The Owyhee River in South Eastern Oregon is easily the most remote and arguably the most scenic, river trip in the state. 04. ... Kayak Fishing - Nehalem River Fall Chinook Salmon - Duration: 8:20. The South Fork meets the East Fork on the fourth day, so the last three days of this trip are the same as the last three of the East Fork trip. We put-in at a local ranch in Nevada, miles from nowhere and may vary with our take-out being at the Three Forks launch site. During April and May the river is one of the most beautiful and remote rafting trips in the country. The corridor also has some wonderful side hikes to view the above mentioned attractions as well as to some beautiful vistas overlooking the canyon and river below. Off the Rafts. At flows around 3000 cfs, they tend to be bouncy wave trains. If you are looking for that next expeditionary trip on a remote river that gets you away from crowd and puts you in your own world, the newly protected Owyhee River, with expert ROW Adventure guides should be next on your list. Turning slowly, we gawked at the rock walls, booties sloshing but warm in our wetsuits, and loosened our personal floatation devices. We took our first steps inside Owyhee Canyon, with five exhilarating days of rapids, hikes and hot springs ahead. In May, on Owyhee River trips, we ask that you be willing to transfer to the Snake River in Hells Canyon should the need arise. Two Hawaiian Islanders accompanying the party disappeared in the Owyhee River area and by the 1830's the river had become known as the "Owyhee," a derivation of the word Hawaii. In low water we can usually run, but it might require running lighter kayaks with fewer amenities. 8:20. This kayaking trip offers one of the most remote, awesome wilderness kayak vacations in the entire nation. Here, he shares what made the trip remarkable and why he’s convinced the area must be permanently protected for future generations. Winner of the 2009 Trip of the Year: North America by Outside magazine! ROW Adventures is a proud member of the Adventure Travel and Trade Association, a global network of 1,300 + members supporting a love for exploration and sustainable tourism development. Adult Price: $2390, Upper Owyhee-South Fork All trips meet the evening before the launch date. 2020 is the year Orange Torpedo Trips turns 51! 2021April 20- 25 Spaces availableKayaker & Rafter $1750, 2022 Now Taking ReservationsApril 20- 25Kayaker & Rafter $TBA, For reservations contact Momentum River Expeditions (541) 488.2525Shuttle from Boise Airport and boat rentals optional. BLM/Flickr. The extremely remote Lower Owyhee defies direct comparisons. The Owyhee River The Owyhee River is a 280-mile long tributary of the Snake River, carving a deep canyon as it runs. Upper Owyhee-East Fork The Owyhee River rises high in the desert mountains of northern Nevada and southern Idaho, then flows 400 miles to its confluence with the Snake River on the Oregon-Idaho … The canyons of the Owyhee River are dramatic, awe-inspiring landforms. Both high and low water can happen. Many have said they have entirely new view of Oregon and the treasures the state has to offer. Both customers and guides who float through the deep “Grand Canyon-esque” gorges of this river come away changed from the awe-inspiring landscape. This is a wilderness journey enjoyed by few, a magical place that is perfect for anyone wanting that once-in-a-lifetime trip to a place less traveled. Red-winged blackbirds ring out from the reeds, swallows dart over the water and into mud nests, western meadowlarks sing to each other from opposite banks, and sage-grouse fan and dance among the leks; antelope speed across the plains and bighorn sheep gracefully move across the rocks and canyons; … The put-in is around 5000' elevation near the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and will vary with our take-out usually at the Three Forks launch site. Surprising to some newcomers, the river flows south to north from Nevada, through Idaho, and into Southeastern Oregon before meandering back towards the Snake River. Four of us are making an eight-day, 82-mile kayaking descent of the upper Owyhee River, which carves narrow canyons of sheer rhyolite and basalt walls hundreds of feet deep into the sagebrush and grassland high desert sprawling over southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. Deschutes River Rafting; Middle Owyhee Kayaking Trip; Lower Owyhee Kayaking Trip; Inflatable Kayaking (IK) Payette River Rafting, Cabarton; Payette River Rafting, Main; Join Our Team. On October 19, 1984, 120 miles of the Owyhee was designated to be protected under the Wild … Owyhee River boaters can expect a full immersion into a remarkable desert river ecosystem. Five-day trip. When this was signed into law, the portion of the river east of the Idaho-Oregon boundary was excluded, due to pressure from local mining and grazing interests. We have been providing whitewater rafting adventures on the Rogue River, Salmon River, Klamath River, North Umpqua River and Owyhee Rivers of Oregon, Idaho and California since 1969! Sometimes we can let the rafts through on ropes (called "lining,") but this depends on water levels. Owyhee River Kayaking Expeditionary Trip. Owyhee River: Rome to Birch Creek Ranch at Very Low Water - Duration: 6:42. Adult Price: $2390. BLM/Flickr. Because of the unpredictable weather and water levels, we ask that everyone who signs up for these trips be flexible and come prepared for all kinds of weather. The last day is generally easy. Step it up and spend 5 days in the pristine canyons … DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking Vertical faces of rock, 300 to 1000 feet high, tower above the river. White Water Rapids of the Pacific Northwest. Due to the extreme remoteness and inaccessibility of the area, wildlife sightings are best on this part of the river. The North Fork gorge is a great destination for fishing, kayaking, rafting, and more. The Owyhee River, below the dam from the Owyhee Reservoir, holds some nice Brown Trout and some decent Rainbow Trout! There are two different sections of the upper river that we float. Flow: 213 ft³/s; Water Level: 1.72 ft. USGS. info@adventurekayaking.com, © 2020
Due to the numerous rapids and narrow, rocky courses, we use a small 13' raft to carry the community camp equipment, and each person or couple paddles their own inflatable kayak. You'll see them on some of the pictures above. See our other award winning kayaking adventure on the Grande Ronde River in Oregon too! It is a place as beautiful as it is inhospitable. Owyhee River, Oregon: See 2 reviews, articles, and 12 photos of Owyhee River, ranked No.2,090 on Tripadvisor among 2,721 attractions in Oregon. DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking –
The Upper Owyhee, mostly contained in the states of Nevada and Idaho, offers one of the most remote, awesome wilderness river trips in the entire North American Continent. The first three days of this trip does not have the tight, rocky, nearly impassable rapids that are found on the East Fork. We woke up on Saturday and got on the river about 11:00 am. Our detailed packing list will tell you what you need to bring to be properly prepared. The Owyhee also offers one of the best birding experiences anywhere in the lower 48. It is Oregon’s hidden gem. The cover photo of our 2010 brochure. Duckies are your own inflatable kayaks. The scenery was as fantastic as we had anticipated and the weather even cooperated. A tributary of the Snake River, the Owyhee begins in Nevada and flows north and west through Idaho and Oregon before the 200-mile long river… DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking P.O. The area is rich in cultural history with Native American petroglyphs up to 9,000 years old and abandoned ranches from a far more recent time. Owyhee River Rafting. Some refer to them as the "Sistine Chapel" of all canyon lands. Departures: By request We have been there a few times now and we are never disappointed. The byway gives you access to 16 wild and scenic rivers. Making our way through sand, sagebrush and rock, these hikes, a mix of mellow to rugged, provide panoramic views of this unique landscape. The Owyhee River is one of the West's best-kept secrets with canyons unique to this continent. Due to a short window of raftable flows on the Owyhee, this Owyhee Canyonlands adventure is typically only available as an early-season rafting escape in April and May … This canyon is as remote as anyplace on the North American continent. Six days allows us time to play the many Class II / III rapids and hike the awe-inspiring terrain, or to kick back in camp and just chill. Lotus, CA 95651 USA, +1(530) 295-0830 The Owyhee River Trip Guide Oregon River Experiences 16869 65TH Ave. #251 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 503-563-1500 (office) 800-827-1358 (toll-free) 888-544-4165 (fax) info@oregonriver.com www.oregonriver.com. We have been running the Owyhee since 1980 and offer kayaking trips on the East Fork and South Fork of the Upper Owyhee. Fewer people do the Middle Owyhee than the Lower Owyhee due to the narrower flow window, smaller camps, and the Class V+ Widowmaker. In all we've spotted over 60 bird species on our trips. In May the desert is in full bloom and dozens of plants are flowering, making a rainbow of color. Middle Owyhee Kayaking Trip. Pricing. The Owyhee is a natural flowing river. Most notably featured is the Owyhee River and its several forks. Hence the beauty of using lighter inflatable kayaks. World-Class River Trips Oregon, Northern California, and beyond… the Illinois River - lower canyons in early spring. In 1979 the U.S. National Park Service recommended a 192-mile segment of the Owyhee River, from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho, to the Owyhee Reservoir in Oregon, be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Kayak Oregon’s Owyhee River with Current Adventures Kayaking for an awesome paddling opportunity in the incredible remote canyons of Oregon’s Owyhee river! Three species of endangered plants are located along the rivers, including the Owyhee River Stickseed, Anderson's buttercup and Inch-High Lupine. The relaxed 6-day pace allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience, with time for hiking and relaxing in this hidden gem! The name Owyhee evolved out of a scouting expedition led by Donald McKenzie in 1818. The mighty Owyhee River carves out some of the most epic canyon walls you've ever seen. Owyhee River fishing is really limited since we are there only during the spring high-water runoff. Our trip finishes at Birch Creek where we’ll load into our transportation back to Rome and our cars. Within the canyon walls mountain juniper grows, as well as sagebrush, willow, hackberry and numerous grasses. Photo: Pete Wallstrom. As flows drop below 1000 cfs, lines become more technical as rocks become exposed. We had hoped to paddle upstream three miles to Echo Rock hot springs but after seeing how low the water was we weren't sure that was going to work. Golden eagles, numerous hawks, falcons, Canada geese, teals, and songbirds are abundant. Apr 23, 2019 - Located in Eastern Oregon, this stunningly beautiful, remote stretch of river with majestic canyons and great whitewater is often referred to as Oregon’s Grand Canyon. DADventurer 2,133 views. Lower Owyhee - Cave Camp - Photo: Andy Hinton. Wet Planet offers 5 day rafting trips on this river gem in the springtime!. ROW Adventures is proud to be a permitted outfitter under the Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest Service and an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service. The tents were easy, the pads cushy, the splash jackets perfect … We team up with a long time partner of ours in Oregon River Experiences for this raft supported adventure. TOP 4 … Each person or couple will paddle and ride in their own personal duckie. In Owyhee country, the wilderness is a sagebrush sea. There is a great variety of bird life in the canyon. Both trips are limited to ten guests and five guides. To paddle the Owyhee is to boat through desert canyons with walls towering more than a thousand feet overhead. Here, he shares what made the trip remarkable and why he's convinced the area must be permanently protected for future generations. Where Does the Deschutes River Start and End? Sharks Tooth Rapid on the Middle Owyhee. This Owyhee kayak trip will flow through dramatic, multi-colored canyons, reminiscent of places like Bryce and Zion National Parks in southern Utah. Rome, OR Weather ROME WEATHER. Sharing Nature ~ Enriching Lives, Since 1979, Call: 1-800-451-6034Mail: info@ROWadventures.com. Native Americans have lived in this canyon for at least 9000 years. Our Owyhee River Kayaking Trips generally run from April to late May, with the best water levels and weather in May. Since spring is a time when weather systems tend to be less stable than in the summer, temperature ranges can be extreme, with the possibility of snow flurries and a 95-degree sun in the same day. Departures: By request Peak rafting season is in the spring and early summer months, when the water levels are highest. © Adventure Unbound 1979 - 2021 - All rights reserved, Multiday rafting and camping trips on the Deschutes River, Multiday Rafting and Camping Trips on the Lochsa River in Idaho, Turkish Sailing, History and Cultural Exploration, A Message of Gratitude During Difficult Times, Humans of ROW: Connelly Brown - River Guide, The Natural Flow of Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The side hikes are world-class and for many, an unexpected highlight of the trip. Gleaming basalt bluffs cascade down to desolate, soft beaches speckled with the lure of undiscovered gemstones. The Owyhee River in Idaho and Oregon is one of the most spectacular desert rivers in the United States. ROW Inc., doing business as ROW Adventures is proud to be an Equal Opportunity recreation service provider. See more … Location Map River Level OWYHEE RIVER NR ROME OR. Sign up to ROW and receive periodic email newsletters from the ROW Adventures Family of Companies. A tributary of the Snake River, the Owyhee begins in Nevada and flows north and west through Idaho and Oregon before the 200-mile long river's terminus into the Snake. Our Owyhee River Kayaking trips allow visitors to explore the nation's newest protected Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River. Rarely visited, and strictly regulated by the Bureau of Land Management, ROW Adventures is one of the very few outfitters licensed and permitted to run the entire Owyhee River (bridging the states of Nevada, Idaho and Oregon). Six million years of geology began here, passing at 100,000 years per river mile. There are numerous pool-drop Class II and III rapids. Across the horizon, canyon walls swell to ridge lines that roll across one of the largest undeveloped tracts of public land left in the lower forty-eight states. Day 2-5 Our journey takes through us some amazing desert scenery, a mix of tall colorful cliffs and grassy prairie-like landscape. Day 1 We meet in at the put in in Rome, Oregon where we pack, hand our gear off to the raft guides and begin our trip. During May and early June, these trips may be combined with other raft trips or kayak trips to make 17-days of kayaking and rafting - making it the longest, most remote river trip in the lower 48 states. *DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking trips on the Owyhee are supported by Momentum River Expeditions, a licensed and legal permit holder of the US Forest Service and BLM. You MUST catch and release all the Brown Trout you catch but you can keep any Rainbow Trout that you catch. Our goal is always to raft the Owyhee River you can bet we'll do everything in our power to run the trip as scheduled. The Owyhee is recognized nationally as a prime early-season whitewater destination, popular for commercial and non-commercial river runners. Part of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, The Owyhee Initiative designates over 300 miles of water as Wild and Scenic Rivers and 517,000 acres as Wilderness. Rarely visited, and strictly regulated by the Bureau of Land Management, ROW Adventures is one of the very few outfitters licensed and permitted to run the entire Owyhee River … Recorded history of the region began in 1812 with the first explorations by white men. 5-Day Owyhee River Trips: May 5 – 11th, May 12 – 16th, 2020. Learn about our rafting and kayaking trips down the Owyhee River at http://www.nwrafting.com/owyhee. Our Lower Owyhee Inflatable Kayaking Expedition is six days of high adventure paddling and exploring the “Grand Canyon” of Oregon at a time and in a way that few have ever enjoyed it. Numerous petroglyphs and other evidence are found along the river's banks. Or, if you are looking for a sea kayaking adventure, go here: Baja Sea Kayaking Adventure. 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