Whether you like to fish, float or paddle, it’s time to get out for fun on the water this summer. Just a short drive from Yakima takes you to several stunning lakes and rivers where you can refresh yourself under sunny skies with abundant recreation and leisure activities. Float, paddle or raft Yakima Valley rivers, enjoy stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) for beginners and experts alike or fish pristine lakes and experience Washington’s only blue ribbon trout stream. We’ve listed the most popular spots for SUP, kayaking, canoeing, rafting and fishing, but there are many more lakes and rivers to explore.

Rimrock Lake is a beautiful, large, clear blue lake surrounded by lush, evergreen-covered mountain. It’s located along Highway 12, the White Pass Scenic Byway, at an elevation of 2,926 feet, approximately 40 minutes from Yakima. This lake holds water for irrigation which is released during the month of September. The expansive lake is ideal for exploring by kayak, canoe or SUP. Just Breathe Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Yoga offers SUP classes, SUP fitness training and SUP yoga instruction. Mahre MADE and Girls with Grit offer an array of lake and river SUP clinics, classes and private tours for beginners and experts alike. One of their most popular clinics is Intro to River SUP, which begins on a private lake and ends with tasty snacks and beverages. Fishing enthusiasts know the lake is popular for Kokanee and rainbows. The best time to catch fish is May through August.

• Silver Beach Resort features a day use area with sandy beach access, camping, cabins, motel rooms, a designated swimming area, a boat launch, a convenience store and a small restaurant. The beach area is shallow quite far out during the early summer, making it a great place for SUP beginners. You’ll even find a small island a short distance offshore to paddle out to.
• Peninsula Campground West offers a dispersed camping area for RVs or tents and group camping on the eastern shore of Rimrock Lake near a boat launch. Kayakers, canoers, SUPers can head to a small island across the cove. Keep in mind that the water levels will be low in late summer, especially by the end of September.
• Horseshoe Cove Day Use Area is a popular day use area with a boat launch for putting in your kayak or canoe and picnic sites with access to the north shore of Rimrock Lake. 
• Tieton River runs east from Rimrock Lake along Highway 12. The month of September is the best time for experienced kayakers, white water rafters and SUPers looking for extreme whitewater rafting and paddle boarding! The annual Tieton River flip-flop is a one-time-a-year experience when you can enjoy the thrill of the fastest whitewater in Washington State! For one short month every September, the Tieton River becomes a wild ride on Class 3 rapids, dropping 55 feet of elevation each mile! This special time of year happens when the water flowing out of the Rimrock Reservoir is increased, dramatically affecting the flow of the Tieton and Naches rivers, turning the Tieton River into one of the best whitewater rafting areas in all of Washington! Since the water has been warmed in Rimrock Lake all summer, this is also some of the warmest whitewater rafting in the state! To ensure you have a safe and exhilarating experience without the worry, book a professionally guided rafting trip. Book your class 3 white water rafting experience with Osprey Rafting Company. Call to reserve your spot at 509-548-6800.

Clear Lake is a beautiful, much smaller lake just to the west of Rimrock Lake off Highway 12. You’ll find a small dock and picnic area with restrooms on the south side of the lake. Clear Lake is a lovely, peaceful place to explore by kayak, canoe or SUP. This lake has two small dams on the east end and a small island. There is a great shallow area to learn to SUP in small cove next to boat launch. There are two campgrounds nearby and a designated day use area on the north side of the lake.  The fishing season is open year round for fishing planted and carryover rainbow trout.

Yakima River Canyon is a popular destination for floating and fishing. The Yakima River is Washington’s only blue ribbon trout stream, making it a haven for Pacific Northwest fly fishing. Red’s Fly Shop, located at the beautiful Canyon River Ranch is your source for fly fishing gear and expert-led guided trips and classes. Be sure to check out Red’s University of Fly Fishing classes for anglers of all levels. The best time to catch fish is May through August, so now’s the time to book your fishing adventure.

Canyon River Ranch is a premier riverside resort with beautifully appointed condominium style accommodations, a pool and a half mile of private riverfront space to enjoy, along with the delicious offerings from the Canyon River Grill. Altogether, they create the ideal Northwest river escape. Or, stop by the grill for a lunch or a bite after a day on the river. Canyon River Ranch is bringing back their Yakima River Canyon Cruise. Meet your guide at Red’s Fly Shop and enjoy a two- to three-hour scenic float through the canyon in a comfortable raft complete with a shade canopy, comfy seats and tables for your favorite snacks and beverages. IN addition to identifying local wildlife and fauna, guests will learn about the formation of this spectacular recreation area. Make time for lunch after! The best time to catch fish is May through August, so now’s the time to book your fishing adventure.

• The Roza Recreation Area in the Yakima River Canyon has opportunities for swimming in the river, with picnic tables and restrooms nearby. This area has small lake area behind the dam which is also used by motorized vessels.

• For those who prefer floating to fishing, the Yakima River provides a perfect, leisurely trip downstream with the dramatic canyon cliffs rising on both sides of the river. The Umtanum Recreation Area is where most put in rafts, tubes or paddle boards to float down to get out at  Roza Recreation Area boat launch. This is about a 31/2 hour float. There are very few mid-river obstacles at this point in the river and shoreline hazards are overgrown brush, rocks, and rock walls. Unless you are pulling out, avoid the shoreline. Peak season for floating is July through August when the temperatures soar. Rill Adventures is your resource for all you need to enjoy a leisurely float or paddle on the upper or lower Yakima River. Check out a variety of three- to four-hour trips on their website  reserve your raft, tube, kayak or SUP.

• The Yakima River above the Roza Dam, north to Easton Dam is known for its premier blue ribbon fly fshing, with catch and release and selective gear rules. To learn about what the fish are biting on and book guided fishing tours contact Red’s Fly Shop.

Bumping Lake is located off Highway 410 along the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway. This lake was created naturally by glaciers and is fed by snowmelt. Expect cold water in the early summer. It’s surrounded by rugged mountain terrain, wetlands and old-growth conifer forests. There are campgrounds nearby, day use parking and a boat launch. This is a great lake for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and SUP with picnic tables and fire pits along the south lake shore.  

The crystal clear Bumping Lake is at an elevation of more than 2,500 feet above sea level, with a year-round open fishing season. Good fishing for six- to nine-inch Kokanee starts in mid-May and there is a limit of 16 fish. Trolling or still fishing is popular and chumming is permitted. Rainbow and Cutthroat are also caught. You can enjoy fishing on the Bumping River below the lake following selective gear rules. Enjoy fair fishing for rainbow, plus whitefish only in winter season with fish from six to 12 inches. You’ll find good river access and campgrounds.

The Naches River is located adjacent to Highway 410, along the Chinook Scenic Byway. The Bumping River and the Little Naches River feed into the larger Naches River. Put-in at Sawmill Flats Campground at milepost 93.3 for easy access to this class 2 or 3 river. Enjoy the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest, paddling past a few cabins and the riverside communities at Cliffdell and Nile and a number of small bridges. You can float to the bridge before the confluence of the Tieton and Naches Rivers at approximately 23 miles and take out at that point. Beyond is a dangerous dam that must be portaged to continue to the town of Naches another six miles.

• Stay on the Naches River at Elk Ridge Campgound and take out there after your run  (about nine miles in from Sawmill Flats), with nine cabins, 20 RV sites and large meadow for tent camping and river access, about 30 minutes from Yakima. On the Naches River, you’ll find easy access and the open season for trout is June 1 to October 1 with a 2 per day limit and 12-inch minimum and 20-inch maximum.

*Excerpts on fishing from WDFW, visit WDFW webpage for complete rules.

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