Middle Owyhee

Experience the Crux of the Owyhee Canyonlands

Overview

The Middle Owyhee starts at Three Forks and ends at Rome.

Trip Highlights

  • 3-4 days, 37 miles
  • Swift, technical, thrilling whitewater
  • Class V falls and portages
  • High adventure
  • Remote setting
  • Stunning desert gorge, unique rock formations
  • Very low trafficked area

The wild Owyhee River whittles a dramatic, narrow canyon through the highlands of southern Idaho and Oregon, cutting through the rhyolite and basalt plateau as it has for millennia. There is a reason this tributary of the Bruneau has so often been likened to the Grand Canyon. But unlike the Grand, the few that venture to this extraordinary river have its magic all to themselves—the sound of songbirds echoing against thousand-foot sheer canyon walls, the springtime bloom of desert wildflowers, and rapids that vary from fun, Class III waves and holes to thrilling, technical whitewater.

The Middle Owyhee flows from Three Forks to Rome, an impressive and wild stretch of river that makes up some of the most exciting wilderness rafting in Oregon. Rapids like Ledge and Halfmile are always highlights of the Middle section, along with Widowmaker, a challenging class V obstacle that guides may have to line or run without passengers depending on water levels. In addition to the exciting whitewater, there are great hiking opportunities to Native American petroglyphs, historic cabins, and beautiful, tight-walled canyons to explore. Canyon wrens sing their spring songs and Bighorn sheep wander the rocky canyon. Looking out over miles of open country from the rim really gives you a feeling for what one guest called the “awesome vastness” of this landscape.

A trip on the Middle Owyhee does not only provide a river adventure but likely a 4-wheel drive mission to access this remote canyon! Bring an adventurous spirit and be ready for a great time.

There are hundreds of miles of runnable whitewater on the Owyhee, and we offer trips on several sections of this remote river, and multiple access points to the canyons make it possible for you to customize your own trip and schedule to do individual sections or to combine them for a longer trip. This trip typically runs in April, and varies between 4 and 12 days. Just ask us for more details!

The Stats

Departure Month April
State / Region Oregon & Southwest Idaho
Adventure Level High
Price Range $1500 - $2000
Activities Whitewater Rafting, Hiking, Wildlife

Reviews

Logistics

This trip is relatively simple logistically for your travel plans as it begins and ends in Boise, Idaho (BOI). The before and after trip plans are the same for the Upper, Middle, and Lower Owyhee, the only thing varying being driving times to and from the river.

Before the trip:

Travel to Boise, Idaho (BOI) no later than 5:30 pm one day prior to your trip’s launch date, with lodging arranged for this first night. We recommend staying at the Best Western Inn (Vista at the Airport) Inn for logistic simplicity. The hotel has a free airport shuttle or parking available to leave your car if you plan on driving to Boise.

Plan on meeting for orientation at 6 pm the night before the launch at the Best Western Inn (Vista) (1-800-727-5006). Here you will meet your trip leader, other guests that will be on your trip, and we will hand out dry bags, discuss the trip details and answer any last minute questions.

The next morning we will depart the Best Western Inn and drive as a group to the river put-in, which the length of drive will vary depending on what section of river (Upper, Middle, or Lower) you are doing.

After the Trip:

We provide transportation to Boise from the river take out. The length of the drive will vary depending on what section of river (Upper, Middle, or Lower) you are doing, but we typically aim to arrive by late afternoon.

Sample Itinerary

Day before the trip: Arrive in Boise, Idaho no later than 5:30 pm with lodging arranged for this first night. Plan on meeting for orientation at 6 pm the night before the launch at the Best Western Vista Inn. Here you will meet your trip leader, other guests that will be on your trip, and we will hand out dry bags, discuss the trip details and answer any last minute questions.

Day 1: We’ll get an early start for our drive to the river. We usually have lunch, gear up and have a river safety talk before starting our float. The drive into Three Forks can take a good part of the day depending on road conditions.

Day 2-3: We usually have a dutch oven breakfast around the campfire in the morning. After packing our bags and strapping our loads down we’ll hit the water. Our days on the river vary with many opportunities for hiking, exploring and relaxing around our beautiful campsites, so we generally customize our activities to the interests of each particular group when possible. The Middle Owyhee has a mix of exciting rapids and calm water with spectacular canyon scenery. We’ll usually get to camp in the early evening, have some time for hiking, resting, and enjoying the scenery. Later in the evening we’ll enjoy a delicious meal cooked over the open campfire, followed by a dutch oven dessert or a tasty chocolate treat.

Day 4: We’ll eat lunch along the river or at the take out in Rome after a mellow float out from our last campsite. After lunch, we will drive back to Boise arriving in the late afternoon.

* When running the Middle Owyhee, one can plan for one thing, but get dealt a different hand. Water levels and road conditions can sometimes limit what exact section we run.

FAQs

Camp Life and Meals

Yes, we do normally change campsites every day. This allows us to cover new scenery, rapids, and side adventures each day at a fun, comfortable pace. On the Middle Fork Flathead we usually take one “layover” day where we stay at the same camp and spend the day fishing, hiking, or relaxing.

On the River

Clothing, Footwear, and Gear

Logistics

Miscellaneous

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