Image shows a yellow raft on the left side of the image entering a rapid on the white waters of the Deschutes River. The raft is full of people wearing helmets and PFD's and they are paddling the raft.
Image shows two people wearing drysuits, PFD's, and helmets. They are standing on the bottom of a flipped orange raft holding onto straps leaning over water to flip the raft back over. In the background, there is a view of a river surrounded by steep cliffs.
Image shows a person in a helmet and PFD sitting in an orange raft and smiling at the camera. Behind them are three other people also smiling at the camera and a rock wall.
Image shows a tall boulder on the right side of the image sticking out of a river. There is one person standing on top of the boulder and another person jumping off the boulder into the river. There is a bright orange raft in the foreground and hillsides with green shrubbery in the background.
Raft Guide
If you love being in and paddling on stunning bodies of water, then this camping trip is the perfect choice for you. Our longest rafting trip, we float for nearly 100 miles on Oregon’s Deschutes River, from its upper reaches to its confluence with the Columbia River. The Deschutes River basin is a desert environment covered with grasses, sagebrush, and stout juniper trees. It is inhabited by golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, deer, and other Eastern Oregon wildlife. Both novices and seasoned river rats will enjoy long, quiet stretches of water as well as challenging rapids such as Oak Springs and Box Car. Spend late afternoons hiking beautiful side canyons, swimming, and learning to cook excellent river cuisine while camping beside the river each night. (Although everyone wears a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), we still recommend that you are able to swim.)
(actual itinerary will be adjusted based on river and weather conditions)
Tuesday: Arrive to campus in the morning, meet your group and collect any outdoor gear you are borrowing from College Outdoors. Eat lunch on campus, then drive about 3hrs to camp at the put-in at Trout Creek.
Wednesday: Introduction to rafting & safety, raft 7-10 miles to campsite 1. Evening games.
Thursday: Raft several hours with options for a side hike or rock jumping on the way to campsite 2
Friday: Raft several hours to campsite 3, with options for swimming and rock jumps, and river games
Saturday: Raft several hours to campsite 4, with lunch at the beach in the town of Maupin. Explore a side canyon.
Sunday: Mellow rafting day, with plenty of time for games and reflection. Camp at site 5. LC Night! Learn about Lewis & Clark from current students
Monday: Raft several hours to campsite 6, with optional rock jumps. Evening group reflection and appreciations
Tuesday: Morning rafting, then load up and return to campus, clean up gear, move into residence halls.
The Deschutes River Basin is found in the “rain shadow” of the Cascade Mountains where the high desert landscape provides outdoor enthusiasts with nearly endless opportunities for recreation, education and pure enjoyment. In 1855 the Wascoe, Paiute, and Warm Springs peoples were forced onto reservation lands, which now forms the largest reservation in the state and borders much of the upper Deschutes River. The Deschutes River is known for its exciting whitewater, as well as peaceful flatwater floating
opportunities. You’ll be rafting through canyons of golden hillsides with green alder trees lining the riverbanks. While sagebrush and juniper trees are common companions, there are also occasional glimpses of ospreys, mergansers, beavers, and deer. The Deschutes offers a great setting for a rafting trip. Listening to a coyote howl at night, being serenaded by a colorful oriole in the trees above your raft,
watching a red tail hawk circle in the blue desert sky, and being splashed by a huge native trout jumping
next to your boat are things not easily forgotten
The first day of the trip we’ll drive 3.5 hours to camp the first night beside the river at the launch site. Participants will all get the chance to enjoy the calm serenity of central Oregon and get some sun, as well as gear up for the fun Class III (and the occasional Class IV) rapids. Along the way, we’ll be camping along the river route. A typical day will include lots of time on the river as well as many opportunities to participate in the everyday activities of camp: preparing meals for the group, setting up camp, loading and unloading the boats, journal writing, hikes up to the rimrock cliffs, and, of course, just hanging out. On the last day of the trip, we’ll arrive at the pickup point and head to Portland the night before New
Student Orientation begins. Weather is generally warm and dry, but desert nights will get cool. Rainy days are possible, even though this is the desert.
The Deschutes is an extremely high fire danger area due to the dry grass and brush everywhere at this time of the year. No open flames are allowed on shore, with the exception of white gas and propane stoves and lanterns. Swift water and rapids present hazards, and the river is a force to respect. Participants should be comfortable swimming and are required to wear lifejackets at all times when on the water. Trip leaders will cover river safety issues at the beginning of the trip, and repeat them as needed. Participants will learn
how to paddle rafts and what to do in case they fall out. Learn more about possible risks here.
Prep for the pack: borrow a pack, fill it with 4-gallon (1 gal. = 8 lbs.) jugs and take a walk! It will feel heavy at first but don’t worry - it gets easier! You can learn how to fit your pack properly so that the weight is on your hips.
Break in your hiking boots: new boots + long treks = painful blisters. It is very important to break in your boots by wearing them with a pack for extended periods prior to your trip.
Get moving: it’s a great idea to walk or run this summer to get yourself into shape. This trip is rated as high physical rigor
Cost: $1800. Financial aid is applied for high-need students who qualify. Vegan and non-medical specialty diets have an additional $35 charge. Vegetarian diets and food allergies do not have an additional fee.
These forms can be completed only after you have received a trip placement email, and are due by Wednesday, June 18, 2025. You will need to log into your L&C Portal to complete these forms.
Image shows a yellow raft on the left side of the image entering a rapid on the white waters of the Deschutes River. The raft is full of people wearing helmets and PFD's and they are paddling the raft.
Image shows two people wearing drysuits, PFD's, and helmets. They are standing on the bottom of a flipped orange raft holding onto straps leaning over water to flip the raft back over. In the background, there is a view of a river surrounded by steep cliffs.
Image shows a person in a helmet and PFD sitting in an orange raft and smiling at the camera. Behind them are three other people also smiling at the camera and a rock wall.
Image shows a tall boulder on the right side of the image sticking out of a river. There is one person standing on top of the boulder and another person jumping off the boulder into the river. There is a bright orange raft in the foreground and hillsides with green shrubbery in the background.
Image shows a yellow raft on the left side of the image entering a rapid on the white waters of the Deschutes River. The raft is full of people wearing helmets and PFD's and they are paddling the raft.
Image shows two people wearing drysuits, PFD's, and helmets. They are standing on the bottom of a flipped orange raft holding onto straps leaning over water to flip the raft back over. In the background, there is a view of a river surrounded by steep cliffs.
Image shows a person in a helmet and PFD sitting in an orange raft and smiling at the camera. Behind them are three other people also smiling at the camera and a rock wall.
Image shows a tall boulder on the right side of the image sticking out of a river. There is one person standing on top of the boulder and another person jumping off the boulder into the river. There is a bright orange raft in the foreground and hillsides with green shrubbery in the background.
