FAVORITES (0)
North Umpqua River, OR
North Umpqua River Full-Day Trip
Full day
Our hardest day trip
Day Trips
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
OVERVIEW
Our hardest day trip
Our hardest day trip, 13 miles of constant Class II and III, cold, clear and technical.
Full day
Duration
6+
Group Size
6
+
Min Age
Day Trips
Trip Style
DATES
Upcoming Dates
Mon
23
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Wed
25
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Fri
27
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Highlights
Best Parts of The Trip
- Constant Class II and III The rapids come one after another with very little flat water in between.
- 13 miles of whitewater Section 1 runs about 6 miles to lunch, then section 2 runs about 7 miles to the Gravel Bin.
- Crystal clear water Narrow, clear and mountain-cold, the North Umpqua is a completely different river from the Rogue.
- For athletic paddlers It is a workout, and it rewards people who want to paddle hard all day.
INSIDER TIP
From Our Guides
Be prepared to be cold, and bring a full set of dry clothes for the takeout. There are changing rooms there, and fresh, clean, dry clothes feel really good after a day in a wetsuit. One more thing, and we mean it kindly. This is not a trip for first-time paddlers. Do another trip with us first so you at least have an idea of what our trips are like.
Your boat
Boats on This Trip
ITINERARY
Day by day
Day 1
Meet at your chosen spot between 9:00 and 9:30 AM and head to Boulder Flat for wetsuit fitting, boats and the cold-water orientation. Your belongings stay safe in the van. On the water at 10:00. Section 1 is about 6 miles of Class II and III down to a deli lunch at Horseshoe Bend Campground. Section 2 is about 7 miles of Class II, III and IV down to the Gravel Bin, and you are off the river around 4:00 PM.
Miles covered
13
miles
north-umpqua-river-full-day-trip
1
Inclusions
What's Included
Guides and gear
- Wetsuit, splash top and pants
- Helmet, PFD and booties
- Guides and instruction
Meals
- Deli lunch
Getting there
- Shuttle back to your car
Bring or rent
- Synthetic underwear and a swimsuit for under the wetsuit (no cotton)
- A synthetic top or sun shirt
- Double-strapped sandals or water shoes
- Spare dry clothes for the takeout
- A water bottle with a carabiner
From $149
BOOK NOWACCOMMODATIONS
Day Trips
Nights are a mix of historic lodge rooms and guided riverside camps, depending on the launch.
Rogue River
Lucas Lodge
Sadie Lucas built this lodge around 1912 on a ranch where the Illinois River meets the Rogue, and her family has welcomed guests for seven generations since. Your last night on the river ends here with a prime rib dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Owyhee River
Owyhee Camps
Desert canyon camps on the Owyhee, set below rimrock and red rock spires that light up at sunset.
See the full stay
Lower Salmon River
Lower Salmon Camps
Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole, and your tent is up before you arrive.
See the full stayMain Salmon, River of No Return
Main Salmon Camps
Big sandy beach camps under the pines. When you pull in, your tent is already set up, your sleeping pad is in it and your dry bags are stacked and waiting.
See the full stay
Snake River in Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Camps
Riverside camps below the walls of Hells Canyon. Your tent is up before you arrive, and evenings start with a cold drink under the shade tarps.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Rogue River Camps
Riverside beach camps on the Rogue. Your gear boater runs ahead so camp is ready when you pull in, with tents up and dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Paradise Lodge
Paradise has the big deck where we do movie night, with lodge cooking and a real bed. Every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Black Bar Lodge
Black Bar sits right on the water. You pull in at the end of Day 1 to a home-cooked dinner and a real bed, and every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Food & Drink
What To Expect During Meal Time
A deli-style lunch around noon at Horseshoe Bend Campground, with plant-based options for the meat and cheese and gluten-free chips and cookies if you need them.
Meeting Logistics
Where & When To Meet
We never meet at the office for this one. Pick whichever spot is easiest for you. Steamboat Inn at 9:00 AM PT, the Gravel Bin at 9:15, or Umpqua's Last Resort at 9:30. The Gravel Bin is the takeout and our preferred spot, because you can park there and no shuttle is needed. If you park at Steamboat or Last Resort, the guides pack the gear at the end of the day and shuttle you back to your car. The put-in is Boulder Flat. Rafters are not permitted on the river until 10:00 AM PT, since it is fishing only before that, and we are off the river around 4:00 PM PT.
Helmets are required for every guest on this river, and we need a minimum of 6 guests for the trip to go.
TRAVEL
Getting there
Fly into Eugene and rent a car. Eugene is about 1 hour 15 minutes north of Roseburg.
Meeting point
Steamboat Inn, Gravel Bin, or Last Resort
Steamboat Inn 9:00 AM, Gravel Bin 9:15 AM, or Umpqua's Last Resort 9:30 AM. Gravel Bin is preferred.
How to get there
Fly into Eugene (EUG)
About 1 hour 15 minutes south of Eugene to Roseburg, then Highway 138 east.
Drive Highway 138
Highway 138 from Roseburg or Crater Lake.
Stay on the river or in Roseburg
Steamboat Inn, Umpqua's Last Resort, or hotels in Roseburg.
Airport transfer
No OTT airport shuttle. Rent a car in Eugene.
From Eugene or Portland, they can meet at the Windmill Inn / Hampton Inn in Roseburg.
CONDITIONS
What to expect
Weather
Air temperatures run 60s to 70s early in the season, 75 to 85 mid-season, and high 70s to low 80s late. The water is the thing to plan for. High 40s to low 50s early, and mid to high 50s up to the low 60s from mid-season on.
Whitewater Levels
Shallow, rocky and technical. Cold, fast-moving, mountain-fed water with a lot of rocks, about half as wide as the Rogue. You put in and you are in a Class III, so there is no room to get used to the boat. You are going to fall out at some point and you need to know what to do, which is exactly what the orientation at the put-in is for. Expect two to three hours of real paddling on either side of lunch. It is roadside the whole way, but it is not a good place to get hurt.
Paddle raft or kayak only. If you want to sit around and do nothing on a raft, you are not on the right river. If you want to sit on a raft, get splashed a bunch and go down crazy rapids, this is the river for you.
Seasonal Variability
Early June and July the water is usually pretty good. By August it gets really bony, and late summer or early fall we would almost not run it. The ideal flow is around 1,100 to 1,200 cfs. Above 2,000 a lot of the rocks are covered, below 800 or 900 it gets pretty difficult, and below 650 cfs we do not run.
PACKING
What to Bring
Definitely no cotton. Wear synthetic athletic underwear and a swimsuit under the wetsuit, plus a synthetic top or sun shirt since we only provide the splash top. Bring spare dry clothes for the takeout and a water bottle with a carabiner. For your feet, double-strapped sandals or water shoes. Crocs and flip-flops fly away, and if you do not have the right shoes we have booties for you. Leave the floating water toys at home, and if you bring a camera it needs really good waterproofing.
REVIEWS
What guests say
POLICIES
Cancellation timeline
90+ days out
Full refund of the trip payment
Minus any non-refundable permit fees.
30–89 days out
50% refund
Date changes may be available if space remains.
Under 30 days
No refund
Weather holds are reviewed case by case.
Refunds depend on how far out you cancel. Weather holds are handled case by case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the North Umpqua OK for first-time paddlers?
No. Do another trip first so you at least have an idea. The North Umpqua is probably the most difficult day trip we offer. It is cold, fast, shallow, rocky and technical, and you are almost guaranteed to fall out.
What happens if the water is too low or not enough people book?
Those are the only two reasons we would ever cancel, and we hate doing it. We do not run the North Umpqua below 650 cfs, and we need 6 people total to go. If the numbers are short we will try to move you to another date; otherwise we cancel and let you know.
Do I have to paddle an IK if I get scared?
No. There is a guide right there who will come get you no matter what, and you can hop into a raft any time. We would love for you to try the torpedo, but it is never required.
What do I do with my car keys?
Hand them to your guide and they ride in a dry bag, or leave them at the shop if you met there. On the Golden Hour float the shop is locked by 8:30, so keep your keys or give them to your guide. On the North Umpqua they stay with the guide or in the van.
How are dietary restrictions handled?
The answer is yes. Tell us at the pre-trip meeting or when you book. The lodges are very accommodating, our camp menus adjust for allergies and gluten-free, and on the North Umpqua we pack plant-based options and gluten-free chips and cookies.
Do I have to wear a PFD and helmet in Oregon?
Your life jacket stays on any time you are on the water, and the only exception is sunscreen time. Helmets are required on Nugget Falls and for every guest on the North Umpqua.
Are the guides trained in first aid?
Yes. Every guide holds a Wilderness First Aid certification, and there is at least one Wilderness First Responder on every trip.
MORE TRIPS
Our Most Booked Trips
|
4 days
|
Class
Hike the Rogue River Trail with a daypack, sleep in the lodges, and let the raft carry everything else.
|
3 days
|
Class
Run the Rogue River Trail lodge to lodge with a light vest while the raft carries your bags.
