Klickitat River

The Klickitat River carves a dramatic course through the eastern foothills of the Cascades, flowing roughly 96 miles from its headwaters on the slopes of Mount Adams to its confluence with the Columbia River at Lyle, Washington. The river is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River for much of its length, and this protection has preserved a remarkably wild and undeveloped corridor through the dry, canyon country of south-central Washington.

For fly fishers, the Klickitat is best known for its summer steelhead run. These chrome-bright fish enter the Columbia from the ocean and push up the Klickitat from late May through November, with the peak of the run occurring in September and October. The Klickitat's summer steelhead are powerful, acrobatic fish that average 6-10 pounds, with occasional specimens exceeding 15 pounds. The river's canyon setting, with towering basalt walls, scattered ponderosa pines, and golden grass hillsides, provides a spectacular backdrop for the pursuit.

The lower 18 miles of the Klickitat, from the Columbia River confluence at Lyle upstream through the town of Klickitat to the gorge section, offer the most accessible fishing. Highway 142 parallels this stretch, providing roadside pullouts and WDFW access sites. Above the gorge, the river becomes increasingly remote, accessed only by foot trails and rough roads through the Klickitat Wildlife Area managed by WDFW.

Resident rainbow trout and mountain whitefish inhabit the upper Klickitat above the gorge, providing a secondary fishery during summer months. The upper river flows through meadows and forested sections with a character quite different from the arid canyon below: cooler water temperatures, smaller stream size, and more intimate fishing.

The Klickitat's most dangerous feature is the Lyle Falls and gorge section near the river's mouth. This narrow, Class V+ canyon is deadly to boaters and swimmers. All river users must be aware of the mandatory take-out above the gorge. The WDFW fish trap and research facility at Lyle Falls monitors steelhead and salmon returns and is worth a visit to observe fish negotiating the fishway.

The Klickitat is a high-desert freestone river fed by snowmelt from Mount Adams and the eastern Cascades. The river's volcanic geology gives the water a distinctive character: slightly tannic with moderate clarity (2-5 feet of visibility during summer), flowing over a bed of dark basalt cobble and volcanic rock. During spring runoff, glacial melt from Mount Adams turns the river milky and high, limiting visibility to inches. By midsummer, the river typically clears to fishable conditions, with clarity improving through fall as glacial influence diminishes and spring-fed baseflow predominates.

Water temperatures are a critical factor on the Klickitat. The river's arid canyon setting and relatively shallow depth mean temperatures can climb into the mid-60s during August heat waves, stressful for steelhead and resident trout. Cool nights in the canyon help moderate temperatures, and several cold springs and tributary inputs create thermal refugia where fish concentrate during warm spells. Monitoring the USGS gauge at Pitt (14113000) for both flow and temperature data is essential for planning trips.

The Klickitat's water chemistry reflects its volcanic watershed: moderately alkaline with mineral content that supports healthy insect populations. Caddisflies dominate the insect community, with golden stoneflies, October Caddis, and various mayflies present throughout the season. The river's lower reach near the Columbia River confluence is influenced by Columbia River backwater during high dam releases, which can affect water clarity and fishing conditions in the lowermost mile or two.