From traversing the great-wide-open to marveling at tight canyon walls, the Owyhee Canyonlands offers awe-inspiring views around every bend. Pair that with the scent of sage, rich green flora in the canyon and red rock walls and you will see why visitors travel from all around to experience the remote area.
Originating from the mountains of northern Nevada and southern Idaho, the Owyhee River carves a canyon as deep as 3,000 feet into volcanic rock. Reminiscent of the Grand Canyon, towering cliffs, reaching up to 1,000 feet, stand sentinel along the river’s path.
The specific section of the river we navigate boasts a diverse landscape within the broader, shallow canyon. Some areas feature narrow, steep-walled inner canyons, adding intrigue to the scenery. The canyon’s walls showcase a vivid palette, with interbedded ash and sediments creating hues of white, red, green, and black. Among the captivating features are the Lambert Rocks, vibrant badlands shaped by erosion from these diverse sediments.
The Wild and Scenic Owyhee River and Canyonlands stand as a cherished gem in Oregon, representing one of the most remote and untamed landscapes in the entire country. Widely acclaimed as a premier early-season whitewater destination, particularly during peak water levels, it holds national recognition. The Lower Owyhee, a favored 48-mile stretch from Rome to Birch Creek Historic Ranch, features exhilarating class II, III, and IV rapids, including notable ones like Montgomery and Whistling Bird.
While the Owyhee offers thrilling whitewater experiences, it also presents calm stretches that invite moments of tranquility and solitude. Leisurely drifting past the majestic spires of Chalk Basin, the canyon showcases a spectrum of colors, ranging from reddish rhyolite to darker basalt. Noteworthy landmarks like Pruett’s Castle unveil rocks dating from the late Miocene period to the present, adding layers of geological history to the journey.
The high-quality habitat in this area led the Bureau of Land Management to recognize over 1 million acres of the Owyhee as “wilderness areas.” The Owyhee River is home to more than 200 wildlife species including golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, 14 species of bats, elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and the largest herd of California bighorn sheep in the nation. In the river anglers will find redband trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish and smallmouth bass.
The Owyhee River has been identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as one of six key strongholds for the Greater sage-grouse in the West. The river’s riparian (river bank) areas are crucial homes for sage-grouse, providing essential resources for nesting and raising their chicks. The distinct soil conditions in the Owyhee region provide ideal habitats for various plant species, such as larkspur, biscuitroot, phlox, penstemon, and sagebrush buttercup. Remarkably, the Owyhee is home to around 28 plant species that are exclusive to this area, including Packard’s blazing star and the Owyhee clover, making it a unique and irreplaceable biodiversity area.
As we embark on our Owyhee River adventures, we gracefully traverse the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Shoshone-Paiute people.
Acknowledging the Indigenous communities whose lands we visit is a crucial step in understanding our shared history and the ongoing challenges faced by these populations today. For more insight, visit our Territory Acknowledgement page. We encourage you to learn about the people whose land we’re privileged to explore by following the links above. Our Territory Acknowledgement is an evolving project. If you find missing information or acknowledgments, please share it with us. Together, we can ensure accuracy, inclusivity, and respect. Thank you.
We launch trips on many different rivers in California, Oregon and Idaho. For questions give our main office a call – we would love to talk with you about our trips and rivers.
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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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