columbia river gorge travel and recreation guide
high desert river outfitters
High Desert River Outfitters (HDRO) has
been guiding and rafting on Oregon’s rivers for more than 20
years explains owner, Gary Schoenecker, “I started the business
in 1990, but began rafting in the late 1970s. We started as a
small business, and we’ve grown to become one of the top rafting companies in town. Our fleet of 42 commercial custom-designed rafts come equipped with all the essentials, including life
jackets, paddles, helmets, and more.
206 Elrod Avenue ◆ PO Box 264
Maupin, Oregon 93037
541-395-2716
[email protected]
www.highdesertriver.com
HDRO provides everything from 1/2 day- to multi-day trips on
the Deschutes, Klamath, Rouge, Owyhee, Santiam, Klickitat,
and the McKenzie rivers. Their goal is to provide your family,
church, corporation, or any other group with the finest possible
rafting or fishing trip. “We are large enough to accommodate
several hundred people per day, but will still give the small company custom service.” According to Schoenecker, “One thing
that sets us apart is that our guides are some of the highest quality and our customers say that our food program is the best because we use fresh, natural, and homemade foods.”
north santiam river trips
North Santiam River Trips, led by founder
Bill Sanderson, has organized river adventures for more than 30
years, and it is Sanderson’s vast knowledge of the river’s more
than 300 rapids, riffles, and turns that ensures each rider’s safety,
not to mention an education about the river’s history. The North
Santiam River is navigable for 50 miles, and day trips usually
cover 5- to 15- miles depending on conditions, and 2- or 3- day
trips are available with camp or cabin lodging.
PO Box 35
Mill City, OR 97360
503-897-3301
www. nsrtrips.com
In addition to white-water rafting, Sanderson offers spectacular
scenic rides where raft passengers can see eagles and osprey, beaver, and occasionally otter and deer. Additionally, for the angler,
Sanderson will load up a drift-boat for a peaceful ride downriver
to the south Santiam where you can fly cast right from the boat.
So whether you want to ride the rapids, take a slow scenic ride
along the river, or fish from a drift boat, just contact North Santiam River Trips, and they will custom design your next vacation.
FAST FACT: 1243 miles long, the Columbia River is the 7th largest river in the U.S.
www.columbiarivergorgeTravelCouncil.com
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