Feel the rush: Whitewater rafting on the Wenatchee River

Looking for adventure? There's nothing quite like rush you'll get, riding the rapids of the Wenatchee River.

Dubbed “one of the most popular whitewater runs in the state” by Wenatchee Outdoors, the short stretch of water between Leavenworth and Cashmere is a scenic whirlwind of roaring class two and three rapids. The stretch also offers convenient, quick shuttling, and easy access to the river. Combine that with the warm sunshine found during the spring melt-off season and you have a recipe for a world-class run.

Many professional rafting companies can be found in the area — more than a dozen each year. They run the river for the entire spring season and will feed you and bus you back to where you started. To find them, check outdoor stores and local listings in the Wenatchee and upper Wenatchee Valley communities, including the Leavenworth area.

World photo/Don Seabrook Betsy Steele, left, and Jane Provo point out birds flying over Icicle River from their raft during the Leavenworth Bird Fest in 2015.

World file photo Paddlers navigate a raft through the rough water of a set of rapids called Snow Blind on the Wenatchee River near Cashmere.