Along the White River | Taking a break by the riverside
Taking a break by the riverside.

Along the White River

Hike down to the White River and head downstream on trails, gravel tracks, and dirt roads by the riverside, passing below tall cliffs.

Level 3
3–4 hours of easy walking over approx. 9km. (Can I do it?)

This hike is not currently scheduled

Contact us for schedule updates or set up a private hike

This is almost exactly the same White River hike that we do in summer and winter, but on this visit you don't need to get your feet wet unless you really want to. If it's a hot day, there's a good chance you will want to! (On this visit the water might be a bit chilly …)

You'll see the running river, leafy green trees by the riverside, impressive tall and steep cliffs made from massive slabs of rock and boulders, and hopefully the local family of herons that nest high up in the cliffs.

It’s possible to hike all the way down without crossing, but it’s also fun to get your feet wet on a few of the crossings—up to you!

The hike starts at a small scenic area at the top of a long, rocky canyon that leads down to the river. We'll follow the park trails down to the riverside, a walk of around 45 minutes.

After arriving at the riverside we’ll start following the river as it winds down through a deep and wide canyon with numerous forks and steep rocky cliffs, making this an extremely picturesque hike that is easy to finish.

Fording the White River
The White River flows below tall cliffs. (Click for larger image)

Just after halfway on the hike we'll stop by a ford in the river for a lunch break. It’s the perfect place for a paddle in the river. It's up to you if you want to paddle in the water—we think it might be a little cold!

From there it’s a flat walk of about one hour to finish the hike.

COVID-19 and participation precautions

The current precautions are minimal. Please read in full here: Operating hikes under COVID-19 precautions

Related content

Photos and trip reports: Along the White River

  1. Along the White River, 2024/09/01

    Along the White River, 2024/09/01

    On this visit we found the water level running high after the recent rains, with two of the bridges on the river swamped and washed out. See 19 photos from the hike.
  2. Along the White River, 2021/06/20

    Along the White River, 2021/06/20

    One of our best summer hikes—an easy trail by the river, shaded paths in places, and clear water to dip in to cool down. See 20 photos.
  3. Along the White River, 2020/05/02

    Along the White River, 2020/05/02

    See a set of 12 photos from the White River hike—with a forecast high of 36°C, it was a perfect day to cool off in the still-chilly water.

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