Oregon Rafting

OARS is one of the most established outfitters in Oregon—we’ve been guiding guests on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River since 1969—and our Oregon rafting trips are consistently rated among the highest of all OARS adventures in guest satisfaction. But don’t just take our word for it.

In addition to rave reviews from guests, our Rogue River rafting trip has been recognized as one of the top river trips in the West by Sunset, Outside, and National Geographic Adventure, and our Rogue River Wilderness Gourmet trip has been featured in the New York Times and Men’s Journal (among others).

The OARS Oregon Outpost is in Grants Pass. This is primarily our operations warehouse. Please be advised that most of our Oregon rafting trips do NOT meet at this location. For meeting location details and other helpful travel information, guests should review the detailed Before You Go materials provided for each trip.

Meeting locations and parking logistics depend on which river adventure you have booked.

Rogue River Trips (Grants Pass, OR)

All Rogue River trips (excluding Oregon Rowing Guide School) meet at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Grants Pass, OR. For those flying in, we recommend using the Medford airport for the shortest commute (roughly 30-40 minutes), though Portland is an alternative option with a 5-hour drive. Guests arriving by car can typically park their vehicles at the hotel for the duration of the rafting trip.

Owyhee River Trips (Boise, ID)

To ensure the best travel logistics for our guests, Owyhee River trips are operated by our OARS Idaho team and meet at The Riverside Hotel in Boise, ID. Boise is served by several major airlines. Guests arriving by car can typically park their vehicles at the hotel for the duration of the rafting trip.

Both meeting points are located near a variety of accommodations, including dedicated facilities for guests traveling by RV.

Rafting trips on the Rogue River generally run from May through September. Each part of the season has its benefits. Spring and early summer trips are often run in higher water, which gives the Rogue’s rapids a little more punch. The weather and water are typically a little cooler. In the middle of summer, expect splashy conditions on the river and plenty of swimming. As we move towards the end of the season, the wildlife tends to become more active, and guests often opt to paddle in inflatable kayaks. The Rogue River flows are dam regulated, so the water is reliable throughout the summer.

On the Owyhee River, higher spring flows allow a limited number of trips. The short season on this river almost always falls between mid-April and mid-May. In drier years, trips sometimes have to be canceled due to lack of water. 

When you raft with OARS in Oregon, rest assured, you can count on a high standard of customer service, top-notch equipment, delicious meals, and some of the best guides in the industry providing you with a trip of a lifetime.

If you’re new to multi-day rafting trips, or curious about the OARS experience, check out our Rafting 101 video and Multi-day River Trip FAQs to learn more about what you can expect.

On a multi-day rafting trip with OARS, you can typically expect to spend roughly 4-6 hours on the water each day. This time is balanced between navigating exciting rapids and enjoying calm stretches that are perfect for wildlife viewing, swimming, or chatting with your guides. 

The day usually begins with a 2–3 hour morning paddle, followed by an extended riverside lunch break to stretch your legs and relax in the shade. Afterward, you’ll spend another 2–3 hours on the rafts before arriving at camp in the late afternoon or early evening.

To break up time spent on the water, we typically try to incorporate daily off-water excursions based on the unique geography of each river. On the Owyhee, we might take extended walks into colorful side canyons like Lambert Rocks or relax in small riverside hot springs. On the Rogue River, we may hike to Kelsey Creek for a swim, explore the lush scenery of Dulog Creek, or visit historic home sites that serve as museums of the canyon’s past. 

One thing to keep in mind is that all Rogue River trips cover the same 40-mile stretch from Alameda Bar to Foster Bar, regardless of duration. This means a 3-day itinerary demands more time on the water to cover the distance, while a 5-day trip offers a more leisurely pace with ample time for hiking and exploration. On 5-day trips, you might enjoy earlier arrivals that leave the entire afternoon open for an extended hike or adventuring on shore, or possibly even a “layover day” where you stay at the same camp for two nights.

In general, though, we aim to arrive in camp by late afternoon or early evening each day. Find out more about what to expect at camp in our Camping 101 video.

Our Oregon river trips offer a range of whitewater excitement suitable for various experience levels.

• Rogue River: The Wild & Scenic section features mostly Class III whitewater, making it very suitable for beginners or first-time rafters. Favorite rapids include Wildcat Rapids, which accelerates into a boulder-clogged turn, and Black Bar Rapid, known for big drops and major splashes. More technical highlights include Blossom Bar (Class IV) and Rainie Falls. Here, guides typically navigate the Fish Ladder, a narrow chute on river right, while guests often walk around this section.
• Owyhee River: This river is typically rated as Class III. You can expect a mix of fun, splashy rapids like Bullseye and Upset on the early days, building toward more demanding maneuvers in sections like Whistling Bird, Squeeze, and Montgomery later in the trip.

These ratings are based on the International Scale of River Difficulty and can fluctuate depending on seasonal water levels and dam-regulated flows. For more information on how we categorize these experiences, visit our guide to whitewater rafting levels and river ratings.

Whether you’re a seasoned fly-fisher or just enjoy casting a line, our trips offer ample opportunities to enjoy the river’s bounty. Guests are welcome to fish from camp or directly from the raft during calmer stretches of the river.  

On the Rogue River, summer water temperatures during June, July and August are often too warm for optimal fishing, but early and late-season trips can offer some of the best fly-fishing in the West. Fishing opportunities on Owyhee River rafting trips, which are during the spring high-water runoff, are more limited since that’s not typically an ideal time for fishing.

If you plan to fish, an Oregon fishing license is required, and you must bring your own gear, ideally protected in a hard case. Collapsible rods are highly recommended for ease of storage on the boats. As a standard practice, OARS follows catch-and-release guidelines to preserve the river’s bounty.

Yes, the Rogue River is one of our most popular family rafting trips we offer, featuring a minimum age of 7 years old and optimal summer conditions, perfect for swimming, whitewater splashes and unplugged nights under the stars. For families with older children, the Owyhee River offers a more rugged spring adventure for those 12 and up.

Yes, we offer youth pricing on many of our multi-day river trips throughout the West. On the Rogue and Owyhee, children 15 years old and under qualify for special discounted rates for many departures. Please check the specific trip page for youth pricing and availability.

Yes. For our multi-day adventures on the Rogue and Owyhee Rivers, groups of 11 or more can save 10% on their reservation. Please keep in mind that unless you book a private charter, your group may share the trip with other OARS guests.

If you are looking for an exclusive experience—such as a family reunion, company outing, or celebration—you can request a private charter trip. These departures require meeting specific guest minimums to remain exclusive. For Rogue River charters, the minimum ranges from 12 to 22 people depending on the departure date, while Owyhee trips require a minimum of 12 guests. Groups that do not meet these minimums may still book a charter by paying the full value of the required seats.

For more details on group pricing and availability, visit our Group Trips page or contact our Group Sales Coordinator at (209) 753-4786.

Absolutely. OARS is dedicated to making our adventures memorable and accessible for guests with varying interests and abilities. If you have specific physical limitations—such as a recovering injury or mobility concerns—our oar-rigged boats, which are utilized on both the Rogue and Owyhee rivers, are an excellent option. These rafts are piloted by expert guides who handle all the rowing, allowing you to enjoy the journey without the exertion of paddling. 

However, it is important to consider the wilderness terrain encountered during the trip. Accessing lunch spots and campsites often requires stepping off the raft onto uneven ground, such as sand, gravel, or slippery river rocks. Our campsites are located in natural settings where the terrain can be sloped or uneven and moving between the rafts, kitchen area, groover, and your tent may involve walking on narrow dirt trails or navigating natural obstacles. Additionally, while not mandatory, daily side hikes to waterfalls, historic sites, or scenic overlooks typically involve unpaved, rustic trails that may be steep or narrow.

If you have any concerns about your ability to navigate the terrain or the rafts, please contact us to discuss your specific needs so we can help determine the best trip for your comfort and safety.

Because individual departures and trip capacities are strictly limited by managing agencies, OARS incurs costs and may turn away other guests once your space is held. Consequently, canceling your Rogue River or Owyhee trip after your deposit is processed will result in specific fees. 

If you cancel 90 days or more before your trip starts, you will incur a $250 per person fee. Cancellations made between 89 and 60 days before the start date incur a fee equal to the initial $500 deposit; however, the remainder of your payment can be transferred to a credit account valid through the end of the following season. Please note that cancellations made 59 days or less before departure are not eligible for credits or refunds, and the full fare is retained.   

If you need to move your reservation to a different trip during the same season or to a credit account for the following year, a $75 per person fee applies if the request is made at least 90 days before departure. Any transfer requests made 89 days or less before the trip are treated as cancellations according to the standard schedule.

Since we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies, weather, or air quality, we strongly urge you to purchase a travel protection plan.