Wallowa

Rafting the Wallowa River is perfect for those seeking an enjoyable afternoon of scenery, sunshine, and outdoor family fun. Starting at Minam, our guides will lead you 9 miles down the roadless Wallowa canyon and will finish with a one of a kind shuttle back on the railroad tracks. Floats on the Wallowa can be defined by two seasons as the summer progresses:

Memorial Day - approx. July 10
July 11 - Labor Day (Low Water)

Launching a boat at Minam begins a journey through a 40 mile roadless canyon on the Wild and Scenic Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers. With the beauty of a mountain stream, forested hillsides give way to layers of basalt rimrock and banks lined with cottonwood, alder, mock orange, and service berry that fill the air with a sweet fragrance. The roadless Wallowa and Grande Ronde river canyons offers better wildlife viewing than any other river we have floated with bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, deer, black bear, otter, and eagles a common sight. Let the abrasive, distracting sounds of the modern world slip away for a few days while the sounds of the river take over. There is nothing better for the mind and soul than a river trip down a roadless canyon where the natural rhythms of life are uninterrupted.

Get ready for an unforgettable 3-day, 2-night journey through the stunning Wallowa & Grande Ronde Rivers, where adventure meets luxury. Starting and ending in Minam, OR, this 40-mile rafting trip combines thrilling Class II rapids, breathtaking landscapes, and indulgent dining experiences that will leave you wanting more. From mouthwatering meals to locally crafted wines, the Grande Ronde Wine & Food Itinerary is a perfect blend of adventure and luxury.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the best of the river—book your spot today!

Grande Ronde and Wallowa Steelhead are renowned for their willingness to aggressively take flies. Whether that is a top water skater, a swung traditional, or drifted nymphs, the electricity of the fight is what creates steelhead addicts and keeps them coming back for more. Steelhead begin migrating up the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers in late September into the roadless Wild and Scenic Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers.

You would have to search far and wide for a better multi-day fly fishing experience than the roadless Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers.

There is a secret kept in the canyons of the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers. That secret is a blue-ribbon trout fishery that few realize is there and even fewer fly fishing guides know the seasons, hatches, and tactics to entice trophy-sized rainbows to the fly. One reason this fishery is relatively unknown is the fact that it exists in a 40-mile roadless canyon federally designated as a wild and scenic river. Accessing this special place requires a commitment of 3-5 days but the rewards are great with exceptional trout fishing and arguably the best river camping to be had.

The Wallowa River may be Eastern Oregon’s best rainbow trout fishery as well as one of its best winter steelhead fisheries. The Wallowa River enjoys blue ribbon trout fishing most of the year and great steelhead fishing February and March depending on weather and river conditions.

The Wallowa Roadless Section which begins at the Minam Store and ends 9 miles down river. Around 1 mile into the float, you pass the state park and leave cars behind entering the roadless stretch of the Wallowa River.

The Wallowa River may be Eastern Oregon’s best rainbow trout fishery as well as one of its best winter steelhead fisheries. The Wallowa River enjoys blue ribbon trout fishing most of the year and great steelhead fishing February and March depending on weather and river conditions.

The Wallowa Mountains are often referred to as the “Alps of Oregon” with the Eagle Cap Wilderness protecting a large portion of the watershed. Draining pristine mountain streams descending from nearly 10,000 feet, the Wallowa River is the life blood of trout and steelhead fisheries in NE Oregon with its cold clear water feeding tributary streams long into the hot summer.