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    High Desert River Outfitters

    4.7 (94 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Neomi A.

    The trip was great. Raft Oregon was wonderful. Personable fun river guides, great food, and an overall great time. We'll miss you until next time!

    Our family of 8 had an awesome rafting experience on July 24, 2018!!  Our guide R.J was awesome and we highly recommend him as a guide.
    Kim H.

    Our family of 8 when rafting with High Desert Outfitters on Tuesday, July 25, 2018. We had such a great time. The kids said rafting was their most favorite thing on our family vacation Our guide, R.J, was very experienced, entertaining and I highly recommend him as a guide.

    How not to enter the Oak Springs rapid
    Michael N.

    We did the Groupon for HDRO on the 25th and 26th of August, 2015. 11 of us total spread out over two days. The first group of 5 had Nate, the second group with the remaining 6 had Michael. Nate was a super personable nice guy who seemed to completely know what he was doing. I definitely felt safe with him guiding us in the back. Interestingly enough, on the first day, due to some mistakes we made, we ended up going backwards/sideways over the Oak Springs rapid on the Deschutes. 3/5 of us were dumped into the water (don't worry, everybody was fine). Two of us were stuck in the "room of doom" and the other was swept downstream. Nate seemed very surprised that this happened. The next day, at the same rapid, guided by Michael, the second group went in in a much more sane way, and yet two more of our party got dumped (one into the room of doom, one swept away downstream)! I don't think anybody blames the guides, but I figured I should point out that there is definitely a non zero chance of going for an unintentional swim!! A couple tips for those that are going here: if you need to wear glasses, make sure you have a strap on them. Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen. Don't wear anything you don't want to have get soaked. Don't put anything in your pockets. Nothing. Seriously - nothing. Overall, I had a very good time and would not hesitate to recommend HDRO.

    Joenell B.

    We had an amazing experience! Will definitely want to do again! Love Christina as our guide! Well organized! Keep in mind if boat fees and picture fees. Well worth it for our first time.

    Seth K.

    HDRO is hands-down the best river guide company on the Deshutes River. I have taken three half-day trips with them, I have yet to be disappointed. Do usually have a Groupon going on their half-day trips which are almost to steal. Make sure that you call them in advance to make your reservation they book up quite quickly during the summer. I have gone with two separate guides one was Marcus and the other one was DJ. You can't go wrong with either guide, and I don't believe they have a bad guide on staff. Each guide has their own individual way of narrating your trip and making it fun. Safety and fun are their top priorities. Whether you are a seasoned white water raft or a first timer you'll be safe and have an awesome time. The company also offers photographers along the rafting trip on the banks. They take pictures of your group going over Rapids and even a staged pictures. After your trip is over you have an opportunity to view and purchase these pictures. They are not cheap but they're definitely worth it. They don't just burn or email you the pictures. They put them on a HDRO Flash drive. Which is a cool keepsake. In case you forgot something when you're checking in they have a wide selection of items you may have forgotten. Sunglass floats, waterproof cameras, sunscreen, and so forth. Just remember whatever you take with you could easily be donated to the river gods. There are many companies you can go with but you will not be disappointed with Hydro. They will ensure you leaving with a smile on your face and memories you will never forget. And make sure you ride the bull at least once!!

    What a fun day!! We did a half day with a Groupon. It was quite a drive to and from Maupin, but this company definitely made it worth it! Our guide was Bobby. He was super friendly, informative & engaged in our fun banter. He ensured every person was confident and comfortable with every rapid we approached and what the plan was. He even partook in our hilarious and spontaneous group booty shot! 5 stars big time!

    Getting fitted for life jackets.
    Katie R.

    Like a lot of people, I've floated a river more times than I can count. Sat in an inner tube or an inflated air-mattress and went down lazy rivers with friends. Which is cool, lots of fun times, but I recently decided I wanted to go for something bigger. So I checked out GroupOn and found a deal for HDRO. Really, no secret here, GroupOn deals can be either sketchy or amazing; you never know what you're gonna get until you're there. In this case, it was a steal. The value for the experience made it absolutely, hands down, without a doubt worth it. The vibe at HDRO is chill in the friendliest of ways. The staff easily transform themselves into your insta-friends, as in instantly you're comfortable and chatting away as you sign waivers, get fitted for a life-vest, and hop in a van to get carted down to the river with your new BFFs. [Insert Chris Farley Jokes Here] On the shore, you'll split up into boats and prepare for a wet ride. We were put in a boat guided by Deign. Deign is a perpetually sun-burnt and jovial guy with the most infectious laugh. He made this trip an epic adventure, which, to be sure, was a tall order. He had two pretty fit adults, two large and in charge women, and one excited eight year old on board. Some of us were apprehensive at the start and some of us were ready to jump right in and swim the length of the river. His mission was to make us all have a good time. And he succeeded brilliantly. Deign, nay HDRO generally, caters to their customers. The more adventurous folks get crazier rides. The tamer crowd gets a mellower float. Everyone hits class four rapids and comes out smiling... and dripping... and ready to do it all over again. Pro (Really I've Only Gone Once) Tips: 1. There's a huge parking area in the back for parking... and tailgating. It's totally okay to bring your own snacks/food/drinks for consumption on the lot. Be prepared to share and mingle; I am not kidding when I say folks are friendly. 2. Bring water in a bottle with a hook or clip or some other means of attaching it to the D-rings on the raft. Plastic bottles you pick up at the mini-mart aren't clip-able and you'll have to stow 'em. 3. Don't be the douchebag who gets visibly and vocally angry about not being given a helmet. If you need one, bring one. 4. They hold your keys for you, stow everything else in your car. They have an employee hanging out in the lot area and your belongings in your locked car should be safe. 5. Put sunscreen on your knees and thighs. Just trust me. Ouch. 6. Split the cost of the photos HDRO takes of you while rafting with others that are in your boat. It makes the steep $50 price tag a little easier to swallow and sharing photos online via email or Flickr later is cake. 7. Ride the bull. You'll regret it later if you don't.

    8/12/14 rafting Deschutes River Bibs is the river guide.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - High Desert River Outfitters

    Review Highlights - High Desert River Outfitters

    He was funny, engaging, knew history about the area, and knew how to make our raft do all sorts of fun things.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    Imperial River Company

    Imperial River Company

    4.0(109 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    You step onto the Deschutes not knowing what to expect. The sun leans low. The water pulls forward…read morewith purpose. The rapids, those crisp, roaring punctuation marks, start writing the kind of afternoon you'll replay in your head for years. Then Alex, our guide, takes the mic. With the charm of a seasoned showman and the precision of a scientist, he turned a whitewater rafting adventure into something unforgettable. His wit is sharper than a dry martini. His knowledge of the river and the volcanic bones beneath it is the kind of insight that makes you feel smarter just for listening. He doesn't just steer the raft. He steers you through time, weaving in the geologic history of the canyon walls while pointing out an osprey nest perched high above, hatchlings inside, chirping beneath the wind. You hear the rapids before you feel them. Then comes the dance. Navigating tight fits between boulders. Gliding effortlessly over shallow shelves. The raft lifts and drops like it's in on the secret. The kids laughed. The adults let go. And when the moment was right, we jumped in. Cold, clean, and utterly refreshing. A shock to the system in the best possible way. It's family friendly in the purest sense of the phrase. Thrilling, but never reckless. Informative, never dull. Wild, but still welcoming. The Imperial River Company doesn't just offer whitewater rafting. They offer escape. The kind where you stop checking your watch and start listening to the water, the birds, the laughter echoing off canyon walls. Book the trip. Ask for Alex. Let the Deschutes show you what summer is supposed to feel like.

    Clean, nice fire pit. They have a restaurant and a Bar. But best of all it's on the Deshutes River…read morewhere the fishing is GREAT. We stay here every time.

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    Imperial River Company
    Imperial River Company
    Imperial River Company

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    High Desert River Outfitters - rafting - Updated May 2026

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