Columbia River

The Columbia River pours more water into the Pacific Ocean than any other river in North or South America. In its 1,270 mile course to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia flows through four mountain ranges -- the Rockies, Selkirks, Cascades, and coastal mountains – and drains a 259,000-square-mile basin that includes territory in seven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) and one Canadian province. This vast river basin was formed near the end of the last Ice Age, by the Bretz Floods. Immense ice dams half a mile high held back melting ice, creating a huge lake in northwest Montana, called Lake Missoula. Each time the ice gave way, massive walls of water as high as four hundred feet hurled boulders and icebergs seaward with a great destructive force.

Today, the Columbia River is world famous for its broad range of recreational opportunities. Popular activities include water skiing, canoeing, salmon fishing, swimming, day cruising, and hiking in the surrounding mountains.

The Entiat River has a charming “Old West” type of feel. Starting with the confluence as it flows into the Columbia, the Entiat river is perfect for a quiet canoe ride with abundant wildlife. Each bend in the river reveals a new, unique landscape. A few miles up the river, the vegetation becomes denser and the radiant colors of the deciduous trees’ fall leaves are absolutely enchanting. As you travel further up the river, the deciduous trees are replaced with evergreen trees. There are many places to camp and hike, especially around Entiat Falls and Silver Falls.