ROCKSTARS: A GEOLOGY & ASTRONOMY DESCHUTES RIVER TRIP
4 days/ 3 nights: From Warm Springs to Maupin
Group Size: Minimum: 8 Maximum: 10
$1195 per person (includes Bureau of Land Management daily use fees)
Dates in 2024 and 2025 TBD (custom dates possible with enough advance notice and dependent on group size)
Photo by Amanda Close
Overview
Join Orion Guides, Geologists, and an Astronomer for a River Trip exploring 44 miles of The Deschutes River Basin. Experience exceptional views, intriguing geologic formations, and star-filled desert skies. On a Lower Deschutes Whitewater River Rafting trip you river raft by columnar basalt cliffs and float through canyons carved into the Mutton Mountain range. Campsites feature exceptional views, intriguing geologic formations, and star-filled desert skies.
The overnight whitewater river rafting trip includes numerous rapids with the most notable being Whitehorse, Buckskin Mary, Wapinitia, and Boxcar. On the Deschutes river rafting trip, you are introduced to the white water gradually until the exciting conclusion on the final day. The Class III whitewater is ideal for river rafting enthusiasts of every age bracket. An overnight river rafting trip with Orion Expeditions includes all meals from lunch on the very first day through lunch on the last day, 4 professional guides, 2 educators staff, a courtesy shuttle arranged at the river, and all necessary river gear.
A little background on the Geology of the Deschutes:
Quote from Geology and Geomorphology of the Lower Deschutes River Canyon, Oregon by Robin A. Beebee, Jim E. O'Connor, and Gordon E. Grant
“The basin is formed in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks ranging from 250 million to 1.3 thousand years old, but rocks are Tertiary and Quaternary lavas or other eruptive materials emplaced during the past 65 million years. The present canyon and river course reflect a 20 million year struggle among volcanic, tectonic, and fluvial processes.”
Program Features
An all-inclusive river trip including delicious meals, all necessary river gear, professional river, geology, and astronomy guides, and a courtesy shuttle arranged at the river.
Float 44 miles of the Deschutes River.
Enjoy Class I - III Rapids, and riverside overnight camping.
Learn through outdoor explorative activities and hands-on experiential learning.
Visit unique geologic formations along the Deschutes, accompanied by Geologists.
End each day relaxing in camp while our guides prepare sumptuous and satisfying dinners.
Astronomy star party under the star-filled skies each night at camp.
Retire each night to your tent or lay out under a brilliant sky full of stars.
Photo Credit: Lizzie Bridges
Activity Level: Requires fitness adequate for day hiking up to 3 miles round-trip, over moderate terrain, willingness to camp, readiness to enjoy a group experience.
Cost per person: $1195. Costs include all food from breakfast on Day 1 through Lunch Day 4, 2 expert staff, 4 river guides, group equipment, transportation from Maupin to Warm Springs, and supplies. Personal items, speciality snacks and beverages, and transportation to and from Maupin, OR are not included. Tents, paco pads, and sleeping cots can be provided upon request.
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 0: (evening before the trip). Meet and Greet. Your guides will meet you at Mecca Flats campground the evening before your trip between 8-9pm. Here you will get to briefly meet your guides, and other participants. You will receive a river bag that will house your belongings for the duration of the trip.
Day 1: Early morning breakfast, before getting on the river. We will be doing a few introductory activities before getting on the river. Our lunch spot will be about 7 miles down the river just before Trout creek. After lunch we will go into an overview of geology and what to look for on the Deschutes River Basin Plateau before seeing some cool features in the afternoon. We will have another 11 miles on the river in the afternoon before ending up at Lone Pine camp for the evening. After guides have prepared a delicious we will wait for dark to transition into one of our nightly star parties. After the star party you are welcome to retreat to your tent.
Day 2: After breakfast we will get on the river, shortly after getting on the river we will be pulling over the scout White Horse Rapid. This rapid is full of great geologic features that make up the rapids. Our geologist will discuss the natural history of the river, discovering how some of the rapids were originally formed. The guides will discuss the way we will be navigating through the geologic features. It will only be about 3 miles down to lower whitehorse camp, where we will camp for the evening. Evening star party takes place again after sunset.
Day 3: Wake up and have breakfast at Lower Whitehorse Camp. After finishing breakfast we will hike to the cave above camp for another geology field trip. After lunch we will have another 11 miles down the Buckskin Mary camp. After the sun goes down we will our final star party to end another beautiful day on the river.
Day 4: After breakfast we will take a Geology field trip to observe Buckskin Mary Rapid. After getting into our river gear and getting all packed up we will raft down through Boxcar and Wapinitia rapids. Our final day will consist of 12 river miles before ending in Maupin Washington.
Activity Level: Requires fitness adequate for day hiking up to 3 miles round-trip, over moderate terrain, willingness to camp, readiness to enjoy a group/family experience.
Got questions? Feel free to email trip planner Lizzie Bridges at bridges.lizzie@gmail.com