Oregon: Lower Owyhee River Multi-Day Rafting Trip – Rome, Oregon

EXPERIENCE

Embark on a multi-day rafting adventure on the Owyhee River, known as the Grand Canyon of Oregon. Experience the thrill of navigating class II-III rapids, explore side canyons, and take in the stunning natural scenery.

Start your adventure in Rome, Oregon, and head to the river. Take in the stunning natural scenery as you float down the river. The river flows through a deep canyon lined with caves, columns, hoodoos, and peaks reaching hundreds of feet overhead.

The landscape was formed by a dramatic mix of volcanic and glacial forces. These forces have exposed astonishing layers of rock and earth seen at every turn of the river. One of the gems of the Owyhee are the natural hot springs, several of which are perfectly nestled along the riverbank at a few prized campsites.

Hikes through side canyons and to canyon rim peaks allow for another way to explore and take in this incredible landscape. The Owyhee River Canyon also has a rich cultural history. The Shoshone-Paiute and Shoshone Bannock indigenous people have used the canyonlands for thousands of years for shelter, hunting and gathering, and as a water supply but never lived long-term.

Cowboys, homesteaders, and miners also have their place in the cultural history of the Owyhee, but like the indigenous people only traveled through or stayed for a short time due to the area s harshness and isolation. Traces of the past can still be found in the river canyon with the presence of several hundred archeological sites including ancient pictographs and historic cabins.

The remoteness of this river and surrounding lands have allowed this landscape to remain truly wild. The canyon walls, fields, and plateaus of the Owyhee become covered with springtime wildflower blooms. There are at least 28 species of plants and wildflowers that grow only in the Owyhee canyonlands and can be found nowhere else in the world.

A diverse collection of over 200 wildlife species inhabit this environment, including pronghorn antelope, golden eagles, elk, coyotes, bobcats, bighorn sheep, mule deer, river otters, beaver, American badger, rabbits, and many more. The diversity and abundance of native and migrating bird species found in the canyon is unparalleled and remarked as being a birder s paradise.

HIGHLIGHTS

Experience the thrill of rafting through the Owyhee River’s class II-III rapids
Discover the geology of the Owyhee River and surrounding canyon lands
Explore the river’s natural hot springs, caves, columns, and hoodoos
Learn about the rich cultural history of the Owyhee River Canyon
See a diverse collection of over 200 wildlife species in their natural habitat

Discover more exciting & fun things to do in Rome