The Chiwawa river is often overshadowed by her popular sister to the north west, the Wenatchee, only 30 minutes away, but the lush scenery and crystal clear waters have made the Chiwawa run a sought after experience for many rafters in the area. Currently the outfitter above is the only company permitted to guide this river and the season is quite short, from mid-June through the 4th of July. These two factors combine to make a rafting trip on the Chiwawa in eastern Washington even more of a unique experience.
The Chiwawa begins high in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades on Chiwawa and Fortress Mountains. It flows through the Wenatchee National Forest and into the Wenatchee River, several miles east of Lake Wenatchee. Much of the drainage for this river is classified as national forest and wilderness, and the upper Chiwawa watershed still remains untouched. This is the closest whitewater trip to Puget Sound, and makes the perfect day trip for visitors to the area.
A whitewater rafting trip on the Chiwawa River is perfect for both the novice rafter looking for some true Class III excitement, to the more experienced paddler who will still get a thrill out of the continuous splashy rapids.