Although the Cossatot is better known for white water boating, levels were too low and my company too young to do so safely on our visit. Instead, we hiked - first along the river itself, making use of skills that felt more like light mountaineering to scale and descend the massive rocks jutting up out of the earth; then along a more traditional mountain path.
The rocks were fun, and we wanted more of them, but alas, the path eventually forces you into the water if you want to continue, and we weren't equipped for that. Instead, we hit a mountain trail that, while fun, clearly doesn't see much traffic (the path was pretty overgrown in some places).
All in all, it was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone with an appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors. Just one word of warning: the maps they provide at the visitor center are almost totally useless, so fooling with them is probably a waste of time. Fortunately, trails and camping areas are all clearly marked with signage, so you should be able to find your way around fairly easily. read more