Vitamin Sea
UnCruise Adventures pumps up the healthfocused fun in the Pacific Northwest.
THE RIVER OF MANY CRUISERS’ DREAMS IS traditionally tranquil and slow-paced. On UnCruise Adventures’ “Rivers of Adventure” itinerary — traversing Washington, Idaho, and Oregon on the Columbia and Snake rivers — cruisers instead get a healthy dose of wellness and fitness options at a variety of speeds.
Each morning begins with as many as 10 of us gathering on the top deck of the 90-passenger SS Legacy for a stretching or yoga session led by one of our expedition guides. It’s a nice ritual and a perfect way to get our bodies and minds prepped for another day of adventure and exploration ashore.
We sail on SS Legacy, a turn- of- the- century coastal steamer replica that gleams in the late- autumn sunshine and recalls a bygone romantic era of river cruising. Our voyage from Clarkston, Washington, to Portland, Oregon, has just three dozen passengers on board, and we all get to know one another quickly while exploring a region that is home to the Nez Perce tribes and served as the final stretch for Lewis and Clark.
Our expedition traces through many of the region’s important historical and cultural places — and for fitness-inclined travelers, an UnCruise Adventures’ sailing is a thrilling and heart-pumping way to explore.
BIRD-WATCHING WALKS, HIKING, AND KAYAKING
“Ooh, look, it’s a double-crested cormorant,” expedition guide Sarah Sinn-White says, excitedly, pointing to a black seabird with a long neck that is lazily soaring loops over the river.
The cruise offers a menu of adventures that are suitable for a variety of interests and desired activity levels, and our itinerary begins with this casual bird-spotting walk on a serene morning. We’re stretching our legs and on the hunt for a variety of birds. The sun is barely peeking out, but morning mists are lifting as about 20 of us wander for a mile and a half out and back along a riverside path while also spotting California quail, kingfishers, blue jays, and finches.
The fresh air and smells of the outdoors invigorate throughout the week as we embrace all the thrills. This gentle walk is just a primer for what’s to come.
SS Legacy sits at a small pier along the Snake River, and later this morning, we’ll hop aboard a speedboat for a tour deep into Hells Canyon. We see eagles, falcons, big horn sheep, and wild turkeys in this rugged part of the river.
UnCruise Adventures has built an impressive reputation based on its itineraries in Alaska, the Sea of Cortes, Costa Rica, Panama, and other exotic destinations that feature challenging hiking, bushwhacking, and kayaking opportunities each day.
The cruise line amps up the river experience, as well. Your standard river cruises are defined by the bus tour or city walk to take in the sights of a destination. But this cruise in the Pacific Northwest attracts a fit crowd eager to provide a bit of their own power and seeking to get away from urban areas.
SS Legacy is at anchor at Lyons Ferry, Washington, as we wake up on Day 3 of the cruise. The 1,500-foot Snake River Bridge frames the sunrise and pretty horizon, rising 500 feet above the confluence of the Palouse and Snake rivers.
After another quick workout at the ship’s fitness area — a spot on the top outside deck with a spin bike, elliptical, and some dumbbells — and our daily 30-minute yoga session, I grab a freshmade breakfast to fuel up for a busy day of activities. Our group heads off on Zodiacs to reach the shoreline. A bus awaits to take us to Palouse Falls State Park, where we will take a long hike. The sun is shining and temps forecast to reach the low 70s. It’s a perfect day to be outside.
Our three-hour-long hike takes us past iconic Palouse Falls, the official waterfall of Washington. We follow a path on the plateau along the rim of a majestic canyon and take in the views of the cascading falls before heading down. The challenging hike covers dry scrubland and rocky terrain, and we eventually
reach the river that flows through a valley bracketed by hills of columnar basalt. I decide to jump in for a quick plunge to cool off. The icy waters are fed by snowmelt and are a bit too cold to stay in for long.
Completing the hike by noon, we return to the ship for lunch and get ready for a late-afternoon kayaking session in the Palouse River. Paddling deep into the canyon gives another perspective of the beautiful scenery of this region of the country. And while our legs and feet get a rest, it’s our arms and shoulders that are put to the test on this adventure. The sun begins to set as we turn around and start our return to the ship. Exhaustion is setting in, and it’s mostly quiet, save for the sounds of paddles striking the water, as we all focus on our strokes and the refreshing hot tub time, cocktails, beers, and meals that await back on SS Legacy.
RAFTING, RIDING, AND A RAINY TREK
Later in the week it’s a rip-roaring whitewater rafting experience in Oregon’s Deschutes River, spinning on rapids while screaming and laughing and hearing interesting stories from our colorful local guide, Larry. During our stop in Richland, Washington, it’s a coastal bike ride, pedaling more than 12 miles alongside the Columbia River.
Then, in Rowena, Oregon, we tackle the most- challenging hike of the trip: following a path along the Rowena Plateau and coming across bounding deer early in the morning before charging up a steep switchback trail to Tom McCall Point for stunning views of both Mount Adams and Mount Hood, which overlook the Columbia River Gorge.
The miles and memories are piling up as the days pass. We bike about 16 miles on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail in Hood River, and a few of us hunt down Full Sail Brewery to enjoy some refreshing craft beers after our ride.
It’s near the end of the trip at the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon, and we visit the Bonneville Lock and Dam facility on a rainy day before some of us venture out into the wet conditions to get in one last hike. The town sits at the lowest point of the famed Pacific Crest Trail, and the trail connects to the Bridge of the Gods, which connects to Washington State across the Columbia River.
While we hike in the secluded green forest, others take one final bike ride to a winery — undoubtedly raising a glass to the fine fitness-focused journey we have experienced.
YOUR STANDARD RIVER CRUISES ARE DEFINED BY THE BUS TOUR OR CITY WALK TO TAKE IN THE SIGHTS OF A DESTINATION. BUT THIS CRUISE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ATTRACTS A FIT CROWD EAGER TO PROVIDE A BIT OF THEIR OWN POWER AND SEEKING TO GET AWAY FROM URBAN AREAS.