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    River Drifters

    4.9 (96 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    River Drifters Photos

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    Jessy M.

    We had a great time and trip. Bailey was our guide and they were fantastic. Super fun and safe trip, second year we have done it and had a blast! We will be back next year.

    Mike H.

    What a fun day! We were a little disheartened at first because the weather didn't start out great. We chose August for the heat, but the day started off cool and rainy. The skies cleared throughout the day, but it still remained cool. No matter though, our guide, Shion, gave us a great time! This was the second time rafting with River Drifters for my wife and I. Now we have kids and wanted to bring them. They rode the bull almost the entire trip and left tired from all the fun and excitement they had. Shion was a great, friendly, entertaining and informative guide who knows the river very well. In fact, all of the staff was helpful, patient and friendly throughout all our interactions. They even extended the distance of our trip since usually it takes longer for people swimming and jumping off the rafts throughout the trip. It was cold enough nobody wanted to, so we finished the usual trip early enough and they wanted us to get our full time in, so they extended the route. We definitely recommend River Drifters, and thank you to Shion for a great time!

    Alexa D.

    This was my first rafting trip. I had just moved to Oregon when my boyfriend invited me to go on this rafting trip with his co-workers. Of course I said yes--how fun! Our guide was awesome and we had a blast. Ramy is not a very confident swimmer so the guide had him sit in the safest spot (and this worked out really well). Although this was really fun and I felt safe while rafting with River Drifters, I think I've checked the box on river rafting. I really liked how our guide, Ryan, had us practice the paddle-and-duck moves before floating into the "Hell Hole" or whatever the worst drop was called. I definitely recommend this company if anyone is looking for a day-trip of splashing and laughing near Portland. Also, we got Mac-n-cheese & nachos at one of the two restaurants near the rafting office before heading home. Either we were famished or those were delicious.

    Watching another group head down the river
    Erin R.

    We had a great time on the Deschutes River with the River Drifters team. We had 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 8 and 5) in a boat with the guide. Guide was great, very knowledgeable about the River, it's surroundings, geology, sights on the River, and animals that you see. The organization was well run and I'd happily go again with them.

    Stephanie O.

    We had an amazing rafting trip with our guide TY. He talked to us about everything from plants to the history of the area. He really gave the kids an experience with "riding the bull" and floating the waves. Two day later and they are still talking about it. Coming from Vegas it was such a great experience. Everything was timely, clean, and professional. We would recommend this outfitters for a good time.

    If you have glasses, please bring your chum or buy chum from the river drifter.
    Geraldine D.

    It is my first time to ride the water rafting. It was awesome! I learned the basic water rafting. I really enjoyed riding it for my first time! The man explained to me how to row. The men are great and helpful! They have a lot of experience with the water rafting. Don't bring the GoPro or iPhone to take the picture while water rafting. How do you take the pictures of you? Don't worry! Some workers will take the pictures in the distance and they have a professional camera. When you come back to the river drifters, buy $$ to get the pictures on the tablets. Bring the chums eyewear.

    Erica W.

    Wow! The half day rafting on Maupin totally exceeded our expectations. My sister and I took our six kids (ages 7-12) expecting some push back. The kids all rocked it and we all had so much fun with zero whining. We attribute so much of that to our guide Johnny Carver. He could really read our group and had so many cool games and tricks to make the entire day action packed. He was filled with interesting knowledge and a captivating calm presence. We highly recommended River Drifters and Johnny! Thanks for a family fun day in the great outdoors.

    Deschutes River Rafting.
    DSongN D.

    Wilson and Violet were awesome. Fun professional and super knowledgeable. Felt 100% safe and still a wild ride. We went late in the season and got a special treat. 4 or 5 miles past the usual commercial route and it was spectacular. I would highly recommend this company. Nice offices and facility and rafts.

    Danielle D.

    We had a really fun family experience rafting with Riverdrifters. They were organized, friendly and knew the river well. Our guide Haven was fabulous, very personable, knowledgeable and fun. Thank you! Danielle and the Maui crew.

    2 week adventure trip & this was the #1 favorite experience with 4 teenage girls 13-16 & 2 mom's.
    Erika V.

    Loved our rafting trip on the Deschutes with Cody as our guide. Took a 2 week adventure trip & this was the #1 favorite experience with 4 teenage girls 13-16 & 2 mom's.Girls loved it & said Cody was fun & knowledgeable about the area, history & River (I didn't even think they were paying attention)

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    5 months ago

    Great experience! We'd love to come back next summer. Went with 2 adults and 4 kids,

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - River Drifters

    Review Highlights - River Drifters

    For example, jumping off rocks, going to a natural water slide, and riding through the rapids without a raft!

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    Imperial River Company

    Imperial River Company

    4.0(109 reviews)
    0.7 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 - Paddle high five!

    High Desert River Outfitters

    4.7(94 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    We had a big group and they were very accommodating. Super fun crew (Justin and Zach) that gave us…read moregreat thrills and we're still considerate of our kids. Thanks HDRO for the best vacation day yet!!

    Organized down to a science. Safety conscious. AND fun conscious. AND inexpensive -- $60 for a…read morefull-day of wild wetness, including a bbq lunch halfway thru...and a ten-minute HIKE to a NATURAL WATERSLIDE. Add a $4 use fee. Still a bargain for some awesome FUN in nature. You assemble at 10 a.m. to sign waivers and confess your age on the form...get outfitted with the appropriately-sized life jacket. And buy some last-minute things in the office, such as chapstick with sun screen and a water-tight container for smokes. Also pet Lucy the wonder dog. Bring nothing except a great attitude, because they will take pictures for you (having guys stationed along the route with a ready and well-practiced camera). They have SHUTTLE transportation and it's a SHORT RIDE to the put in. We had a badass female river guide...DEB....she was the lead that day, and gave us some great advice on how to row (use your core, not your arms)...easy-to-understand rowing instructions...and she emphasized the fun AND the safety. No one swamped or got pulled into the water, unless they wanted to swim...she also memorized our names and talked a little with everyone on the trip. Also her voice carried nicely over the rushing water and the screaming of the clients...Way to go! Awesome job, Deb! This is a CLASS III river...with plenty of time to recover and just float...water was a little low...so rocks were exposed here and there...and while there weren't the big big holes or crazy nuts insane hydraulics, it was still super fun and we did get super wet. Plus there are LAVA TUBE formations below, so it created interesting spinning motions for the rafting experience....plus there's a rapid where we could STAND UP while paddling (my favorite thing to do!!! Whoooo hooooo). Our guide DEB told us about the geology, the flora and fauna along the river...and she told us the names of each set....Wapinitia...Boxcar...AND she also pointed out the nesting OSPREY and pointed out the deer resting underneath an oak tree...we saw SWALLOWS, the swallows nesting under the bridge...the DUCKS zipping fast out of our way...I LOVE WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS! Deb was also encouraging to our not-so-coordinated and the young'uns...again much appreciated, Deb. One cool feature....you can bullride the nose of the raft and get completely drenched. Everyone on the left side gets wetter...HINT: Just check which side the river guide sits, that will tell you which side is the dry side. I really wanted to ride the nose but I was a tag-a-long on this family vacation, but next time. SHOUTOUT: Friendly upbeat river guides. Also nice picnick lunch...a guy named Rabbit grilled the hamburgers....the buns all stacked in a pyramid....all the fixings and condiments...nicely and evenly cut tomato slices...watermelon, beautifully sliced thin (someone has pretty good culinary knife skills!!).... freshly-baked store-bought type sugar cookies with m & m in them....being a vegetarian/vegan, it was easy to make a tomato onion pickle sandwich from what was on the table. Had they had prior warning, I wonder if they would have had a garden burger for me...it was a thoughtful picnic setup nonetheless. OVERALL: Great outfitter. Reasonable cost to purchase pics, shown to you on an IPAD, then given to you on a flashdrive. Bigtime FUN on the river...on a breezy warm, but not too warm, perfect Thursday.

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    High Desert River Outfitters
    High Desert River Outfitters
    High Desert River Outfitters - Changing Rooms

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    Changing Rooms

    River Drifters - rafting - Updated May 2026

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