Kanaskat-Palmer State Park is best known for the rushing Green River that runs along the park boundary, and the eager water rafters and kayakers that come to enjoy it. This river runs fast, so rafting is only recommended for expert rafters who can navigate Class II to Class IV waters. If adrenaline rushes aren’t your thing, you can wade in calmer parts of the river, fish for trout, or meander through the three miles of forested and wetland hiking trails. Campers will delight in a stay in the old-growth forest, whether in a tent or one of the park’s reservable yurts.
This park lies within the Green River Gorge State Conservation Area, which preserves the last undeveloped river gorge in King County. This park also has a rich mining history, as there is plenty of coal embedded in the characteristic sandstone of the Green River Gorge. The park is named for Kanaskat, a Klickitat chief who died in a resistance battle against white settlers, and George Palmer, a railroad timber cruiser for the Northern Pacific Railway.
