Deschutes River: Logistics and Details
| How to Sign Up | What's included |
| Where and When to Meet | Getting To and From the River |
| What to Bring | Pre and Post Trip Lodging |
| Fishing | River Shuttles |
| Nearby Attractions | Comment on your river trip |
1/2 day trips: 9:30 AM-12:30, 1 PM - 4 PM. Full day: 10:00 AM- 4 PM.
How to sign up
Call us (at 503-563-1500, or toll-free at 1-800-827-1358), or use our web-based reservation system.
Trip includes:
- The services of our professional guides and staff.
- Transportation to and from our meeting place.
- A hearty lunch at riverside on full day trips. Lunch is freshly prepared by our guides from the highest quality ingredients. Special dietary needs may be accommodated with advance notice.
- Durable, professional quality rafts and river running equipment, including U.S. Coast Guard Approved lifejackets.
- Waterproof river bags for your personal gear.
Where and when to meet
Half Day trips: Morning half day trips meet at 9:30 AM, and afternoon half day trips meet at 1:00 PM. in front of the Oasis Cafe, on the east side of the river, in Maupin. Maupin is roughly 100 miles from Portland. We will make our shuttle arrangements there, before going to the launch site. Please have your breakfast (or lunch, in the case of afternoon trips) before we meet.
One Day trips: We meet at 10:00 AM the day of your trip in front of the Oasis Cafe, on the east side of the river, in Maupin. Maupin is roughly 100 miles from Portland. We will make our shuttle arrangements there, before going to the launch site. Please have your breakfast before our meeting time.
Morning half day trips typically end by approximately 1:00 PM. Afternoon half day trips and full day trips typically end by approximately 4 PM. (Many factors influence our timetable, including water levels, winds, and the needs and preferences of our guests. Please consider these times approximate.)
Getting to and from the river
From Portland we recommend that you take US-26 (the Mt. Hood Highway) east to the junction with OR-216. Then follow OR-216 to its junction with US-197, which will take you into Maupin. For additional information see our maps page.
What to bring
When you sign up for your river adventure we will send you a complete list of what to bring. This list is also available online. In general you'll need to simply bring only your own clothing.
Pre and post trip lodging and camping
Cabins are available at the Oasis Resort (our meeting place). The Oasis may be reached at 541-395-2611. If you'll be combining your raft trip with a visit to Mount Hood, the Columbia Gorge, or Portland you'll find numerous lodging opportunities in those areas.
Several BLM campsites are found along the river both upstream and downstream of Maupin. These sites are first-come-first-served. You may also reserve a campsite at the Maupin City Park by calling the park at 541-395-2252.
Fishing
Fishing on the Deschutes is generally good during summer months and excellent in the fall. If you would like to fish you’ll need an Oregon fishing license, which may be purchased at Oregon sporting goods stores,online at outdoorcentral.us, or at several locations adjacent to our meeting place.
Pre and post trip river shuttles
Shuttle specifics vary by day and group. You will either leave your car in Maupin and ride in an ORE vehicle to put-in, and with us again back to Maupin from take-out. Or you will drive to put-in in your own vehicle, and a shuttle driver will transport your car to take-out.
Gratuities
Guests sometimes ask whether it is appropriate to tip their guide. Tipping is optional, but if your guide did a great job then feel free to thank him or her with a gratuity. The amount is up to you, but tips between 8% and 20% of trip cost are customary.
Nearby attractions
Options abound for combining your raft trip with other activities. Consider a visit to the waterfalls and hiking trails of Columbia River Gorge, the alpine scenery of Mount Hood, or the culture and cuisine of the Portland metropolitan area. All are within a 2 hour drive of the river.
Comment on your river trip
Did you recently complete an O.R.E. river trip? If you'd like to comment on your experience then please visit our comment page.
