BLACK CANYON HALF-DAY
Tour Overview
Season: April - July
Difficulty: class III/IV (beginner/intermediate)
Ages: 10+ (varies with water level)
Total Time: 3 hours
Price: $99 adults $94 children (ages 10 - 16)
Meeting Times: 9:30 am or 1:30 pm
Meeting Location: at the Methow River Boathouse in the town of Methow (not Winthrop)
FINISHED for 2026 season - Lower Methow Half Day is still running
The Black Canyon Half-Day is the best whitewater in the Methow Valley! The Black Canyon section of the Methow River is filled with many challenging class III rapids and surrounded by the golden grassland foothills of the North Cascades.
Check out our media page for more photos of what your adventure on the river can look like!
Thirty-five minutes from both Winthrop and Chelan, it’s convenient yet rural location is prime for spending part of your day on the river and the other part hiking at Sun Mountain Lodge or wine tasting at a Lake Chelan winery. This trip’s season starts in March and ends in July, each month unique and enjoyable.
You will meet at the Methow Rafting Boathouse in the town of Methow. Our guides will outfit you in gear (all river gear is included), and then brief you on whitewater safety, paddling techniques, and how to best enjoy your time on the water.
The best of the rapids include Black Canyon (watch out for the Black Hole!), Staircase, Hurricane, Shoshone Falls, Another Roadside Attraction, Oh No, and Jolly Green Giant.
Once at the take-out you will load the bus for a quick ten minute ride back to the boathouse where you will return your gear.
Rafting Seasons
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March - May
You will experience the beautiful springtime of the Methow Valley and raft good solid whitewater. Snow-capped peaks and blooming flowers make this the most scenic season to be on the water. The temps are cooler, but wetsuits and splash jackets will keep you comfortable as you paddle down this classic class III section of river. It's moderate in difficulty but good for families and sure to be exciting.
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May - June
This is peak season! Book a Highwater Adrenaline trip for the largest waves, biggest splashes, and a wild ride that your group will reminisce about for years. The river approaches big-water class IV during this season. Get ready to paddle hard! May and June is when the snowpack high up in the North Cascades is melting the quickest. All the tributaries of the Methow River join forces and reach their crescendo in Black Canyon just before rushing into the Columbia River. Get ready to paddle hard during this fast-paced exciting ride!
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June - August
Do you want the best of both worlds - warm sunshine and splashy waves? The Black Canyon Half-Day Mid-Season Fun trip is the best way to enjoy a family adventure on a hot summer day. This is our most popular time of year to go rafting and for good reason. Just when you’re ready to jump in to cool off, your guide will call “paddle forward!” right into a series of refreshing waves leaving your group high-fiving and smiling.
FAQ for Back Canyon Half Day
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We provide all of the river gear you need! All you need is to wear a bathing suit (or whatever you feel comfortable getting wet).
Put on some sunscreen and you can wear a hat under your helmet if you would like.
If you are wearing sunglasses we suggest they are a pair you are not attached to, and that you are wearing chums or croakies. We will have some for sale at our Winthrop and Methow location (call to make sure we have them in stock before your trip).
Check out our FAQ and ‘what to expect’ for more info.
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We have a varying size of rafts. In general there are 6 guests in a raft and one guide.
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You will meet in the town of Methow. There will be a google map of our meeting location in your confirmation email.
There is also a google map on this page that has our meeting location.
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No. Alcohol poses a safety risk to yourself and others. Any guests thought to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to go down the river.
Check our general FAQ page for more info!
How to adjust PFD’s and Helmets
What to do if you fall out of the boat
Google Reviews
What a fantastic experience! The ride was great, the guides are top notch, and the memories will last a lifetime! We’re already planning to come back next year. Jason, one of the senior guides, is a rafting rockstar!
Thank you Methow Rafting team!
-Chris Bethel