to play with my sister Kyra, but I also like to snuggle with her.. and I know she appreciates the mellow time with me.

This is my new neighbor friend Turbo, he comes over for play dates and we wrestle and chase each other all over the property. I love making new friends.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RIVER THAT WILDWATER OFFERS?

I would have to say that my favorite river that Wildwater rafts would be the Wenatchee. It is my home river, and the first experience I had with whitewater. I love the main section for rafting and the lower section for stand up paddling.

This photo was taken on Icicle Creek during a girls play run that my Mom invited me on.. I sure love SUPing with my Mom. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RIVER OR MULTI-DAY TRIP?

My favorite multi -day river trip is the Rogue River in Southern Oregon. I joined my parents and some friends on the Rogue river last October to celebrate my Dad's 30th birthday. Boy did we have fun! 5 days spent rafting, hiking, and running around on the beaches and banks of the beautiful Rogue river was a blast. I even SUPed with my Mom and swam through a rapid. I can't wait to get back out on the Rogue River, maybe we will get to go back this Fall.

My very first multi-day river trip on the Rogue River. I'm thankful to have my NRS - CFD to keep me safe while on the river. 

A family photo from our Rogue River trip.  Fall on the Rogue River is beautiful and so much fun!

WHAT GOT YOU INTO WHITEWATER?

I was first introduced to whitewater last year on the Wenatchee River when I joined Justine and fellow co-worker and river guide Julianna for a R-2 play trip in my Uncle Neils' mini me. I had such a great time rafting that I soon begged my parents to take me out on a stand up paddle board.

I may have been hesitant at first, but my Mom was patient with me my first time rafting on the Wenatchee River. 

My Dad took me for my first time on a stand up paddle board. I like that I match my Dad on the river, and everyone thinks it's cool that I can SUP. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?


"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain

WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL AND WHY?

My spirit animal is a Honey Badger because most of the time I don't really care what happens as long as I have a toy to play with.

My first day on the job when I was hired to be the security manager at Wildwater. I've learned a lot since the first day. 

Written by: Rio dog 

WILDWATER APPAREL

TANK TOPS
Description: Bella racerback flowy ladies tank top.
Colors available: Dark heather grey and black with cool grey logo, and WILDWATER in red on the back between the shoulder blades.
Sizes available: XS - XL ( Women's only!)

Tank tops are $20.00 when added on to a rafting trip, stand up paddling trip, or kayak instruction course. We will bring your apparel to the river. This price includes tax. 

Apparel must be purchased before the river trip so we can bring the items to you, for you to receive the discounted price.

$25 when you want us to mail the tank top to you. This price includes tax + shipping. 


HOODED SWEATSHIRTS
Description: Bella & Canvas, poly - cotton blend hoody, REALLY SOFT!
Colors available: Dark heather grey & black.
Sizes available : XS-2XL (uni-sex)

Hooded sweatshirts are $35.00 when added on to a rafting trip, stand up paddling trip, or kayak instruction course. We will bring your apparel to the river. This price includes tax. 

Apparel must be purchased before the river trip so we can bring the items to you, for you to receive the discounted price. 

$40 when you want us to mail the sweatshirt to you. This price includes tax + shipping.

TRUCKER HATS
Description: Trucker hat with mesh back and semi - structure front.
Colors available: Grey, with white (as seen in photo).
Size: One size fits all.

Trucker hats are $15.00 when added on to a rafting trip, stand up paddling trip, or kayak instruction course. We will bring your hat to the river. This price includes tax. 

Hat must be purchased before the river trip so we can bring the items to you, for you to receive the discounted price.

$20 when you want us to mail the hat to you. This price includes tax + shipping. 

CUSTOM T-SHIRTS 
Description: Gildan - Short sleeve - Ultra Cotton
Colors available: Red & Black
Sizes available: Women's XS-XL Men's S-2XL

T-shirts are $15.00 when added on to a rafting trip, stand up paddling trip, or kayak instruction course. We will bring your item to the river. This price includes tax. 

Apparel must be purchased before the river trip so we can bring the items to you, for you to receive the discount.

$20 when you want us to mail the t-shirt to you. This price includes tax + shipping. 

Give us a call in the office if you are interested! 1-800-522-WILD (9453). 

LOW WATER - WENATCHEE RIVER UPDATE

From late July and into August, Wildwater River Guides shifts our main operation from the Wenatchee River to the White Salmon, which is several hours south of our main base in Peshastin. Although weekend bookings are closed on the Wenatchee from this point on, we do continue to run weekday trips on our home stretch. At this point in the season most of the snow that feeds the Wenatchee has already melted and floated our boats downstream, only to return again as winter precipitation. But the riverbed is not dry. The late-summer water, low as it may be, will still float a raft full of people down to Cashmere. The nature of these trips is different than those we run in May and June, but they do have a unique appeal that simply cannot be compared with early season high water.

The Wenatchee River is at the perfect level for family friendly trips.

The White Salmon River holds the BEST whitewater in the State for the month of August.

First and foremost, the air and the water are actually warm. No more wetsuits and blasts of cold water to the face– come late July it’s “sun’s out guns out” and there is no better time than to show off those biceps or work on your PFD tan than on a casual Wenatchee float.

In the spring season large waves can easily flip a boat or knock you out, but as the water comes down throughout the Summer, swimming becomes more a matter of your own volition than that of the river. In the slower, deeper stretches of the river you can jump into the water and cool off, and just about anywhere save the rapids you can incite playful (or competitive) splash wars between boats. As a guide, I like to take the opportunity to practice flip drills in the late summer. If my guests want to get wet I’ll have everybody get to one side of the raft to help me flip it upside down, then hoist myself and whoever else back onto it in order to flip it back over, and finally pull everybody/everything back into the boat before continuing downstream.

BIG hits in the Spring and early Summer on the Wenatchee River.

Say "good-bye" to the wetsuits until next season - the weather is HOT here and the water feels great.

Another perk of late-season floats is that there are generally far fewer boats on the water, which creates a more natural, remote-feeling atmosphere for you and your friends or family. Sometimes you’ll see a few fellow rafters or spot some quiet fisherman on the bank, and at other times you may come around a bend to find that you have an entire section of the river to yourself.

Most of the rapids on the Wenatchee mellow out when the water drops, but they don’t disappear completely. Drunkards Drop loses the huge raft-rocking waves that usually characterize it, but you still get to feel the several foot “drop” that creates the rapid in the first place. Snowblind, which is usually a disorienting series of white-capping waves at higher water, becomes a beautiful maze of exposed bedrock. In some sections of the rapid it feels like you gloss right over the top of the riverbed, which is perfectly visible through the shallow water. When the water gets lower yet, you have to carefully maneuver the boat through tiny pathways left between the large protruding rocks, making the rapid feel almost like a puzzle. And Granny’s, the last rapid on the Wenatchee, always remains big and splashy regardless of the river’s level. After a relatively leisurely float, it’s fun to end the trip with a full-on class III wave train that will spark your nerves just before takeout.

You will still experience fun rapids on the river. 

“I would say low water Wenatchee is the best opportunity for families to come out and have fun with their kids on a river, enjoy the sunshine and the heat, the excitement of the waves and the splashes, without parents having to worry so much about risk,” Wildwater guide Jaime Jasinski says.


And if late-season Wenatchee doesn't seem to be your cup of tea you can always try one of our other trips available in August. Test your balance on one of our class-II SUP trips, head up to the scenic Skagit river nestled in the North Cascades, or head on down to the White Salmon and huck yourself over Husum Falls.

Stand up paddleboard on the lower Wenatchee River. 

Enjoy a family friendly scenic trip on the Skagit River in the North Cascades National Park.

Optional Class V Husum Falls on the White Salmon River is a great way to get your adrenaline pumping. 

Written by: Nicholas Farley