Pacific Northwest Vacations and Travel Adventures:

"It was one of the most fun and relaxing vacations we have had in years. We have been on other rafting trips with other companies (Colorado and Salmon rivers) but we can honestly say this one by Destination Wilderness is the best yet."
--G. Park, Rogue River, Pacific Northwest Vacation, 2003

Pacific Northwest Vacations: Oregon Rafting, River Rafting Idaho and White Water Rafting California (in order of difficulty and trip length)

Clackamas (Class III-III+; Closest to Portland) McKenzie (Class II-III; Eugene and Bend, Oregon)   Umpqua (Class III-IV; So. Oregon/Crater Lake)   Upper Klamath (Class IV-IV+; So. Oregon)   Cal Salmon (Class V; No. California)   Klamath (Class III; Northern California)   Rogue (Class III+; Southern Oregon)   Owyhee (Class III+; Eastern Oregon)   Idaho Salmon (Class III+; Idaho Rockies)

Pacific Northwest Travel: Adventure Travel Trips in Alaska

Grand Alaska Adventure     Discover Alaska Adventure   Copper River Expedition   Source to the Sea Expedition   Alaska Day Trips with Copper Oar

McKenzie (1/2 to 2-Day Trips; Class II-III)
Central Oregon's McKenzie river is a crystal clear alpine jewel with an abundance of dancing class II and III rapids. Our McKenzie river rafting trips take place on the upper McKenzie, where the rapids come in quick succession and the river winds through a verdant forest, or on the middle McKenzie, where fun class II and III rapids are mixed with scenic calms. These trips are great for those looking for great mountain scenery and fun but not overwhelming rapids. Minimum age: Five years. Click here for more McKenzie info!

Note: For those with children as young as four or those seeking a scenic and quieter river tour we offer our Float and Feast trip on a less challenging stretch of the McKenzie. Please contact our office for details.

Clackamas (1/2 and 1-Day Trips; Class III-IV) Classic and convenient Portland Oregon rafting! Less than an hour from downtown Portland and ideally located for just about any Pacific Northwest vacation, the Clackamas is a great river. In the summer, when flows decrease, the Clackamas features fun class III rapids in a beautiful mountain canyon, and is an ideal family trip. In the spring the Clackamas rocks and rolls with the biggest waves of all Oregon Cascades rivers. During March, April, May and early June the Clackamas is filled with challenging class III and IV rapids. Convenient to Mt. Hood and Portland, this river is a great addition to any Northwest vacation, or just a great getaway for those living in Oregon or Washington. Minimum age: Six years in summer months; 12 in spring. Click here for more Clackamas River rafting info, or find more Oregon whitewater rafting trips near Portland.

Note: For those with children as young as four or those seeking a scenic and quieter river tour we offer our Dine and Drift trip on a less challenging stretch of the Clackamas. Please contact our office for details.

Umpqua (1 to 3-Day Trips; Class III-IV)
Flowing from headwaters near Crater Lake, the Umpqua stairsteps its way west, reaching the Pacific Ocean some 250 miles from its origin. Along the way, it serves up some of the best whitewater, scenery and fishing found anywhere in the world. Dozens of class III and IV rapids, idyllic scenery, aqua velva blue water and scenic calms define the Umpqua. Many feel that this is the best one and two-day trip in all of Oregon. Minimum age: Eight years. Click here for more Umpqua river rafting info!

Upper Klamath (1 and 2-Day Trips; Class IV-IV+)
The wild, wild west comes alive on the Upper Klamath. Overflowing with class III, IV and IV+ rapids, Southern Oregon's Upper "K" holds one fun and challenging stretch after another. Caldera, Hells Corner, Bushwacker, Ambush, and other classic rapids each do what their names imply: pack a wet wallup! Add to this a river canyon setting that brings to mind the west of yesterday and you are left with a powerful Oregon whitewater rafting trip and one of the best rafting adventures in the world. Minimum age: 14 years. Click here for more Upper Klamath info!

California Salmon (2 &3-Day Trips; Class V)
The California Salmon has long been regarded as one of the west's best whitewater runs. Class IV and V rapids, requiring strong paddling, roar around every corner. In many cases their names say it all, such as Gaping Maw, Cascade, Airplane Turn and Last Chance. Big waves, long rock gardens, powerful holes, and narrow chutes abound! This whitewater wonderland is recommended only for experienced and fit rafters. Due to the intensity and frequency of rapids the minimum age is 16. Click here for more California Salmon info!

Lower Klamath (3 & 4-Day Trips; Class III)
Northern California's Lower Klamath river is a superb wilderness waterway. This is a classic place for families seeking an affordable and enjoyable Pacific Northwest vacation. Our trips on the Klamath offer endless vistas of spectacular scenery, sparkling water, excellent side hikes, and a wealth of wildlife. In particular, the Klamath's fun and bouncy class II and III rapids and warm weather and water are perfect for younger children and families seeking their first wilderness river trip. Minimum age: Five years. Click here for more Klamath info!

Rogue (3 to 5-Day Trips; Class III-III+)
Oregon's Rogue river flows through one of the most poetic canyons on earth, and serves up classic white water. It is perfect for first-time river runners, families, and experienced rafters. Pine and oak blanket the canyon walls. Sandy beach campsites abound. Wildlife often ambles along shore. Sparkling side-canyon waterfalls cascade into the river. Osprey and eagle soar through the sky. World-class fish cruise the emerald waters. And, the Rogue's rapids are among the west's most appreciated: enjoyable, challenging, but not extreme class III-III+ rapids. Min age: Six during normal water levels; 12 at high water levels. Click here for more info on our Rogue river rafting trips.

Owyhee (4 and 5-Day Trips; Class III)
The Wild and Scenic Owyhee river, tucked quietly into Oregon's southeast corner, is a relatively undiscovered jewel. Towering desert canyon walls, rare birds, fun class III whitewater, and quiet isolation await adventurers seeking a wilderness river less traveled. We offer two great ways to enjoy this river. In the spring, when the Owyhee runs at higher levels, we offer 4-day raft trips. In the late spring and early summer, when flows slow, we offer 5-day trips. Both trips allow for full enjoyment of this wonderland! Minimum age: 12 years in the early spring and 8 in the late spring and early summer. Click here for more Owyhee info!

Idaho's Main Salmon (5 & 6-Day Trips; Class III-III+) Idaho's Salmon river, running through the heart of the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states, is a classic river. Broad, sandy beaches, roller coaster class III-III+ rapids, riverside wildlife such as moose and Bighorn sheep, emerald waters, hot springs, ranch sites from days of yore, and one of the deepest canyons in the world combine to form an unparalleled setting for a wilderness rafting journey. As Bill Cross, one of our guides and coauthor of Western Whitewater, states, "of all that I've boated, this is the nicest all around river I've ever been on." Our Main Salmon journeys are perfect for everyone! Salmon trips include all personal camping gear and air shuttle from McCall to Boise at the end of the trip. Minimum age: Six during normal water levels; 12 at high water levels.Click here for more Salmon info!

Why Choose Destination Wilderness for Your Pacific Northwest Adventure Vacation
Destination Wilderness offers the most comprehensive set of river trips available in the Northwest and Alaska. From fun day trips to advanced overnight trips to two week long float trips, our company prides itself on running the best possible trip each time we are on the river. With our outposts throughout the west we provide first-rate service on every trip we run.

Consider all that we provide:

At Least Two Boats and Two Guides Per Trip. On all of our Pacific Northwest vacation river trips we always have at least two licensed guides on the water. We believe that the safest possible trip starts with appropriate staffing and that just one guide on the water is not as effective as two or more. Therefore, we always have at least two boats and two guides on each trip.
Full Safety Orientation and Gear. Before each trip we provide a thorough safety and instructional presentation. As part of our full safety gear ensemble we outfit guests with state of the art equipment that is appropriate for the river being run.
A Variety of Trip Options. With Destination Wilderness you can choose between camp, lodge trips, or camp/lodge combination trips. We also offer on our trips opportunities to paddle in rafts, ride in oar boats, and in some cases, tackle the whitewater in a one or two person inflatable kayaks.
Personable Guest to Guide Ratio. Each Pacific Northwest vacation adventure features the following guest to guide ratio: We run our multi-day trips with one guide for every three to four guests and our shorter trips with one guide for every five or six guests, ratios that we feel enhances each guest's experience in terms of safety, comfort, and good company! Simply put, we do not use oversize rafts and run cattle herd rafting trips!


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