[Click here] for reservations :: (3-Day, 2-Night Trip) $350 / person :: 1 - 5 Guests :: $250 / person :: 6 + Guests

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High desert canyons :: 42 miles/3-Day, 2-Night Trip :: Close to Seattle/Portland

A high desert, ‘pool and drop’ river ideal for first timers and families as well as adventurous paddlers. On the east side of the Oregon Cascades, so very likely to be dry, hot and sunny.

Class III Whitewater :: Easy to moderate :: Ages 6 +

Our guides will meet you at the BUCKHOLLOW DAY USE AREA which is located on the east bank of the Deschutes approx. 10 miles north of Maupin, OR.

Drive north along the river out of Maupin on the County Road. In 9 miles, turn onto Hwy 216 and immediately begin looking for the sign for Buckhollow. Turn left on gravel road off Hwy 216 and drive 1/8 mile to the Buckhollow Day Use Area.

Allow 6 hours if you are driving from Seattle.

We suggest you reserve lodging in The Dalles for the evening prior to the trip so that you will have an easy hour’s drive to Maupin in the morning.

For camping, we suggest Maupin City Park or one of the BLM river sites north of Maupin.

Distance from Portland: 105 miles - 2 hours, 1 minute
Distance from Seattle: 270 miles - 4 hours, 35 minutes

Delectable riverside meals, shuttle at river, user fees, all necessary river gear and, of course, professional and personable river guides.

ORION typically provides food from lunch on the first day of your trip through lunch on the last day of your trip, unless other arrangements have been made. Meals can be outdoor gourmet to simple, depending on what your group is willing to afford.

Overnight River Meals:

('Typical 3-Day Menu Example')

Lunch Day #1
Midwest Deli Spread
Wholesome Deli-Style Loaves
Condiments, 3 Cheeses, 3 Meats (Hummus option)
Seedless Watermelon
Pepperidge Farm Cookies

Dinner Day #1
Shrimp Fettucine Margherita
Grilled Garlic Asparagus
Kalamata Olive Bread
Strawberry/Blackberry Shortcakes

Breakfast Day #2
Sourdough Bread for Orange Zest French Toast
Vermont Maple Syrup
Maple Sausage Links and Patties
Sliced Navel Oranges
Cantaloupe and Honeydew with Lime
Hot Cocoa, Coffee and Tea

Lunch Day #2
Mom's Southern Tuna Salad Wraps
Raisin and Peanut Coleslaw
Red and Green Seedless Grapes
Dessert Breads

Dinner Day #2
Chicken ala Deschutes
Free Range Chicken Breasts
Baked Couscous with Pine Nuts, Pesto and Fresh Spinach
Artisan Bread
Raspberry/Almond Slices Salad
Chocolate and Cheesecake Pudding Pies Topped with Kiwi Halves

Breakfast Day #3
Four Color Fruit Salad with Nancy's Yogurt
Espresso Coffee Cake
Hot Cocoa, Coffee and Tea

Lunch Day #3
Thomas' Everything Bagels with
Cream Cheese Mixed with Chives and Olives
Northwest Smoked Salmon
Quartered Red Onions and Pesto
Clementines and Tangerines
Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Named for a mid-20th century head-on collision between two locomotives, Wreck Rapids lives up to its reputation at times with massive haystacks of whitewater.

A large raft-swallowing reversal lurks in the midst of a set of fun rollercoaster waves.

A claustrophobic channel with room for only one raft at a time dotted with basalt rocks and playful whitewater.

It looks like any other wave set from upstream, but as you get closer, you realize that the wave at the bottom stands taller than the raft is long and culminates in a crown of curling whitewater.

Whitewater, rocks and gravity, ready to strike the unwary guide and his crew who are not paying attention.