The Newest Whitewater Rafting Outfitter in Washington!
About Us
Why CRO?
- High quality equipment and transportation, we have the newest and best gear on the river!
- Top notch, experienced, and local guides! Our “Crofessionals” are the best in the game!
- World class whitewater in the Columbia Gorge!
- Fully insured, licensed in the state of Washington, and permitted by the United States Forest Service
- We specialize in private trips and custom trips! Let us know how we can make your adventure special!
- Classic outfitter style, with a modern approach to safety and having a great time on the river!
- Call 509-774-7736 or email us at info@columbiariveroutdoors.com with questions or concerns! We always enjoy talking about rafting !
Our Beginning
In the fall of 2020, Max and I banded together and purchased All Adventures Rafting, a company with a long and rich history of outfitting in the state of Washington. We saw it as an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to put our own spin on an industry that we have worked in for a combined 28 years. And so, Columbia River Outdoors was born!
-Sean Woody
Our Mission Statement
We seek to use outdoor adventure experiences to inspire positive thought and action both on and off the water.
We strive to provide an exceptional outdoor experience to individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. We seek to educate about and promote protection of the ecology, geology, human history, and modern human concerns of the places we explore. We want to be a community leader in river safety, outdoor safety and environmental stewardship. We hope that everyone who has an experience with us feels empowered and educated in how to adventure safely and ethically.
The Team
Sean Woody began guiding the White Salmon in 2006 and gained further experience guiding the Klickitat, and multiday trips on the Hell’s Canyon section of the Snake River. He has rafted and kayaked challenging whitewater all over the Pacific Northwest and has a deep passion for sharing the beauty and excitement of the river with others.Â
Woody was blessed to grow up in a whitewater rafting family; by the time he was 16 he had already rowed his dad’s raft down the Middle Fork of the Salmon, Main Salmon, and Rogue rivers. When he needed a summer job during college, river guiding seemed like a perfectly natural fit. Much of his college coursework was focused on biology and ecology and he loves educating guests about the unique ecology and geologic history of the rivers he guides. He’s great at spotting birds and animals. Woody holds a B.A. in Ethnomusicology, is trained and experienced in Swiftwater Rescue and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
An avid kayaker, snowboarder and musician, Woody fell in love with the Columbia Gorge when he began guiding and has worked hard to put down roots here and make it his home. Having worked as an umpire, farmhand, bicycle messenger, snowboard coach, data center technician, and carpenter, Woody has a pretty diverse background, is full of entertaining stories, and can find something fun to chat about with anyone. When an opportunity arose in 2020 to start a new raft company on the White Salmon, Woody leapt at the chance and was excited to take on the challenge.Â
Max grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. There he developed a love for wild, outdoor spaces. He experienced his first whitewater trip at the age of 19 and was hooked instantly. A year later he was enrolled in a guide training program. For the first five years of his professional guiding career he worked on a number of class III-V rivers in the Southeast, and even a few big ones abroad in Costa Rica. Ask him about the nickname he got there!
After developing some skills out East, he decided to head west and landed in the Columbia River Gorge. He was drawn here by the world class whitewater and paddling opportunities. He stayed here because of the incredible community he found and the endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. He has been a full-time professional guide on the White Salmon and Klickitat rivers ever since showing up here for the 2014 season. Go on a trip with Max and enjoy hearing about the history of the area or stories from thousands of river trips. Or, just come to enjoy some world class paddling and wild Pacific Northwest scenery.
Max has been a guide since 2009 and has been training guides since 2011. He has guided commercially on a total of 9 rivers, and played on countless more. He is trained in Swiftwater Rescue and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Max also holds a B.A. in History from Union College in Kentucky. When he isn’t on the water, Max can be found playing in the snow, ripping around on a mountain bike, or just fishing with his dog, Gabe.