Fun for the Whole Family at Kelly’s Whitewater Park

What’s all the craze about Kelly’s Whitewater Park about? It just so happens to be one of the coolest whitewater parks in the entire US, that’s what.
What makes this place so amazing is the fact that there is something for everyone, from toddlers to adults. Not only is the water warm, but the grounds are spacious, the grass is green and there are even bocce ball and volleyball nets.

For the traveler, the parking lot is enormous, there is free water and even free wifi. And recently, within the past few years, they put in a rec center with a pool, weight rooms and … showers!

But none of these “amenities” are going to bring the paddler to Cascade, ID. It is the whitewater features that are the big draw.

The upper feature is a fun, meaty wave hole, where every trick from Tricky Woos to major Blunt McNasty’s go. It’s a great spot for the advanced paddler, for sure. But it is also, a great spot for the Intermediate freestyle kayaker to get their feet wet in a burly, intimidating feature. You see, below there is nothing but flat water, making rolls behind the feature easy. And, in case of a swim, it’s easy to gather your gear for your next ride.

Proceed down river and you will find, possibly, the absolute best feature for beginner paddlers ever. It is small, slow and inviting. It offers super easy entry and is great for front surfing, side surfing, learning to spin and even learning to roundhouse and loop. Also, there is ample room for roll attempts and/or gear recovery. If you have been to Salida, it’s a lot like the feature below the bridge, but with warm water!!

This is also a great spot for playing in the big eddy’s along the shore, learning to roll, or just jumping off the rocks and swimming through the wave.

If you are looking for a spot that has it all, look no further than Kelly’s Whitewater Park. Here, you can progress from beginner to advanced without ever leaving the Park. And with the crazy long days, like the sun doesn’t go down until 10:30 or so, you have all the time in the world to perfect your freestyle game!