Called “the Eden at the end of the Oregon Trail,” the likes of this region’s physical beauty had never been seen before when it was discovered in the nineteenth century. Word spread across the United States that “The Trail”, which started in Independence, Missouri, was rumored to lead to a heaven on earth…
Oregon leads the nation with more than 50 designated Wild & Scenic Rivers, and the Rogue River was among the first to be honored with this important protection in 1968. The Owyhee River earned national distinction as a Wild & Scenic River in 1984.
Wild & Scenic Beauties
The Rogue River, stretching 215 miles from its headwaters near Crater Lake National Park to the Pacific Ocean, with its moderate Class III whitewater—is just wild enough to satiate an adult sense of adventure, while tantalizing teens and thrilling youngsters. On our 3- to 5-day Rogue River rafting trips we explore the entire 33-mile Wild & Scenic section of the river, which features a beautiful river canyon, abundant wildlife, picture-perfect campsites, and easy hikes to historic sites and cascading waterfalls.
For great Oregon hiking, our Raft-Supported Rogue River Trail Hiker is a journey on foot along the 39-mile Rogue River Trail during the peak of the wildflower season on the Rogue. This unique 6-day guided hiking trip includes raft-supported hiking (so all you carry is a daypack) and riverside camping with meals prepared by your guides.
The Owyhee River in southeastern Oregon is another Wild and Scenic river in the astonishingly beautiful high-desert of the proposed Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument. With abundant wildlife—including elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and the world’s largest herd of California bighorn sheep —and its dramatic canyon setting, this Class III Oregon whitewater rafting trip is a must do for rafting aficionados!
Family Rafting on Oregon’s Rogue River
Oregon’s Rogue River is one of our most popular rafting trips for families. Fun whitewater, abundant wildlife, delicious meals, no electronics, and guides who know how to keep the kids happy and entertained—so you can enjoy your vacation too—are the recipe for success. We want your family vacation with OARS to be the best outdoor experience of your life. OARS is family-owned and operated and we know how to create a family experience that can be enjoyed by mom, dad and the kids (and maybe even by grandma and grandpa too)!
Oregon Rafting for Foodies
For folks looking for a little something more…OARS Oregon adventure vacations deviate from the norm in a most sophisticated way. The Wild and Scenic Rogue River plays host to a popular series of gourmet river trips that include Wine Tasting, Craft Beer Tasting, and our renowned Wilderness Gourmet trip on the Rogue.
Each trip features knowledgeable wine stewards or guest brewers and chef-prepared gourmet meals that showcase the best of the region. The wines and microbrews are carefully chosen to complement the menus each night, making dinner seem closer to a fine restaurant experience than a campsite on a scenic river.
Why OARS in Oregon?
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. Our Rogue River rafting trip has been routinely 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)!
We have led more than 500,000 guests to some of the most beautiful places on Earth, never losing sight of one of our foremost goals: to make the joys of the world’s most wild and wondrous places accessible to everyone—no matter how experienced. Our guides are safety-conscious with extensive wilderness experience. OARS provides the best guide-to-guest ratio in the adventure travel business, thus ensuring your questions are answered and your concerns are given the personal attention you deserve. And, our team of friendly and knowledgeable Adventure Consultants are available year-round to answer your calls and help plan your Oregon rafting vacation.
We care about the places we visit. OARS follows “minimum impact” travel procedures by traveling in small groups and avoiding areas that are under-managed or over-visited. We’re a proud partner of Leave No Trace and we actively train our guides and seek to educate our guests in LNT practices. We supply reusable insulated travel mugs on all of our trips and encourage our guests to refuse single use products. Each year, in partnership with our guests, we actively support regional conservation efforts through voluntary traveler donations and fundraising events. Our offices in California and Grand Canyon are also 100% solar powered.
