Klickitat River

Where the Cascade Mountains meet the Columbia River Gorge, the Klickitat River carves a dramatic 90-mile course from the glaciated flanks of Mount Adams to its confluence with the Columbia near Lyle, Washington. Fed by snowmelt from one of the most iconic volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest, the Klickitat runs cold, clear, and powerful through a canyon of striking basalt and pine — a Wild and Scenic River corridor that protects one of southern Washington's most productive and underappreciated salmon and steelhead systems.

The lower 10.8 miles of the Klickitat, designated as a Wild and Scenic River by Congress in 1986, flows through a dramatic gorge accessed by trail and foot travel, creating a wilderness fishing experience rare for a river so close to the Columbia Gorge recreation corridor. Highway 142 follows the river for 18 miles upstream from Lyle through the town of Klickitat, providing access to the more approachable middle and upper river sections before the road departs and the canyon takes over.

Summer steelhead are the prized quarry on the Klickitat. These wild and hatchery fish begin entering the Columbia in summer, staging before pushing into the Klickitat as September flows cool the system. September through November is prime time, with October often producing the peak of the run. Fly anglers wade the canyon pools and pocket water, swinging weighted flies and skating dry patterns through holding lies that have produced steelhead for generations. The fishing demands physical fitness — access to the lower canyon requires trail hiking, and the terrain is rugged — but the rewards are commensurate with the effort.

Spring Chinook salmon add a second act to the Klickitat's fishing calendar, with fish arriving from April through June. The Klickitat historically supported one of the strongest spring Chinook runs in the Columbia Basin, and while populations have declined under ESA listing pressure, the river still draws salmon anglers each spring. Coho arrive later in fall, coinciding with peak steelhead action.

For fly anglers, the Klickitat rewards classic river reading skills. The canyon water offers long, even-paced runs ideal for the downstream swing, while pocket water above Highway 142's end requires careful wading and short precise casts. The volcanic geology, ponderosa-rimmed canyon walls, and frequent sightings of osprey, eagle, and deer make every trip an immersive Pacific Northwest experience even on slow fishing days.