Deschutes River
The North Umpqua is Oregon's Gem of Whitewater rafting!
Umpqua River Rafting Overview
The Umpqua River is a classic Oregon white water rafting trip. Long regarded as a premier steelhead fishing and superlative rafting region, the North Umpqua area is filled with outdoor recreation opportunities. Flowing from it's headwaters near Crater Lake, the Umpqua River stairsteps its way west through a canyon blanketed in Douglas fir and peppered with jagged spires. The Umpqua River eventually drains in the Pacific Ocean some 250 miles from its origin.
Along the way, the Umpqua River serves up some of the best whitewater rafting, scenery and fishing found anywhere in the world. In fact, the Umpqua River is considered such a valuable asset to the wilderness that it was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1988. Whether its the scenery, pool and drop rapids, Cascade Mountain solitude or world class fishing that brings you to the Umpqua River, we are confident that a rafting adventure trip will leave you marveling at this incredible river.
The North Umpqua rafting trip is one of Oregon's most exciting and memorable river trips. A full day rafting adventure on the Umpqua river is filled with an abundance of class 2 and 3 rapids as well as the famous class 4 Pinball. This trip is exciting but not overwhelming, making it an ideal family adventure for all!
- Location: Oregon River Rafting Near Crater Lake
The Umpqua River is located in the Southern Cascades between Crater Lake and the town of Roseburg, Oregon. The Umpqua River is accessible from I-5 by traveling east on Hwy 138.
Season: April through Late August
The volcanic under footing of the nearby mountains allows for summer-long flows on the Umpqua River. When Crater Lake was created 7000 years ago, vast deposits of pumice and ash were laid down in the upper reaches of the watershed. When it rains and snows... water filters through the porous rock replenishing springs below whose steady flow feeds into the Umpqua and helps maintain its levels through the summer and fall. Mineral deposits in the groundwater are what creates the surreal aquamarine color of the water. This same volcanic foundation and processes in the Umpqua River also helped create nearby Tokatee Falls, one of Oregon's most dramatic waterfalls.
- River Difficulty: Class III - IV
The Umpqua River is rated Class III+/IV and is perfect for both adventurous first-timers and experienced rafters seeking a fulfilling Oregon whitewater river rafting trip . The upper Umpqua River has fun and relatively continuous class III and III+ rapids and one class IV, Pinball, which we run near the end of the day. The minimum age required for an Umpqua River rafting trip is eight.
- Gourmet Meals:
All Full-Day Umpqua River rafting trips include a filling, gourmet deli-style lunch and celebration snacks and beverages at the end of the trip. Two-Day & Three-Day trips include great lunches, happy-hour hors d'oeuvres and beverages, gourmet, multi-course dinner(s), and steaming hot breakfast(s).
Why Choose High Country Expeditions For Your Umpqua River Rafting Trip?
- Your Choice:
It's Your Trip, Not Ours. We have been running Umpqua River rafting trips for years and believe that the best trip is the trip you desire. We provide a foundation of safety and seamless logistics, and have a wealth of knowledge about the Umpqua River. From there we create the trip you want, adjusting our style to your wants and needs rather than asking you to fit into our agenda.
Appropriate Size Rafts and Number of Guests Per Raft. This is an important aspect to any rafting trip. High Country Expeditions does not use rafts that are too big, which can reduce the amount of fun on the river. Our fleet of 12-foot to 14-foot long rafts allows us to adjust the raft size to the water level in order to make sure we are maximizing your fun and safety. We also offer both paddle and oar powered rafts upon request.
Various Trip Lengths. We offer incredibly fun Full-Day, 2- and 3-Day trips. The Full-Day trip is peppered with great rapids. The 2- and 3-day trips also feature exhilarating whitewater and allow you the opportunity to spend more time enjoying and exploring the Umpqua River canyon. On our multi-day trips we camp in a quiet riverside Forest Service campground that has car access. As a result you can bring as much gear as you would like since you will have access to your car at night. On our 3-Day trips, we run the best section of whitewater twice.
- Your Safety:
At Least Two Boats and Two Guides Per Trip. On all of our Oregon white water rafting trips we always have at least two licensed guides on the water. We believe that the safest possible trip starts with appropriate staffing and that just one guide on the water is not as effective as two or more. Therefore, we always have at least two boats and two guides on each trip.
Full Safety Orientation and Gear. Before each Oregon white water rafting trip we provide a thorough safety and instructional presentation. As part of our full safety gear ensemble, guests are provided with specially designed rafting helmets, and when needed, wetsuits and paddle jackets. We also have four different sizes of lifejackets, from children's to extra extra large.
Experienced Crew. Each and every year High Country Expeditions is among the leaders in terms of the number of guests rafting the Umpqua River. We run trips virtually every day in the summer. In the summer our primary Umpqua River guides virtually live in the Umpqua River valley, resulting in a crew that knows well the characteristics of the Umpqua River, providing you with a great trip.
- Your Convenience:
Trips Virtually Every Day of the Week in the Summer. Since we are based near the river we have the ability to run trips virtually every day of the week from April through late August. This allows you to run the Umpqua River at a time that is convenient for you.
Shuttle Options from Diamond Lake and Roseburg. We are happy to provide transportation for groups from nearby resorts and communities. There is a small fee for this service. Please contact our office for details.
- Your Satisfaction:
We are confident you will find your experience with High Country Expeditions to be exceptionally rewarding!
