Popular Questions
Our river trips are conducted in Oregon and Washington. As most Oregonians & Washingtonians know, it rains. All trips go, rain or shine. River Drifters does provide all the necessary gear to stay warm: paddle jackets, wetsuits and helmets, and all for free! Occasionally, due to circumstances out of our control, such as high water or low water, etc, we may cancel, postpone or transfer a trip.
From a relaxing trip on the Deschutes River to an all-out adrenaline rush of the White Salmon River, River Drifters offers a river trip that perfect for all ability levels. We invite anyone, young or old, in reasonable physical condition. Each river does have a minimum age requirement. Trips on the White Salmon River have an age minimum of 10 years old, while a Deschutes River trip has a minimum age of 4 years old. If a member of your group is pregnant, they will not be allowed to raft with River Drifters.
For more information please read our Eligibility Criteria.
River Drifters operates 7 days a week from late March through October. If you are seeking a more action-packed and thrilling time of year to go, then the spring months are the best. The spring is when the snowmelt is at its peak and the rivers have the most water in them. However, in the spring the minimum age is raised and those who want to raft this time of year must be a bit adventurous! The summertime is the best for families and those who are seeking a great way to cool off from the summer heat. Although the water flows may not be at their peak, trips like the White Salmon River will keep your adrenaline pumping all summer long!
Rapid classification can be confusing if you don’t have experience with whitewater. You can learn about the different classifications through our blog Let’s Unpack River Rapid Classification!
Everyone on all of our trips wears a coast guard approved personal flotation device (PFD). This life vest will keep you afloat if you find yourself in the water. Many of our guests either cannot swim or have fear of swimming and they have a great time. If you are not a swimmer or are afraid of swimming, then you should choose a trip to either the North Santiam River or the Deschutes River.
River Drifters has access to multiple rivers that we offer whitewater rafting on. Each trip meets at a different location.
White Salmon River: 856 HWY 141, White Salmon, WA 98672
Deschutes River: 600 Timber Lane, Maupin, OR 97037
Clackamas River: Moore Creek Boat Access Site, NF-45, Estacada, OR 97023
Rogue River: The Galice Resort, 11744 Galice Road, Merlin, OR 97532
Owyhee River: Owyhee River Put In, Hwy 95, Jordan Valley, OR 97910
We have special family trips available on the Deschutes River. We can take children as young as four, depending on the time of year. The Deschutes River is one of our more favorable rivers for families because the summertime air and water temperatures are more comfortable for them.
For relatively fit and active seniors, the Deschutes River trips are just fine. You may be placed in an oar raft upon request or a paddle raft if you feel up to it! Healthy people of all ages all the way up to their 90’s enjoy rafting with River Drifters every year!
On the Deschutes, Rogue, and Owyhee rivers our rafts fit 8 people plus the guide. On the White Salmon and Clackamas rivers our rafts fit 6 people plus the guide
Every river that we raft has its own distinct qualities and uniqueness. Beginners and adventurers may find what they are looking for on the Deschutes River, White Salmon River, or the Rogue River. While more adventurous and experienced people would like the Clackamas River or White Salmon River. Truly experienced adrenaline seekers get their fix on the Wind River and the Middle Owyhee River. If you have more questions call our office at 1.800.972.0430! Our office staff are experts at matching people and groups to the appropriate river.
Husum Falls on the White Salmon is only runnable in lower water levels that typically begin after July 4th.
We have nearly 5 decades of river experience, professional guides, riverside cuisine, and incredible discounts that make River Drifters a premier rafting outfitter of the Northwest!
Rafting is exhilarating, fun, exciting and wet. However, as in all sports, rafting does pose an inherent risk. The risk contributes to the excitement and enjoyment of the people who participate in rafting. Our guides are all trained to minimize those risks and if you are a believer in statistics, you are safer on a whitewater rafting trip than driving in your car! Injuries and accidents as a whole are very rare in this industry, often times when they do occur they are a result of a lack of knowledge and experience. Isn’t that why you are seeking information about a guided rafting trip? Most of the injuries that do occur are from sunburns or on land. But still, there is a risk, and you must sign an assumption of risk form, acknowledging the types of risk before you go on a river trip.
Reservations & Payment
We are frequently asked whether it is appropriate to tip your guide. While our guides are well compensated for their skills and our high level of service is not exercised in order to receive a tip, if you feel that your trip was exceptional, or that your guide(s) went out of their way to make the quality of your experience a notch above the norm, tipping is a nice way of saying thank you!
Certain days of the season sell out very quickly, so we encourage you to call us as soon as you know where and when you want to go (1.800.972.0430)! For instance, many Saturdays in July and August for the White Salmon and Deschutes Rivers’ are being booked as early as a year in advance! Since we are limited to a certain number of people that we take down the Deschutes River on the weekends and we have limited start dates available on the Clackamas River or the Owyhee River, proper planning is essential to reserve your space!
Yes, you can purchase a gift certificate for someone or yourself!
You can purchase them online HERE
Or, give us a call at 800-972-0430 and we would be happy to assist!
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, digital wallets, cash, check, cashier’s check, and gift certificates as forms of payment.
Please keep in mind that our trips require a certain amount of people to be able to go out. In the shoulder season when rafting is not as popular an activity it can be difficult to reach this number. Because of this we try to combine smaller groups into one trip which may fall on a different day and/or time than the trip you originally booked.
Inclement weather and wildfires can also lead to trip changes. We make sure to keep a close watch on these throughout each day and reach out about any potential changes as soon as we are aware of them.
Special requests need to be done with our office in advance. Reservations are based on space availability in each boat. Chartered trips or special reserved boat options can be made available in special circumstances. Our staff and guides will keep parties together whenever possible, we do reserve the right to make any final crew assignments. You may at the time of the reservation purchase a “Private Raft” with just your party and paying for the capacity of the raft.
Yes! There are discounts for groups of 12+, 24+, and special chartered trips on the Deschutes River ONLY. We offer kids 14 and under discounts for many of our trips depending on the day of the week, river, and trip type. Last, we offer 10% military discount for the card holder only.
We are thankful that since 1979 River Drifters has been a successful business serving guests from around the country.
We believe strongly that as a responsible community member, giving back to people who share our mission, values, and philosophy, is simply the right thing to do.
To this end, every year we donate both cash and trip certificates to a number of worthy causes. Here are a few examples:
- American Whitewater (AW)
- American Rivers (AR)
- America Outdoors (AO)
- Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA)
Our main office is located in Maupin, Oregon, and we support dozens of groups and organizations in our local area which we consider to be communities within about a 100-mile radius.
We have operations in other parts of Oregon and Washington state and also donate to other groups that work for positive change in those areas where we operate.
Our primary focus is supporting causes that align with our value system and mission.
Broadly speaking this includes causes that support: conservation, environmental education, underprivileged youth, and recreational sustainability.
We get far more requests than we could possibly support and for this reason, we generally are not able to donate to the following types of organizations:
- Religious, political, and health organizations.
- Any groups that are farther than 100 miles from our home base in Maupin, Oregon.
- Sporting clubs, teams, school events like class parties, graduation, etc. that are not directly related to education.
There are several requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be considered for a donation:
- You must complete a donation request form a minimum of 30 days prior to the donation procurement deadline date
- There must be recognition for River Drifters including a specific link from the hosting organization’s website to our website.
- You must fill out the request form in its entirety. We do not accept requests via phone, mail, fax, or email.
Please do not contact us to ask for a status update. We review each request and will contact you if your request is granted.
We look forward to reading your request and learning about the many great causes and events that you are working for.
Sincerely,
The River Drifters Team
Prices range from $55/per person on a half-day trip on the Deschutes River to $1250/per person for a 4-day Rogue River adventure. River Drifters focuses it’s prices to be at or in many cases below the competition. Considering the current costs of meals, campgrounds, and lodging, whitewater rafting with River Drifters offers exceptional value!
Planning Your Trip
River Drifters trips go out rain or shine. If there is any inclement weather in the forecast that may be too dangerous for the trip to go out in, we will reach out to you to reschedule before the trip. This is the same for wildfires. Most often the fires do not affect river trips, but if they do, we will reach out to you to reschedule before the day of your trip.
We have outpost locations in both our Deschutes and White Salmon locations where you can lock your valuables in your car and leave your keys in the office for the duration of your trip.
Trips on the Clackamas, Rogue, and Owyhee meet at the boat ramp or a nearby location. In these situations you can still lock your car with your belongings inside, but your keys will either have to be left with your personal vehicle, in the River Drifters shuttle vehicle, or brought on the river in a dry bag.
The Rogue and Owyhee rivers also offer a shuttle service so that your car can be taken to the take-out for you. We recommend this option in lieu of riding back in the River Drifters van (which takes about 2 hours at both locations) as it can save you travel time depending on the direction you are driving once your trip is over.
Information we need to set up the shuttle for you is: vehicle make, model, year, color, license plate #; current car insurance policy holder and number; emergency contact for while you are on the water; where you will leave your keys for the shuttle company to be able to access your vehicle; where you would like the shuttle company to leave your keys for you.
Husum Falls on the White Salmon is only runnable in lower water levels that typically begin after July 4th.
River Drifters has access to multiple rivers that we offer whitewater rafting on. Each trip meets at a different location.
White Salmon River: 856 HWY 141, White Salmon, WA 98672
Deschutes River: 600 Timber Lane, Maupin, OR 97037
Clackamas River: Moore Creek Boat Access Site, NF-45, Estacada, OR 97023
Rogue River: The Galice Resort, 11744 Galice Road, Merlin, OR 97532
Owyhee River: Owyhee River Put In, Hwy 95, Jordan Valley, OR 97910
Any medical condition or physical disability must be reported to River Drifters when you make your reservation through your online registration. Be sure to advise your guide of your condition before the trip as well. Bring along any prescribed medication you may require. Please consult with your family physician for medical approval before your trip. We do NOT recommend whitewater rafting if you have any of the following conditions: heart or lung conditions, severe asthma, back problems, recent surgery, or osteoporosis. Pregnant women will not be allowed to participate in a white water rafting trip. If you suffer from anaphylaxis you will need to bring your epi-pen with you on the trip. Please contact us if you are unsure and we may be able to direct you to a particular trip that is suitable.
Our guides are professionals in their field, and requests for a specific guide is fairly common. If you have had a guide you especially liked and would like to have them guide your next trip, we will do our best to place them on that trip, whenever possible. You should simply request your guide when you make your reservation.
Lunch is served about halfway through the full day trip on the Deschutes, White Salmon, and Clackamas rivers. Lunch varies on the day and location.
Our online registration gives guests an opportunity to share dietary needs or allergies with us prior to your trip. We ask that registration is completed at least two weeks before your trip, or as soon as possible after booking. We are able to accommodate most dietary needs and allergies, but if you have stricter guidelines we ask that you bring your own substitutions. If you’re unsure please reach out to us.
Gearing Up
Many guests bring waterproof cameras or cell phones (with a proper waterproof case/pouch), but please realize bringing electronic devices is at your own risk. Waterproof cell phone cases/pouches are usually available for purchase in our Deschutes and White Salmon retail stores, but please don’t rely on this as inventories vary. Please do not trust a standard ziplock bag – or even two ziplocks – to keep your phone dry!
GoPro cameras can be brought on trips as well. The best type of mount is the elastic helmet mount for GoPros. We do not allow the stick-on mounts as this can damage the surface of our helmets. We also don’t allow selfie sticks as these have too often hit other guests on the raft when we hit big waves or bump into rocks.
Keep in mind that River Drifters takes photos while you raft on the Deschutes and White Salmon rivers. These will be available to view and purchase about 15-20 minutes after your trip in our shop or directly from our website.
Getting to the meet location on time
Meals and lodging before and after your trip
Personal items (see equipment lists for day trips on the White Salmon, the Clackamas, and the Deschutes rivers)
Guide gratuities
River Drifters will provide all the necessary gear to make your trip enjoyable, relaxing and most importantly, hassle free! In addition to personal flotation devices (PFDs), helmets, paddles and other rafting gear necessary, our guests are also welcome to use our wetsuit gear with no additional cost. This includes wetsuits, splash jackets, and river shoes. All equipment is maintained and we replace equipment when we feel it is necessary.
You can find additional information on what to bring on a half day or full day trip with River Drifters here!
For multi-day trip guests on the Deschutes and the Owyhee, you can find additional information here!
For guests on the Rogue, you can find additional information here!
The amount of extra clothing that you should bring depends on time of year, weather, water temperature and length of trip. A complete list of what to bring for both on an off the river will be sent out with a trip itinerary for each trip we run. If you are selecting a spring or fall trip, or if you get cold easily, please pay special attention to the items that we list for proper layering of non-cotton clothing.
Multi-Day Rafting Info
We have outpost locations in both our Deschutes and White Salmon locations where you can lock your valuables in your car and leave your keys in the office for the duration of your trip.
Trips on the Clackamas, Rogue, and Owyhee meet at the boat ramp or a nearby location. In these situations you can still lock your car with your belongings inside, but your keys will either have to be left with your personal vehicle, in the River Drifters shuttle vehicle, or brought on the river in a dry bag.
The Rogue and Owyhee rivers also offer a shuttle service so that your car can be taken to the take-out for you. We recommend this option in lieu of riding back in the River Drifters van (which takes about 2 hours at both locations) as it can save you travel time depending on the direction you are driving once your trip is over.
Information we need to set up the shuttle for you is: vehicle make, model, year, color, license plate #; current car insurance policy holder and number; emergency contact for while you are on the water; where you will leave your keys for the shuttle company to be able to access your vehicle; where you would like the shuttle company to leave your keys for you.
River Drifters will provide all the necessary gear to make your trip enjoyable, relaxing and most importantly, hassle free! Basically the only things you need to bring are a tent, sleeping bag and pad, clothes, personal items and we take care of the rest! View our equipment lists on specific trip web pages for a comprehensive personal gear list. Rentals of tents, sleeping bags, and pads are available to assist those who don’t have any on our Deschutes and Owyhee multi-day trips. Tents, sleeping bags, and pads are included in the price of the Rogue trip, you just need to let us know if you want us to pack them for you!
All meals, including kid-friendly options, are supplied by River Drifters, and prepared by your guides during the trip. Meals include a wide variety of fresh meats, cheeses, grains, fruits, and vegetables. We also provide plenty of snacks and water throughout the trip. Our online registration gives guests an opportunity to share dietary needs or allergies with us prior to your trip. We ask that registration is completed at least two weeks before your trip. We are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions, but if you have stricter guidelines we ask that you bring your own substitutions. If you’re unsure please reach out to us.
Deschutes River: Campfires, charcoal fires, and wood pellet burning devices are prohibited on BLM-administered lands during summer’s high fire risk. Click here for more information on current restrictions.
Rogue River: Campfires, including stove fires and warming fires are prohibited. Click here for more information on current restrictions.
Check-in time varies due to the different trip itineraries. Your email confirmation will list the check-in time, or you can find the specific times of each trip on the designated web page and the itineraries.
The trips usually reach the take-out in the early to mid-afternoon but please keep in mind that every trip is different, as weather, water flow, campsites, and group dynamics all influence trip pace.
Please note that late arrivals risk missing the trip and loss of entire trip cost.
Getting to the meet location on time
Meals and lodging before and after your trip
Personal clothing and toiletries (see equipment lists for multi-day trips on the Lower Owyhee, the Rogue, and the Deschutes rivers)
Guide gratuities
Recommendations
Yes! Here’s an invaluable resource with lodging locations (by state and city), websites, and phone numbers so that you can decide which option is optimal for your trip.
Yes! Here’s an invaluable resource with camping locations in Oregon and Washington with a comparison chart so that you can decide which option is optimal for your trip.
River Drifters Policies
Check-in time varies due to the different trip itineraries. Your email confirmation will list the check-in time, or you can find the specific times of each trip on the designated web page and the itineraries.
Trips do try to leave on time. Please note that if you are late you risk missing the trip and the loss of entire trip cost.
For the physical and mental criteria for eligibility to participate on any River Drifters river trip, please read our Eligibility Criteria.