River Comparison
Clackamas River - Closest whitewater to
Portland. Exciting whitewater in the spring (our
most thrilling spring day-trip), but a great family
trip in the summer. Good hiking and camping nearby.
Beautiful forest scenery: classic Oregon. Near Mount
Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.
North Santiam River - Exciting springtime
whitewater. River calms during summertime - our
mildest trip at that time. River level rises in
September to provide good boating when other rivers
are low. Forest scenery. Near Silver Falls State
Park. Close to Salem and Portland, Oregon.
Deschutes River - May be sunny in spring and
fall when other rivers have cloudy skies overhead.
High volume river = big waves during summer months.
Good swimming (although water is cool). Desert
scenery. Close to Mount Hood. 2 hours east of
Portland and 2 hours north of Bend. Best floated
during the week (the river is crowded on summer
weekends).
McKenzie River - Mild whitewater. Clear (but
cold) water. Exceptionally lush forest surroundings.
Good camping, hiking and mountain biking nearby.
Near Eugene/Springfield, Oregon.
North Umpqua River - Largest number of rapids
per mile of any of our 1 day trips. Outstanding
forest scenery and exceptionally clear water. Good
hiking and camping nearby. Waterfalls and hotsprings
nearby. World-class fly fishing. Near Crater Lake
National Park. East of Roseburg, Oregon.
McKenzie River - Mild whitewater. Clear (but
cold) water. Exceptionally lush forest surroundings.
Good camping, hiking and mountain biking nearby.
Near Eugene/Springfield, Oregon.
North Umpqua River - Outstanding forest
scenery and exceptionally clear water. Good hiking
and camping nearby. Waterfalls and hotsprings
nearby. World-class fly fishing. Near Crater Lake
National Park. East of Roseburg, Oregon.
Rogue River - Our most popular multiday trip.
Fun whitewater and excellent scenery. Ample hiking
opportunities. Good for wildlife viewing. Historic
sites along river. Good swimming. (The river is
warmer than most other Northwest rivers.) Camp
trips, lodge stays, camp-lodge combo trips, and
raft-supported hiking are all available. Consider
combining with trip to Crater Lake or to Ashland's
Shakespeare Festival. Also close to California's
Redwood National and State Parks.
Grande Ronde River - Our second mildest
multiday whitewater trip (after the John Day).
Forested canyon. Clear, cool water. Good fishing. A
great trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing.
Near Wallowa Lake and Joseph, Oregon. Also near
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
Rogue River - Our most popular multiday trip.
Fun whitewater and excellent scenery. Ample hiking
opportunities. Good for wildlife viewing. Historic
sites along river. Good swimming. (The river is
warmer than most other Northwest rivers.) Camp
trips, lodge stays, camp-lodge combo trips, and
raft-supported hiking are all available. Consider
combining with trip to Crater Lake or to Ashland's
Shakespeare Festival. Also close to California's
Redwood National and State Parks.
Owyhee River - Spectacular desert scenery.
Good hiking. Natural riverside hotsprings. Great
birdwatching and wildflowers. Our most remote,
pristine river trip. West of Boise, Idaho (in the
far southeastern corner of Oregon).
Grande Ronde River - Our second mildest
multiday whitewater trip (after the John Day).
Forested canyon. Clear, cool water. Good fishing. A
great trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing.
Near Wallowa Lake and Joseph, Oregon. Also near
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
John Day (Upper Run) - Few rapids: a relaxing
float trip rather than a whitewater trip. Colorful
desert scenery. Excellent bass fishing. East of
Portland, Oregon.
John Day (Lower Run) - One class III rapid
and a few class II rapids: otherwise a mild float
trip. Very good desert scenery. Excellent bass
fishing. East of Portland, Oregon.
John Day River Combo - One of America's
longest free-flowing rivers. Few rapids: a relaxing
float trip rather than a whitewater trip. Good
desert scenery. Excellent bass fishing. Our longest
river trip. East of Portland, Oregon.
Salmon River - Fun, big-volume whitewater.
Our most exciting multiday when the river is running
high. Warm, clear water makes this our best trip for
swimming. Big, beautiful white sand beaches. Scenic
open canyons and narrow, spectacular rock-wall
gorges. Dry, warm weather. Hiking opportunites are
few, however. Near Lewiston, Idaho.
Half Day & One Day Trips
|
|
River |
Season |
Trip Length |
River Miles |
White-water
Rating |
Boat Options |
Meeting Place |
Dist. from Portland |
Nearest Airport |
Special Qualities |
|
Clackamas |
Apr-Aug. |
Half & 1 Day |
6-12 miles |
III to IV |
PR, IK, O |
Estacada, OR |
30 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
North Santiam |
Apr-Oct. |
Half & 1 Day |
6-14 miles |
II+ to III |
PR, O |
Mehama, OR |
65 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
Deschutes |
Apr-Oct. |
Half & 1 Day |
5-10 miles |
III |
PR, O |
Maupin, OR |
100 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
McKenzie |
Apr-Sept. |
Half & 1 Day |
8-16 miles |
II+ |
PR, O |
Blue River, OR |
150 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
North Umpqua |
Apr-Sept. |
1 day |
9-12 miles |
III+ |
PR, O |
Steamboat, OR |
225 miles |
Medford, OR |
More info |
|
|
Notes
- See below for explanations of whitewater
ratings and boat options.
- River miles may vary with length of trip
(in days) as well as time of year.
- Whitewater rating my vary with water
level. When a range is listed, higher rating
typically applies to springtime trips only.
|
Two and Three Day Trips
|
|
River |
Season |
Trip Length |
River Miles |
White-water
Rating |
Boat Options |
Meeting Place |
Dist. from Portland |
Nearest Airport |
Special Qualities |
|
McKenzie |
Apr-Sept. |
2 days |
24 miles |
II+ |
PR, IK, O |
Blue River, OR |
150 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
North Umpqua |
Apr-Sept. |
2 or 3 days |
9-36 miles |
III+ |
PR, IK, O |
Steamboat, OR |
225 miles |
Medford, OR |
More info |
|
Rogue |
April- Sept. |
3 days |
34-38 mi. |
III+ |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Galice, OR |
265 mi. |
Medford, OR |
More info |
|
Grande Ronde |
May- July
|
3 days |
40 miles |
II to III |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Minam, OR |
280 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
|
Notes
- See below for explanations of whitewater
ratings and boat options.
- River miles may vary with length of trip
(in days) as well as time of year.
- Whitewater rating my vary with water
level. When a range is listed, higher rating
typically applies to springtime trips only.
|
Four to Nine Day Trips
|
|
River |
Season |
Trip Length |
River Miles |
White-water
Rating |
Boat Options |
Meeting Place |
Dist. from Portland |
Nearest Airport |
Special Qualities |
|
Rogue |
April-
Sept. |
4 or 5 days |
36-38 miles |
III+ |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Galice, OR |
265 mi. |
Medford, OR |
More info |
|
Owyhee |
April-
June |
4 or 5 days |
65 miles |
III+ |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Jordan Valley, OR |
425 mi. |
Boise, ID |
More info |
|
Grande Ronde |
May-
July |
5 days |
90 miles |
II+ |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Minam, OR |
280 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
Upper John Day |
April-June |
4 days |
47 miles |
II |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Service Creek, OR |
250 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
Lower John Day |
April-June |
5 days |
68 miles |
II |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Clarno, OR |
165 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
John Day Combo |
April-June |
9 days |
115 miles |
II |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Service Creek, OR |
250 miles |
Portland, OR |
More info |
|
Lower Salmon |
Jul-Sept. |
4 or 5 days |
62-72 miles |
III to IV |
PR, IK, O, RYO |
Lewiston, ID |
325 miles |
Lewiston, ID |
More info |
|
|
Notes
- See below for explanations of
whitewater ratings and boat options.
- River miles may vary with length of
trip (in days) as well as time of year.
- Whitewater rating my vary with water
level. When a range is listed, higher
rating typically applies to springtime
trips only.
|
Further Details
|
|
Boat Option
Key
|
|
PR |
Guided paddle raft |
|
IK |
Inflatable kayak. (One person
per kayak.) |
|
O |
Oar raft, rowed by a guide. |
|
RYO |
O.R.E.'s custom designed
row-it-yourself oar rafts.
(We'll teach you how!) |
|
Class |
The International Scale of
River Difficulty
|
|
I |
Calm water, small waves. |
|
II |
Medium waves, clear channels. |
|
III |
Big waves, considerable
maneuvering may be required.
Exciting! |
|
IV |
Steep, demanding rapids. Very
exciting!! |
|
V |
Extreme whitewater. Thrilling
but dangerous. |
|
VI |
Unrunnable for most sane folks
(think Niagara Falls). |
|
|
|
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