Deschutes River

Deschutes River Rafting Trips

Central Oregon's Whitewater Playground

Offering dramatic high desert canyon scenery, numerous fun and splashy class III rapids and options for a variety of whitewater adventures, the Deschutes River is one of Oregon's most popular rafting destinations.  The river is convenient to Portland, Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and Bend. Whether you are looking for a one-day rafting trip, a weekend whitewater getaway, or a slightly longer river adventure, the Deschutes River provides plenty of options and is a great choice for beginners and experienced rafters alike. 

Trip Length 1 to 3 Days

Rafting Season:  April – September

Difficulty:  Class II-III

Minimum Age 6

1 Day Trip

Oregon's Most popular

$129.00 (Adult)

$119.00 (Youth -12 & Under)


The 1-Day trip runs 13 miles from Harpham Flat to Sandy Beach near the town of Maupin, Oregon. This trip offers fun whitewater, plenty of sunshine and lots of "play time". Moderate, class III rapids make it fun for everyone. A great option convenient to Portland, Mt Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and Bend.



 2 Day Trip

 your new favorite vacation

$759.00 (Adult)

$709.00 (Youth - 12 & Under)


The 2-Day trip runs 36 miles from Trout Creek to Maupin City Park. The perfect weekend getaway! Spend two days shooting the rapids and a comfortable night under the stars. This is a great way to experience what multi-day rafting is all about. Sit back, relax and let our guides show you what river time is all about. 



 3 Day Trip

a classic high desert adventure

$995.00 (Adult)

$945.00 (Youth - 12 & Under)


The 3-Day trip runs 36 miles from Trout Creek to Maupin City Park. Enjoy a more relaxed pace with extra time for hiking, playing or just relaxing in camp. Challenge famous rapids like Whitehorse, Buckskin Mary, Wapanitia and Boxcar in rafts and inflatable kayaks. Enjoy two nights of camping and wonderful meals prepared by our guides. 

Deschutes River Travel & Area Information

Weather Conditions


The weather is usually sunny and warm from June to mid-September. Brief thundershowers are always possible during summer afternoons. Water temperatures are cool year-round averaging in the mid-50s to low 60s. Swimming is refreshing on warm days.


Getting There

Meeting Locations

Full-Day Trips:

Transportation from the Shilo Inn in Bend is available but space in our shuttle vans is limited. If we cannot provide transportation because our vans are full, or if you would rather not ride in our vans, you have the option to meet us in the overflow parking area at Maupin City Park in Maupin and we will have your vehicle shuttled to the take-out during the trip.  Both of these options are included in the price.

Multi-Day Trips:

All multi-day Deschutes River trips meet at the Trout Creek Campground boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Your vehicle will be shuttled to the take-out at Maupin City Park during the trip. 

Vehicles, Shuttles and Valuables

We recommend leaving valuables at home or at the very least locking them in your trunk, glove box or keeping them out of sight. For full-day trips, wallets can be stored in the dry bags available on each raft along with keys. Valuables and other items may also be left in an Ouzel vehicle during the trip, and while theft in this area is rare, we cannot guarantee against it.  Pets: Do NOT leave pets in your vehicles.

If your vehicle is being shuttled (driven) to the take-out during the trip, this service is provided by a professional shuttle company that is licensed/permitted by the Bureau of Land Management to perform these services. We have used the same shuttle company for many years. They are professional and dependable.

Shilo Inn Location Map (Full-Day Trips)

Maupin City Park Location Map (Full-Day Trips)

Trout Creek Boat Ramp (Multi-Day Trips)


Where to Stay

Maupin, Oregon

Oasis Cabin Resort

Quaint, cozy cabins with a restaurant and bar. 

(541) 395-2611

River Run Lodge

Offers a unique combination of intimacy, amenities and exclusivity.

(541) 980-7113


Area Options for Tent & RV Camping

Trout Creek Campground 

Tent camping, pit toilets. No services or potable water.  Multi-day trips meet here.

The Cove Palisades State Park

 Tent camping, RV sites; limited services. 

Maupin City Park

Tent camping, RV Sites, showers. We meet across the street in the overflow parking area for full-day trips. Multi-day trips end here.

Madras, Oregon

The Inn at Cross Keys Station

This Inn has received good reviews from our guests! Includes a restaurant and is close to  our 2 and 3 day launch location. 

(541) 475-5800


Quality Inn (541) 475-6141

Bend, Oregon

Shilo Inn & Suites

Clean, comfortable and convenient.  Right on the river! Our meeting location in Bend for full-day trips.

(541) 389-9600

Oxford Hotel

If you want the best in luxury, comfort and customer service, you can't beat the Oxford. In the heart of downtown Bend.

(541) 382-8436




Area Activities

Mt. Hood

Many options for outdoor recreation including hiking, mountain biking, fishing and more. Dining and lodging as well as several campgrounds in the area. 

The Cove Palisades State Park

This State Park located on Lake Billy Chinook features many opportunities for outdoor recreation including hiking, swimming and camping.

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area encompasses 292,500 acres and is unique in its natural and cultural history, as well as its designation as a National Scenic Area. There are many opportunities for sight seeing, including Multnomah Falls, the second highest year round waterfall in the U.S!


The Museum at Warm Springs

Located on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. A collection of exhibits from the indigenous tribes of the area.


Outstanding Remarkable Values

Wild & Scenic River Designation - October 28, 1988

Learn about the outstanding remarkable values that makes the Deschutes River such a special place and helped it to achieve protected status under the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.

  • Botany

    The variety of plant communities in the Deschutes River Canyon fall into four broad categories; the high desert uplands host big sagebrush, juniper-big sagebrush and bunchgrass types, and the riparian vegetation along the river is dominated by alders.

  • Cultural, Pre-History

    Humans have occupied the Deschutes Canyon area for at least 10,000 years. One hundred thirty-five prehistoric sites have been recorded in the lower Deschutes River Canyon, and it is believed that many others will yet be found. Most common are habitation sites. One of these, at Macks Canyon Campground, was excavated by University of Oregon archaeologists in the late 1960s and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sherars Falls, a point of difficult passage for anadromous fishes, is an important traditional fishing station for Native Americans.



  • Fisheries

    The lower Deschutes provides extensive spawning and rearing habitat for both resident fish, such as rainbow trout, and anadromous steelhead and chinook salmon. There is also a regionally unique run of wild sockeye salmon that is sustained by the incidental passage of kokonee smolts through the turbines at the Pelton/Round Butte hydroelectric complex. Runs of anadromous fish sustain an important subsistence fishery for Native Americans.



  • Geologic

    The Deschutes River flows through the Deschutes-Umatilla Plateau, the main part of which slopes northward from 4,000-foot levels in the mountains of Central Oregon to a 400-foot elevation along the Columbia River. The rocks are mostly Columbia River basalt, nearly 2,000 feet thick. The lava flows that make up the plateau occurred over millions of years and formed in distinct layers of various thickness.



  • Historic

    Exploration and fur trapping by Euro-Americans began in the Deschutes Canyon in the early 19th century. Other historic activities that have been documented include use of the Oregon Trail, road and railroad construction and settlement. In the Deschutes Canyon, 38 historic sites have been documented, most of them associated with early railroad construction.

  • Recreational

    The lower Deschutes River is central Oregon's playground, an ideal location for outdoor sports, from whitewater paddling and swimming to hiking and biking. The river provides a stable, high-volume flow, available for recreation all year long, and it has been internationally known for its excellent fishery for many years. One hundred river miles offer segments favored for relaxed, overnight camping and fishing floats, one-day whitewater adventures, and guided or non-guided fishing trips. Notable activities include following the Lower Deschutes River Back Country Byway along the river to campgrounds at Beavertail and Macks Canyon or the accessible fishing ramp at Blue Hole.

  • Scenic

    The lower Deschutes River Canyon contains a diversity of landforms, vegetation and color. The river, having carved a canyon nearly 2,000 feet deep in many locations out of rugged Columbia River basalt flows, provides a dramatic and diverse landscape. The clear water of the river framed by the green riparian vegetative fringe creates a stark contrast to the often barren and broken reddish and brown cliffs and hillsides of the canyon. The river provides a boater with a moving platform for viewing the ever-changing scene. While transportation corridors exist (roads and railroads) and occupational and rural development have occurred in several areas, they are overshadowed by the magnitude and beauty of the river and canyon character.

  • Wildlife

    The Deschutes River Canyon provides habitat for approximately 300 different species of wildlife. Most of these utilize riparian habitats adjacent to the river. This provides outstanding opportunities for viewing many species of wildlife including songbirds, waterfowl, mink, heron, mule deer and many reptiles, amphibians and other small and large mammals. Notable species are the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, osprey, Dalles sideboard snail and shortface lanx.


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