A journey down the Deschutes River is a journey into the remote and rugged landscapes of Oregon’s high desert environments. This is the perfect white water rafting experience for the entire family. During the day, navigate exhilarating rapids, fish the crystal clear waters, go for a swim or simply contemplate the formation of the red and orange canyon walls. At night, enjoy the warmth and glow of the campfire while sitting beneath a sky full of stars. 

Bring along the entire family on this epic 4-day white water rafting adventure! An overnight rafting trip on the Deschutes River is the perfect opportunity to unplug and immerse yourself in nature. You will journey through narrow canyon walls, down thrilling rapids and into the heart of Oregon’s high desert landscapes. Along the way, hike in narrow slot canyons, cliff jump into deep swimming holes, cast your fishing lines or simply relax at camp while admiring the stunning landscapes. Our expert guides will be there to share their wealth of knowledge about the local wildlife, history and rafting tips and tricks.  

After a full day of paddling, we will arrive at our riverside campsite for an evening next to the campfire and beneath the stars. Enjoy a warm meal and beverage while listening to one of the many stories our guide has about the local area. 

Required fitness level (1-5): (1 being low, 5 being high level of fitness). What kind of physical shape is needed in order to successful participate in activities? 2/5- This adventure may include 6-8 hours of continuous activity for multiple days in a row. Participants should be in good physical condition and feel comfortable sitting in a raft for several hours. This section of river has sections of exhilarating class III-IV (season dependent) rapids and also relaxing flat-water floats. Rafting and camping take place outdoors and you may be exposed to adverse weather conditions such as rain, intense heat and sun and insects. For the best experience, it is highly recommended that participants are comfortable in and on water. Our trip director will serve as a source of knowledge for planning and preparation prior to the trip. This paddle is perfect for beginners and experienced paddlers. No experience necessary, just a calling for adventure!

Riverside tent camping. Primitive restroom facilities are available at all campsites, however, if you must use the restroom while on the river, you should be prepared to follow Leave No Trace (LNT) principles when using the restroom outdoors. Please note, cell phone reception is unreliable and electricity is not available throughout most areas of this trip. 

Each guide tailors the menu for the specific trip and is extensively trained on camping food handling and meal planning. Our goal for meals during physically demanding days is to provide our guests with meals that are not only tasty but also packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. 

For breakfast, you can expect items such as oatmeal, eggs, granola, bagels, fruit, etc. To optimize our activity time, we generally utilize packed lunches that may include sandwiches, granola bars, fruit, chips, etc. Depending on time, we may stop to prepare a full lunch spread. For dinners your guides will prepare a full meal which may include options such as pastas, burritos and more. In addition, your guide will provide an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion during the hikes.

Beyond the Map can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets, and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests require at least two weeks advance notice and may require an additional fee.

Due to the activity type, we highly recommend you purchase trip insurance. It allows you to seek reimbursement if you are forced to cancel your trip for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to cover medical help, emergency transport, and/or theft or accidental damage while traveling. For travel insurance, we recommend DAN Travel insurance or World Nomads. Please note, Beyond the Map is not affiliated with either of these companies. It is your responsibility to review coverage details and to file a claim if need be. 

The traveler agrees to notify Beyond the Map with written notice of cancellation 60 days prior to the trip date for a full refund. Refunds for cancellations after this 60 day period will vary and are dependent on the expenditures that the operator will absorb as a result of cancellation. Cancellations equal to or less than 14 days prior to the trip date will be charged the full amount of the trip and no refunds will be issued. If the operator cancels the trip due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances (weather, safety concerns, travel bans, etc.), then the customer will receive a travel voucher for the full amount of the trip cost. 

As a side note, during times of uncertainty, the operator is personally working with each guest to ensure that the cancellation policy is flexible and will protect the costs endured by both the traveler and operator. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover any unexpected travel interruptions.  

Pre-Trip Precautions: All guides and operators will have a negative Covid-19 test within one week of the trip. Participants will not be permitted to attend if they have shown symptoms and signs of illness. If someone shows symptoms on the trip, we’ll immediately separate that person from the rest of the group and implement evacuation procedures to a nearby hospital for testing/assistance. We reserve the right to refuse services to anyone that appears to be ill. Temperature checks will be done at the beginning of each trip for each participant. Each guest will be required to fill out the pre-trip Covid-19 questionnaire. 

Transportation: Group transportation will be decided on a case by case situation. If the group is an inner-circle of friends and/or family, we will include group transportation. If not, the participants will be asked to provide their own transportation or carpooling with those they do know. 

Sanitizing: We’ve stockpiled soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, disinfectant wipes, hand wipes, etc. for our guide teams to have available to guests at all times during trips. 

Equipment: High touch surfaces including equipment will be deep cleaned prior to use. Guests will have access to disinfectant wipes for their own use as well as an added precaution. Guests will constantly be asked to use hand sanitizer before/after handling of any equipment. Shared equipment will be kept to a minimal and/or be sanitized w/ a disinfectant wipe between uses. Guests will handle their own baggage and personal items. When possible, we will select activities that promote social distancing. 

Meals: Guides will either create “to-go” style picnic lunches in takeaway brown bags or will create a lunch/dinner spread in which the guides handle the serving utensils and put food on plates for guests. Guides will wear gloves and masks throughout food prep and serve. Dishes will be washed in the evenings after guest drop-off. Guests will be required to bring their own reusable utensils and water bottle. We will require handwashing prior to all meals. We will have handwashing stations set up and available at meal times.

Participant Interaction: All guests will be required to bring face masks and to wear them when in situations whenever they cannot maintain a distance of 6 feet from another participant. Typical greetings such as handshakes, high fives or hugs will not be permitted between guests (unless within the same party-friends, family, etc.).