Olympic Raft & Kayak

Me and my friend came here in June and did the white water rafting. We wanted to do the longer session but they had found a piece of guard rail in that part of the river. They were very quick to call us and make sure we still wanted to go on the shorter session. We ended up going with a bachelor party and it was a blast. The 2 guides were very knowledgable and fun to be with, one of the better experiences I’ve ever had! I would definitely go back and do it again, and I recommend it to anyone who will be in the port Angeles area!

I loved this place! I was camping with a couple of my friends in Olympic national park and one afternoon we got the idea to go kayaking. We didn’t end up making it to the rental place until 4:30 though, so we were worried it was too late to rent. But the guy who owns the business lives above the shop, so he said we could bring the kayaks back anytime that night. He gave us a great deal on the kayaks and didn’t start our rental time until he expected us to actually get to our destination.
We rented two kayaks which the owner helped secure to the top of our car. We drove about 15 minutes to crescent lake and unloaded the kayaks. I was worried the lake would be less fun than a bay on the ocean, but we had a blast. The lake is HUGE and the scenery is beautiful. We also saw some birds and deer. I guess because it was later in the day and was drizzling slightly there was nobody else out. It was definitely a highlight of the trip.
I highly recommend this place if you want to rent some kayaks and go explore on your own. Friendly people, great customer service, and great price. I’m sure their guided tours are great too!

Worked with Morgan and Kalynn on buying a new whitewater kayak. Wonderful experience — great communication & excellent price.
Morgan said he bought the shop from the old owner three years ago, and he is working on expanding the retail end of the business. I can’t comment on their trips & instruction, but the shop looks great, they are highly organized, and they clearly know their stuff. I would trust their expertise for sure. And don’t miss meeting the shop rescue dog, Steven. He is super cute, and loves to play fetch!

We had a great time on the Sol Duc river with Morgan (new owner of ORK) and some folks from the Port Townsend area and my husband called this the highlight of our trip to WA this year. At breakfast the next morning we were telling our waitress about it and she didn’t even realize whitewater rafting was possible though it was right in her back yard. Give these folks a try, it was a great time!

Why isn’t gear included and mandatory in your trip cost? Also no helmets? We found ourselves upside down in a river swimming for our lives last summer with a guide who told us it was his first time on the river!

Loved this trip! We rafted the Elwah. Our guide, Colin, was knowledgable and fun. The trip went quickly– about 1 hour– because the water was travelling so fast. It was a class 2+, which was good for us first timers. But I’m definitely ready for something more agressive!
The scenery is beautiful. Like fairytale beautiful. I kept expecting woodland creatures to come out of the forest.
You will definitely get wet, and it is a bit cold. Highly recommend the wetsuit, and renting all the gear– gloves, booties, jacket, pants.
The group/​owner are professional, organized. Great trip!

These guys are awesome! Our kayaking guide did a great job. Will definitely paddle with them again. :)

Yesterday I went along with a group to go river rafting on the Elwah River. The rates were reasonable at 54.00 per person. After getting everyone fitted for wetsuits and then a brief lesson about safety and how to paddle, we all got packed up in a van and driven to the boat launch at the Elwah River in the Olympic National Park. *Note the park fee is separate and is 15.00.
The first half of the trip is class 2+ white water and this spring the river has been full of glacial water due to the large snowpack in the mountains melting off. If you go on this trip plan to get wet. They have wet suits for rent or you can do like I did and find some gear at a thrift shop before you go.
You launch the raft into swift water and I being a river rafting virgin was wondering what I signed myself up for. The rapids were wild and wet. I came through this part of the trip addicted to white water and wanting to go back and do it again.
The second part of the trip is more tame and relaxing, but very beautiful. In all the ride is about 6 miles and lasts about 2 hrs. The guides are great and know their way around the river and how to manage the most novice of passenger crews. Some members of our group almost chickened out but finally were convinced to give it a go, and they were glad they did it. This trip on the Elwah is a great introduction to river rafting and I plan to go back and do it again.

My friend and I took a tour with Olympic Raft and Kayak in June 09. We called the day before to make a reservation, and the next day showed up for our guided tour through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Our tour guide David was great; he made us feel comfortable from the first minute and had a good knowledge of the living things in the area. We were the only people in our group.
The day was beautiful but a bit rough, and we couldn’t go into all the little nooks in the rocks that they often take people on tours. If you’re like me and have no upper body strength, try to go on a calm day or take one of the trips to a calmer area. Or, better yet, take a tandem kayak and mootch off the strength of your companion (we had separate kayaks so we wouldn’t feel chained to each other, but by the end I was lagging far behind, my arms and abs burning, while my friend was paddling circles around me… sigh)
Wildlife sightings are possible on the trip, but you should take the trip understanding that you may not see those things. It’s possible to see otters, seals, even whales. However, the biggest mammal I saw besides the tour guide was a little dot that David identified as a distant seal (we were on our way back at that point, or maybe we would have paddled closer maybe?). We did see lots of starfish, barnacles, and the like, and one great view of a mature bald eagle swooping down to the water. Overall, it was a really fun switch from several days of hiking and camping, it was a great value for the money, and a great upper-​body and core workout.