161 Results

There’s nothing like a whitewater rafting or jet boat trip to leave you breathless, soaked to the bone and pumped full of adrenaline. Then there’s the kind of boat trip that takes it down a notch — from wild to mild, but every bit just as sensational. Here are a handful of guided boat trips… More

We named it Hells Canyon to scare people – but folks who appreciate jaw-dropping scenery and rugged rivers will want to tackle Eastern Oregon head first. There’s no better way to start exploring the region than on one of Oregon’s two designated Scenic Bikeways. Take on all of the Grand Tour Scenic Bikeway’s 135 miles,… More

After the frenzied fun of summer, fall offers us the chance to slow down and take a look around. It’s the perfect season for a good old-fashioned road trip. And Southern Oregon, with warmer temperatures and beautiful byways, is just the right destination with great hiking, bird watching, boating and other outdoor pursuits. Follow this… More

Can’t decide between riding the rapids or trekking around the deepest lake in America? Come to Southern Oregon and you can do both. On this itinerary, you’ll hike the rim of incredible Crater Lake and discover that a lake really can be that blue. Then go whitewater rafting on the Wild and Scenic North Umpqua,… More

My first trip down the Rogue River was in 1997, the year before I became professional river guide. After a three-day trip down the Lower Klamath, four of us decided to make our way up to the famous Rogue River. We left the take-out for the Klamath, stopped in Ashland for dinner and a play… More

It’s a warm morning as we prepare the rafts and drift boats for our four-day journey through the Lower Owyhee Canyonlands. Individuals, families and outfitters alike have come here to run the 67-mile stretch of river from Rome to Leslie Gulch. For the past six years, this desert region has been suffering from drought and has not built up the winter snowpack that provides the amount of water necessary to run this stretch. But water has finally returned, and for a few short weeks, this... More

Luke Martinez grew up splashing around in the Chetco River. As a teenager he became passionate about paddling, and spent his summers guiding rafting trips. That was 20 years ago, and Martinez has since returned home — to the tiny town of Pistol River, between Gold Beach and Brookings on the Southern Oregon Coast — to raise… More

Morrison’s has two companies that operate as one: Morrison’s Rogue Wilderness Lodge and Morrison’s Rogue Wilderness Adventures. Together, they make for a one-of-a-kind adventure getaway located in the tiny community of Galice, 16 miles downstream of Grants Pass on the banks of the Rogue and far from anything else. More

My legs shook as I used a long, one-bladed paddle to push my stand-up paddleboard (SUP) away from shore. I engaged my core, bent my knees and kept my board at a 45-degree angle to the current. “Remember, look where you want to go,” said Tim Thornton, owner of River Drifters and one of our guides. That’s easier said than done — at least for me. I’m not a “water person.” I prefer high alpine hikes on Mt. Hood, long trail runs in the Columbia... More

Some facts about Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s the deepest river gorge in North America; it’s 8,000 vertical feet in the deepest portions; it includes more than 215,000 acres of wilderness; and it’s not for wimps. One of Oregon’s most wildly beautiful places, Hells Canyon is also one of the most remote. Go with… More

With stunning waterfalls, fields of wildflowers, basalt cliffs, lakes, streams and rivers, the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area is a magical, awe-inspiring place to visit in the summer — or anytime of year. Two million visitors flock to the Gorge each year to experience some of Oregon’s most popular recreational, historic and cultural attractions like Multnomah Falls, Crown Point, Beacon Rock State Park and Rowena Crest Viewpoint. Especially this summer and fall, car use and trails will be at their max during the Historic Columbia River... More

The first time I saw the Upper Klamath from atop the ridge, my heart raced. After the hour and a half, gorgeously scenic drive over the Green Springs Mountain from Ashland, I was ready to get on the water. It was my maiden voyage on this stretch of river and I was accompanied by some… More

Generations of fly-fishermen and thrill seekers have celebrated the storied passageways of the Wild and Scenic North Umpqua River, knowing that its magnificence is best experienced on the water. The splendor of the river canyon astonishes this family of four around every bend. Catch them on the rapids as they pass through gorges, ancient wilderness… More

Okay, so you've heard of the Rogue River. You've seen the news footage of the recent dam removals, you've heard about the jet boats that zip up from Gold Beach, you've probably even eaten the cheese and drank the beer that are named for this famous Oregon icon. But have you actually BEEN there? If… More

With its cascading waterfalls, hills full of wildflowers and sparkling river views, touring the Columbia River Gorge is easily one of the most scenic routes you can take in all of Oregon. But what if you could see the sights without having to drive? Luckily visitors can check out a few new ways to explore the Gorge car-free. Leaving the car behind means… More

Over the past two decades, Jake Mahon has spent countless hours fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead on rivers throughout the state of Oregon. Now he operates a guide service out of Eugene. But that's not his only passion; like many Oregonians, Mahon has a love for wine. During last season’s summer drought, he began to… More

See the city of Portland from a different point of view when you enjoy this adventure. This week, I'll show you some cool ways to get around town on the river that runs through the heart of Oregon. When the temperature soars, the line grows longer at Willamette Jet Boat Excursions along the Portland waterfront… More

A string of riverside communities greets the wild and oh-so-scenic McKenzie River as it drains down from the Cascade Mountains and tumbles west toward Eugene. Easy to reach along the McKenzie River Highway (OR-126), they’re your gateway to this river valley’s incomparable natural attractions. Lane Transit District will even handle the driving, with bus service… More

Most fly-fishers agree that central Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River — with its native rainbow trout and steelhead — is a world-class fishery. When the annual salmon fly hatch begins in late May, it becomes a see-it-to-believe-it experience. More

Many of us know Southern Oregon for Crater Lake National Park, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the sea stacks and arches that define Oregon’s pristine South Coast beaches. Much of the peaks, rivers and valleys of Southern Oregon are a mystery to many of us. But Roseburg — a nature-lover's paradise 90 miles south of… More

Ask bird-watchers to list Southern Oregon’s greatest attractions, and they’d no doubt mention Crater Lake, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and wine tasting. But you’d also hear a few other reasons why so many flock to this diverse avian region each winter. More

When you fish with a legend you know you’re in good hands! Aaron Helfrich is a member of a legendary Oregon family who made fishing and boating a popular recreation on the state’s rivers and streams. Aaron is the third generation in a family of Oregon fishing guides and like his firm grasp on the… More

Active young families are made of energetic kids and parents who want to get their fill of adventure. Enter the North Umpqua River, the best place to make it all happen: awesome camping, adult- and kid-friendly recreation, and a scenic wilderness that will make a weekend trip feel like a restful eternity. More

With an abundance of steelhead, salmon and trout fisheries, as well as productive warm-water venues, Oregon may offer up America’s most diverse sport fishery — with equally diverse scenery to match. But Oregon’s also a pretty big state, so where’s a fisher to go to cast a line in summertime? Here we highlight favorite spots all around the state as well as what’s in season. Before hitting the road, check out the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Recreation Report, which is updated weekly with... More

Sometimes, being on the Rogue River is like being in the middle of a Nature Channel documentary: birds and animals and fish, oh my! The Rogue has whitewater, scenery, history and campsites that are on par with the best rivers in the lower 48, but few others compare to the Rogue when it comes to… More

The Rogue River isn’t just your average 215-mile river starting at Crater Lake in Southern Oregon and ending at the Pacific Ocean; it was one of the first eight rivers to receive the Congressional designation of “Wild and Scenic” when that law was first enacted in 1968, entitling it to certain environmental protections. Even more exciting, my particular rafting trip would journey through the 33.8-mile area that was deemed “Wild.” Was I up for a date with a Wild Rogue? You bet. More

Oregon Trail pioneers who first arrived in Lebanon were drawn to the fertile farmlands here between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range. The historic Santiam Wagon Road operated from the 1860s until the 1930s — a historically important freight route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon. Now a town of nearly 16,000 people, this… More

At the base of Oregon’s Table Rocks rushes the explosive and bountiful Rogue River. Known for abundant salmon runs, gripping whitewater rafting adventures and engaging historic treasures, this part of Southern Oregon is a must-stop for families, historians and adventurers alike. Once inhabited by the Takelma Indians, this region is not just rich in flora… More

A perfect golden hew lighted our departure as we paddled through the Pearl and Industrial District heading north towards the Columbia. Passing the bridges is always a joy and seeing the traffic from below is a special sensation for me; almost like I am playing hooky while everyone else is having to go to work. More

I love travel across Oregon in winter for one particular reason: the unexpected treats that come when waterfowl put on quite a show. “Waterfowl are distinct, colorful and just the most in-your-face animals that are around us… and the number you can see is just so much higher than other wildlife,” according to Metro Naturalist,… More