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GRAND RONDE RIVER White Water Rafting Trips and River Information |
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Guided White Water Rafting Trips River Description / Natural History |
To reach the put in for the Grand Ronde
river take exit 261 off I 84 in La Grande, Oregon and go Northeast
approximately 1 hour on Highway 82 to the Minam Store. The river is floatable from low water levels of 600 to 800 cfs in kayaks or canoes and 1500 to 1800 cfs in rafts or drift boats. Boatable flows exist all the way up to winter/spring high water levels of around 10,000+ cfs. At higher water levels hydraulics, eddy lines and water speed require the boaters attention while at low flows rock dodging, and gravel bars are the issue. The primary boating season is late March to the end of July depending on snow pack and spring weather. Most years this is a great family camping vacation for early summer! The first 9 miles are actually on the Wallowa River. From the confluence of the Grande Ronde and Wallowa it is another 29 miles to Powwatka Bridge, the first take out below the wild section. From Powwatka to Troy is another 7 miles, there is a road along the river and some houses in this lower section. There is a fun selection of mild whitewater in the first few miles. The named rapids include Minam Roller (1.5 miles from put in), Red Rock (3 miles), and Blind Falls (5.5 miles) all are encountered while still floating the Wallowa River. The Minam Roller is probably the most famous rapid on the river but it is actually just a wave and not really a hole. Blind Falls tends to cause more mishaps… Once on the Grande Ronde proper there is Sheep Creek rapids (mile 11), Martins Misery (mile 21) and Double Eddy (mile 44). All of the white water is mild and rated up to class II + or class III at higher flows. Primative camping sites abound along the river. There are many unmarked hikes up the canyon for views and one marked and established trail at the Bear Creek campsite (mile 24). Another interesting stop is at Sickfoot Creek (mile 32) where there is a short walk up the hill to an old homestead site. |
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