At Northwest Rafting Company, we pride ourselves on creating more confident and skilled boaters through professional instruction. From rowing schools to International Rafting Federation guide workshops, we instruct beginners and professionals alike year-round. Which Course is Right for Me? One of the most frequent questions we receive is, “Which course is right for me?” The answer depends on your background, skillset, and goals. To help summarize the differences between courses, we developed this guide to help sort through course details. If one of the categories below… Read More
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We had a successful 2020 season and are excited for 2021. Wee want to do everything we can do to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 on our trips (while of course we can’t eliminate the risk entirely). Important Note: Our COVID-19 protocols may become more or less strict based on updated guidance from the CDC. We will update this web page and send our guests a pre-trip email if there are any important changes. Here are some ways we are working to provide enhanced sanitation and… Read More
Chrome Creek is a tributary of the National Wild and Scenic North Fork Smith River. Located in the Southern Oregon Kalmiopsis Wilderness, it is also a proposed Wild and Scenic River. A group of Northwest Rafting Company guides decided to spend five days exploring why it deserves protection. Our hard work to access this remote place was rewarded by experiencing a pristine wilderness ecosystem complete with stunning views, carnivorous plants, and crystal clear water. Important Note: These headwater areas are threatened by Port Orford Cedar Root… Read More
So, you want to take a rafting trip? Choosing the perfect trip should be a breeze, right? You hop on our website, start browsing through trip details, and realize something pretty quickly. There is a LOT of information to consider when choosing the perfect rafting trip! Questions like “What will I do and see on this trip?”, “What time of year is best for rafting?”, and “Are trips family friendly?” are all swirling around in your head with each page click. You want to make a… Read More
We are excited that Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced a new bill to Congress recommending an additional 4,700 Oregon Wild and Scenic river miles. Called the River Democracy Act (S. 192), the Senators based their recommendations on your 15,000 river nominations across the state. As commercial river guides and stewards, we are especially thrilled that 724 of 4,700 river miles are in Southern Oregon watersheds where we live and work. Here are a few of these gems, and how you can help get… Read More
I have many favorite rivers, but Southern Oregon’s Illinois River is my actual #1 favorite. Its most commonly rafted section is a three to four day expedition with numerous Class IV (and one Class V) rapids. Beyond world-class whitewater, the Illinois River carves an unspoiled and amazingly beautiful canyon through the remarkable Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The Illinois River is famous for its clear water, stunning scenery, and botany. It’s also a refuge for salmon and steelhead, as it is one of only two river systems in Oregon… Read More
In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty and change for Northwest Rafting Company, causing a late start to our rafting season. We were fortunate to complete our summer trips this year, taking our responsibility for trip health and safety extremely seriously. While we could not eliminate the risk of COVID-19 entirely, we did not have any known transmission resulting from our season. We look back to share all we learned and recognize the team effort between guests, guides, and outfitters that pulled this off. Responding to… Read More
After you go on a Rogue River rafting trip, you might want to take an extra day or two to explore this beautiful part of Oregon. In my previous blog, I suggested an itinerary that included a trip to Crater Lake and visits to waterfalls. This time I’m suggesting spending a couple of days along the Oregon Coast. Day 1 – Drive to Galice + Arrange a Car Shuttle It’s about a 4-hour drive from Portland to the meeting place for the trip, Galice Resort. We… Read More
Managing Risk on the River: A rafters guide to “safety” “Safety first,” is an expression I hear often on the river. However, I would argue that safety is an illusion. There is an inherent level of risk we all accept every time we go rafting. The best thing we can do is work to manage that risk and bring it down to a level we find acceptable. We can measure risk by weighing the consequences of a hazard with the probability or likelihood that it will… Read More
When I think about my river guiding career up to this point and how it has impacted my life, I see a lot of change. Those who knew me eight years ago in college would see a different person now. There are a lot of lessons I learned from river guiding that I try to implement in every day life. Here are ten takeaways I would like to share with you. 1. Nature soothes the soul I am more relaxed after spending time outside. Whether it… Read More