Deschutes River Kayaking & Rafting Support W/River Gradient Ess

MULTIDAY KAYKING ON THE WILD & SCENIC DESCHUTES RIVER FEATURING GRADIENT RIVER ESSENTIALS

June 16th 2023-June 18th 2023

For this unique kayaking opportunity Gradient River Essentials will be partnering with Oregon River Experiences. An outfitted overnight kayaking trip down one of Oregon's prettiest canyons. 45 miles of excellent whitewater to hoan skills and development. Rapids are safe enough for beginners and thrilling enough for the experienced! Focus your energy on the kayaking skill development as the raft guides carry your gear and cook delicious meals for our trip.

Oregon River Experiences is proud to offer this unique, 45 mile expedition in partnership with Gradient River Essentials, an outfitter based on the Rogue who has been leading kayak trips for over 40 years and is some of the best instructors around.

About Gradient River Essentials:

FROM LEE BAKER: I am a proud instructor with the American Canoe Association. I'm passionate about where I live in the northwest and enjoy all disciplines of whitewater river travel and recreation. Teaching people to enjoy rivers safely and confidently is a life passion of mine. Our river community in Oregon is one of the best anywhere. If you are new to whitewater, I invite you to experience it!

At Gradient River Essentials LLC I keep up with the latest training techniques and methodologies and will always bring my very best to my clients.

3 Days of kayak clinic

This 3 day trip down the Wild & Scenic Deschutes will give you the opportunity to work on skills with professional instruction there to support you in your goals. With O.R.E. providing raft support throughout the trip your afforded the chance to focus in on those surfing abilities without having to worry about getting a camp.

Eddy hop down the river, catch a wave the choices are endless for the enjoyable days on the river. With a smaller group size participants get time with instructors and get to enjoy the end of the day sitting by river watching the sunset over the high dessert canyons.

Prerequisites: Some class II+/III experience and working on developing a kayak roll. The course is designed for kayakers with some experience and intermediate skills. This is the perfect opportunity to receive individual instruction and paddle Class III rapids on a multiday trip with instructors and raft support by your side.

Cost: $995-Harshell Kayakers (all meals, group camping gear, shuttle, kayak instruction, raft support).

Contact O.R.E. if you have people in your party who wish to join, but want to just ride along on a raft.

Person holding paddle in air on salmon river.

Trip Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1: We meet at 8:00 AM at Kaiser Park, in the town of Maupin. (Please have breakfast before our meeting time and arrive in your river clothes.) We will load kayaks and drybags here after meeting the O.R.E. van. When the group is ready, we will take the cars across the river to the Bakeoven Creek public parking, where the vehicles will stay during our time on the water. We will then drive in the O.R.E. van to the put in location at Trout Creek.

The first day you will hone your skills in preparation for the downstream river trip. You’ll have the chance to practice your roll and your strokes while getting acclimated on the Deschutes River. A riverside lunch will greet you partway through the day.

Days 2-3: The next 2 days will be spent playing our way down river, taking in the beautiful sights of the river canyon. Each day, we cover between 10 and 15 miles, running some rapids in formation, and stopping to play in others. Time will be spent focusing on reinforcing your skills and honing your technique or even just playing downriver.

You will start your day by waking up in one of the beautiful riverside campsites. Coffee on the beach or morning hike while sun fills the cool canyon walls.

Mid-day we will stop for lunch and you will have an opportunity to stretch, relax, or work on skills like the kayak roll. We usually arrive in camp by late afternoon and once we’ve made camp, your free to engage in a variety of leisure activities. Nap, fish, swim, read a book, practice skills with an instructor, go on a hike, or sit back and relax as dinner is cooked riverside. Horseshoes anyone? Take a moment to enjoy the sunset and take in the starry sky's at night.

Last day: We typically arrive at Sandy Beach, our take-out point, between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. We will then get the drivers vehicles about 15 minutes away and unpack your bags/kayaks.

What's Included

The services of our professional guides and staff.
Kayaking instruction from Gradient River Essentials
Transportation to our launch point from Maupin, and from our take-out to your vehicle.
All meals, from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last. Our menu is delicious, varied, and hearty. Meals are freshly prepared by our guides from the highest quality ingredients.
Juice and water are available at each meal. Coffee, tea, and cocoa are available at dinner and breakfast, and complementary wine is served with some dinners.
Special dietary needs may be accommodated with advance notice. We also provide cups, plates, and silverware.
Durable, professional quality rafts and river running equipment, including U.S. Coast Guard Approved lifejackets.
Waterproof river bags and boxes for your personal gear.
Camp chairs.
3-person tent (for 2 people), sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner and "paco" river style sleeping pad. AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL.

Where & When To Meet

What To Bring

You will need to bring your own clothing and toiletries, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad.

You will also need to provide your own kayak, spray skirt, helmet and paddle.

Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and deluxe sleep kits (includes cot) & deluxe tents (larger tent holds 2 cots) are available for rental.

Details, tips, and a complete list of what to bring are found in your trip confirmation email.

Gratuities

Our guests sometimes ask whether it is appropriate to tip the guides. Tipping is optional, but if your guides did a great job then feel free to thank them with a gratuity. The amount is up to you, but tips in the range of 8% to 20% of trip cost are typical. Gratuities are customarily presented to the Lead Guide, and will be shared equally among all guides on your trip.

Kayak instructors are encouraged to be tipped separately from the raft guides.

Trip Highlights

Often sunny & warm even when western Oregon is cloudy.
Good swimming (though water is cool).
High volume river, which means large waves even in summer.
Desert scenery.
Two hours east of Portland.
Crowded on summer weekends.

Trip Summary

Near: Maupin
Trip Length: Half & full day; 3 day Upper Section
Meeting Times: 9:30 & 10 AM, 1 PM; 7:30 AM
Season: April - October
Trip type: paddle rafting (oar raft by request)
Whitewater Rating: III (intermediate)
Suggested minimum age: 7

Half & Full Day (pdf)

Deschutes River 3 day (pdf)

Deschutes 3 day kayak support

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