If you’ve been thinking about taking a whitewater rafting trip in Oregon this year, you might wonder about the timing. Of course, you’ll need to make sure your entire rafting team is available at the same time, whether that be your friends or family, but there are a few other things to consider as well.
Water Levels are Perfect Year Round
In some areas, the water level of the river is of concern, especially during dry summers coming after mild winters. However, for the Deschutes River, this is not the case. Because the source of the Deschutes River is a spring and not a glacier, the water flow remains fairly consistent. That means, if you’re up for it, you could potentially raft the Deschutes any time of year. Of course, because of comfortable air temperatures, you should probably wait for our unofficial rafting season which runs from late spring to early fall.
The Deschutes is Wide Open during Spring and Fall
If you don’t mind the cooler weather, you might want to consider going on your rafting trip during late Spring or early Fall. This can be a great time to go whitewater rafting near Maupin simply because you can avoid the crowds. If you prefer to immerse yourself in nature without having to navigate the crowds, then book your rafting trip sometime in May or early June before schools end for the year or in September right after school starts up again.
Maupin Weather is Best during the Summer
Unlike some northwest cities in Oregon, Maupin is known for having mostly sunny days, year round. That means you usually won’t have to worry about timing your trip around rain storms. However, if you want the splash of the Deschutes River water to be refreshing instead of freezing, then you’ll want to go rafting in the heat of the summer. A lot of other people will have the same idea, but as long as you book in advance you’ll be just fine. Mid-week trips are the guides favorite times to go, simply because the crowds are less.
If you’re ready to book your whitewater rafting trip, we at Imperial River Company invite you to check out our available trips. We offer short sprints and overnight trips and can accommodate groups both large and small no matter the season.