River Comparison

Clackamas River - Closest whitewater to Portland. Exciting whitewater in the spring (our most thrilling spring day-trip), and a great family trip in the summer. Good hiking and camping nearby. Beautiful, classic Oregon forest scenery.  Near Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.
North Santiam River - Exciting springtime whitewater. River calms during summertime - our mildest day 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. Two hours east of Portland and two 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 one 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 the 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 Park.
Grande Ronde River - Our second mildest multiday river 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 Park.
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-wave 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 April 3 - Sept 6  Half & 1 Day 6-12 miles III to IV PR, IK, O Estacada, OR 30 miles Portland, OR  
North Santiam April 3 - Oct 10   Half & 1 Day 6-14 miles II+ to III PR, O Mehama, OR 65 miles Portland, OR
Deschutes April 3 - Oct 10   Half & 1 Day 5-10 miles III PR, O Maupin, OR 100 miles Portland, OR
McKenzie April 3 - Sept 26    Half & 1 Day 8-16 miles II+  PR, O Blue River, OR 150 miles Portland, OR

North Umpqua

 April 1 - Aug 30   1 day 9-12 miles III+ PR, O Steamboat, OR 225 miles Medford, OR

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 April 1 - Sept 26    2 days 24 miles II+  PR, IK, O Blue River, OR 150 miles Portland, OR

North Umpqua

 April 1 - Aug 29   2 or 3 days 9-36 miles III+ PR, IK, O Steamboat, OR 225 miles Medford, OR
Rogue

April 1 -  Oct 10   

3 days 34-38 mi.

III+

 PR, IK, O, RYO Galice, OR 265 miles Medford, OR
Grande Ronde

May 1 - June 30    

3 days 40 miles

II to III

 PR, IK, O, RYO Minam, OR 280 miles Portland, OR

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 1 -  Oct 10   

4 or 5 days 36-38 miles

III+

 PR, IK, O, RYO Galice, OR 265 miles Medford, OR
Owyhee

April 1 - May 31   

4 or 5 days 65 miles III+ PR, IK, O, RYO Jordan Valley, OR 425 miles Boise, ID
Grande Ronde

May 1 - June 30   

5 days 90 miles

II+

 PR, IK, O, RYO Minam, OR 280 miles Portland, OR
Upper John Day April 1 - June 30   4 days 47 miles II PR, IK, O, RYO Service Creek,  OR 250 miles Portland, OR
Lower John Day April 1 - June 30   5 days 68 miles II PR, IK, O, RYO Clarno, OR 165 miles Portland, OR
John Day Combo April 1 - June 30   9 days 115 miles II PR, IK, O, RYO Service Creek,  OR 250 miles Portland, OR
Lower Salmon July 1 - Sept 15 4 or 5 days 62-72 miles III to IV PR, IK, O, RYO Lewiston, ID 325 miles Lewiston, ID

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 or two people per kayak.)
O Oar raft, rowed by a guide.
RYO O.R.E.'s custom designed row-it-yourself cataraft. (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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