3 Day Deschutes River Rafting & Birding Excursion with Brodie Cass Talbott

2024 Trip Dates Coming Soon!

Spend 3 days camping on the Deschutes River rafting, camping and exploring the ornithology on the lower section of Deschutes river. 

The Deschutes River canyon is the oasis of the otherwise arid Columbia Plateau, and its towering cliffs and riverside vegetation are home to a number of amazing birds. We’ll listen to the stunning songs of Canyon Wrens as we watch for Red-tailed hawks, Prairie Falcons, and Golden Eagles overhead. With any luck we might spot an American Dipper, North America’s only aquatic songbird, as it cruises the rapids in search of food. And we expect to see many Osprey, the icon of the Deschutes, as they search for fish all along the river. 

About Brodie Cass Talbott: Brodie is a naturalist and birding guide. He also spent 7 years raft guiding on the Deschutes, Rogue, and other PNW rivers before deciding to go full time into natural history. He has been working for Portland Audubon leading birding and natural history trips since 2018, and has traveled the world ever since in search of charismatic wildlife. He serves as the President of the Oregon Birding Association and is a frequent contributor to Oregon Birds, the journal of Oregon ornithology, and a frequent guest on the American Birding Podcast.
 

This package includes:

  • 2 nights riverside camping (tents and cots included, bring your own sleeping bag & pillow)
  • 7 meals meals (starting with Lunch on Friday)
  • Recorded sightings of falcons, osprey, golden eagle, mergansers, and the lazuli light bunting

Meet at our Maupin, OR outpost and we will take care of the rides to/from the river!

$529 / person + fees*

*added fees are a $5/day Boater Use Pass and 3% Land use fee

 

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 

  • 8:30am – Check in at our Maupin, OR outpost 
  • Meet & greet while we hand out dry bags for you to pack your overnight gear (including sleeping bag, we will bring tent/cots)
  • Shuttle ride to the put in 
  • We will float and enjoy the scenery & nature stopping for a riverside lunch along the way
  • Some rapids in the afternoon along with more opportunity for bird sightings as we travel farther from civilization
  • Arrive at camp #1 for the evening, your tents will already be set up for you
  • Enjoy appetizers and dinner followed by riverside chats and bedtime at your leisure

Day 2 

  • Awake to sound of the river 
  • Coffee/Teas/Breakfast around 7:30am
  • Pack up and head out on the river to float and enjoy the amazing birds, and maybe some big horn sheep sightings!
  • Lunch around noon
  • More rafting in the afternoon 
  • Arrival at camp for appetizers, bird viewing, cocktails, dinner and great company!

Day 3 

  • Coffee, tea and drinks available early in the AM to enjoy the Ornithology sounds and nature that surrounds us followed by a wonderful breakfast
  • Pack up for our final float down the Deschutes to the mouth of the Columbia River.
  • Enjoy a mid-day lunch and views of our feathered friends
  • Tributary will provide a shuttle from the take out and meet us for the ride back to the Maupin outpost. 
  • Find farewells at the end and we hope that we get to see you on another river trip…

Please note times are an approximation and we may end up running ahead of, or behind schedule…we like to call it “river time”!

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What to Bring

  • Participants packing list:

FOR RAFTING

Required Items:

  • Re-usable 20oz or more water bottle (filled with ice water)
  • shoes (no flip flops, you can bring these for off river time)
  • sunscreen
 

Suggested Items:

  • sunglasses (with a strap)
  • baseball hat
  • Cell Phone (at your risk, it will sink)

DO NOT BRING:

  • Wallets 
  • Expensive jewelry
  • Pets

FOR CAMPING

  • sleeping bag
  • pillow
  • flashlight/headlamp
  • change of clothes
  • towel

Included with this trip:

  • 2 nights riverside camping -our gear boat will raft ahead of us and set up camp 
  • 7 meals
    • Friday – lunch & dinner 
    • Saturday – breakfast, lunch & dinner
    • Sunday – breakfast & lunch 
  • non-alcoholic beverages
  • Professional ornithologist to provide birding experience
  • Professional, knowledgeable raft guides sharing their passion with you

Where To Go

Event Location:
Tributary Whitewater – Maupin Outpost
206 Elrod Ave
Maupin, OR 

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Cancellation Policy – All deposits and final payments are non-refundable.  We highly recommend travel insurance that would reimburse you and cover unforeseen circumstances that might prevent you from attending after booking.
 

About Tributary Whitewater

Tributary Whitewater has been a family owned and operated business since 1978. We run white water adventures in California & Oregon for all ages and walks of life. We believe river trips bring a special opportunity to connect with nature. Rivers can be both mild and wild and we offer experiences to unwind and re-wild. 

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Tributary Whitewater
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the Rivers we run

Our vision is to create a sustainable and equitable reality where our rivers are enjoyed and protected, a place where families and friends can be inspired and challenged.

Tributary Whitewater Tours has been running rivers since we were first founded in 1978. Since we opened 40+ years ago we have expanded to include Adventure Connection, Mariah Wilderness Expeditions, High Desert River Outfitters, Canyon Outfitters and are the parent company of Raft California and Raft Oregon. While some things have changed over the years, Tributary remains a family-run small business with the same passion for the river and the mission of leading others to experience it.

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Tributary Whitewater Tours is a permitted outfitter under the National Forest Service, the CA Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Nevada County, El Dorado County and Bureau of Land Management. Tributary Whitewater Tours is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider.