MIDDLE AND LOWER OWYHEE RAFTING EXPEDITION

Itinerary:

Getting Here: Please plan to fly into Boise the day before our trip departs. We typically will meet in Jordan Valley the evening before we launch, although sometimes we can meet people in Boise the afternoon before the trip. Here we can answer any last minute questions and introduce you to the guides and other guests.

Day 1: We will pick you up from your hotel in Jordan Valley at 7:00 a.m. the morning of our trip. Depending on road conditions, the trip can be uneventful or an adventure all its own! Once we reach Three Forks, we have a thorough safety orientation before beginning our whitewater trip. Right out of the gate, we'll hit some huge Class IV and V rapids, including "Ledges". We'll stop to have lunch on the river, and after a few more hours of awesome scenery and exciting whitewater, you'll arrive in camp and enjoy a wonderful meal prepared by the guides. In camp you will have a chance to gather around the campfire to get to know each other better and start to slip into that relaxing thing we call "river time". L, D… NWV Camp

Days 2-3: After a hearty breakfast, we'll pack up camp and prepare for the day's whitewater. We are fortunate to float this beautiful canyon with prairie falcons, eagles, and other raptors soaring overhead and bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope scrambling over the rocky talus slopes.

During the day and in camp there are plenty of hiking opportunities or you may prefer to just relax in a lawn chair and read one of the many books and field guides we provide. B, L, D… NWV Camp

Day 4 (approximately): Late on Day 3 or early on Day 4, we'll exit the Middle Owyhee canyons and find ourselves on a calm, meandering river. We've completed the first leg of our journey. We travel through about ten miles of irrigated desert farms, navigating braided channels and observing abundant bird life. A delicious lunch served on a sandy beach prepares us to enter the Lower Owyhee canyon. As we float, our guides share colorful stories of the history of the canyon and its inhabitants. We usually arrive at camp in the late afternoon. Our camps are typically on sandy beaches with access to spectacular hiking trails. B, L, D… NWV Camp

Days 5-8: Each day on the Lower Owyhee features numerous rapids (mostly Class III with an occasional Class IV), several planned stops and amazing scenery. During the trip, we have the chance to stop at two hot springs and soak away any spring chills. If the water levels are right, we even camp next to one of the hot springs!

Adventurous spirits looking for a little more excitement may choose to paddle in our inflatable kayaks during the day, following the guides through the rapids. With each day, we find the river slowly seeps further and further into our soul. With each night, we become more relaxed and more in touch with our surroundings. B, L, D… NWV Camp

Last Day of Trip: After reaching the beginning of the Owyhee Reservoir, we hook up our small motor and travel the last few miles on the reservoir before reaching our take-out at Leslie Gulch. After loading the boats and equipment, we begin the drive out of the Owyhee canyon and back to civilization. B, L

Download Detailed Description & Itinerary Files

• Middle and Lower Owyhee Rafting Detailed Trip Info 2011.pdf