How Can I Float The Yakima River?

One of Yakima's best outdoor traditions is floating the river. If you really want to make the most of the recreation Yakima has to offer, this is a must!

What To Pack

Make sure to bring sunscreen, towels, bathing suits, sturdy water shoes, and a floating instrument of your choice. Innertubes, kayaks, and rafts are preferred. Red's Fly Shop rents kayaks, rafts, and drift boats! To access the campsites to begin the float, you either need a discovery pass or $5 for the day-use dropboxes.

Different Lengths

Depending on your schedule, there are different length floats you can choose from. The bottom point of the river float to leave one car is always set at Roza Recreation Site as all non-motorized water craft must leave the river before the Roza Dam.

2 Hour Float: Lmuna Creek-Roza Recreation Site

3 Hour Float: Umtanum Creek-Roza Recreation Site

5 Hour Float: Big Horn Campground-Roza Recreation Site

Safety

Make sure to always stay in the middle of the river while floating, to avoid trees branches and log jams on the banks, don't tie tubes together with fixed rope to prevent entrapment, avoid alcohol, and always wear your life jacket. Bring an instrument to push you back out in case you get stuck at the banks.

If you get flipped, make sure not to try and stand in moving water as you can risk getting your foot trapped. Instead, float on your back with your feet out to calmer water. Always bring water as well, you can get dehydrated quickly!