North Santiam 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 PM, 1 PM - 4 PM. Full day: 9:30 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 at North Santiam State Park. 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.
1 Day trips: We meet at 9:30 AM on the day of your trip at North Santiam State Park. 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 12:30 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 Interstate 5 just south of Salem, take exit #253 and follow highway 22 east (toward Detroit Lake). After about 25 miles take a sharp right onto Santiam Park Rd. (If you find yourself on the outskirts of Mill City you've gone about 4 miles too far). Follow Santiam Park Rd to where it ends at North Santiam State Park. Look for us in the main parking lot.
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
Lodging is available a short drive from the river at the Best Western Sunrise Inn (503-769-9579) in Sublimity. Numerous hotels are also available in Salem, 30 minutes west of the river.
Camping is available at nearby Fishermen's Bend Park, upstream at Detroit Reservoir, and north of the river at Silver Falls State Park.
Fishing
Fishing on the North Santiam is generally good during summer months for trout, and very good during the fall months for salmon and steelhead. If you would like to fish you’ll need an Oregon fishing license, which may be purchased at Oregon sporting goods stores or online at outdoorcentral.us.
Pre and post trip river shuttles
Shuttle specifics vary by day and group. If you're on a full day trip you will most likely be leaving your car at the Park and boarding an O.R.E. van for the ride to put-in. For half day trips we may caravan further upstream - so that you car will be waiting for you at your trip's take-out spot - before we travel by van the the put-in.
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
While in the area consider a trip to nearby Silver Falls State Park. Plan a hike through the old growth forest at Opal Creek Wilderness. Or take advantage of the culture and cuisine of the Portland metropolitan area, just over an hour's drive away.
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.
