Five Reasons You Need to try an Overnight River Trip

Five Reasons You Need an Overnight River Trip This Summer  

Consider a multi-day river trip if you’ve ever dreamed of getting away from it all but don’t like roughing it. It’s got everything you want and more in an outdoor getaway.  

By PJ DelHomme

We weren’t exactly roughing it. We had giant air foam sleeping pads, coolers full of beer and food, bocci ball and board games, sun shades, tables, and a Coleman two-burner stove. We even packed in 15 gallons of water and firewood.  

We were four middle-aged dads with careers and kids, but we managed to cash in some marital capital to spend four days on the Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River in northeast Oregon. The trip was the brainchild of the youngest of the bunch, and he knew the only way to get us to sleep on the ground was by using boats, not our backs, to haul gear and certain luxuries deep in the backcountry.  

We had two rafts, and I had no idea how to row. Luckily, the Grande Ronde is gentle with Class II+ rapids, which means you might hit a rock or two, but you’re probably not going to die. The trip was an eye-opener for me. Afterward, I realized you can escape roads and cell service without sacrificing creature comforts. Here’s why I’m already planning the next trip down the river.  

1. The Comfort Factor  

A raft can carry an obscene amount of gear. We piled camp chairs, tables, tents, and dry bags full of clothes into the back of each boat and still had plenty of room. The person on the oars sat on an enormous cooler stocked with whatever we wanted to bring. Most of us pre-cooked group meals, like beef and bean chili, froze it, and it slowly thawed as the days passed. 

At night, we each had our own two-person tent. At 47, I don’t exactly relish sleeping on the ground, which is why some wonderful soul invented the Paco Pad. This sleeping pad is a luxurious, albeit expensive, way to sleep on the ground. There was plenty of room for a cot and a pad in some tents. Other luxuries included a sunshade/popup awning, folding camp chairs, and a packable toilet bucket because we had to pack out our, well, you know, to leave no trace on this popular river.

2. Eat and Drink Like Royalty  

When I strap on a backpack and head to the woods, I typically lose around five pounds, depending on how long I stay out there. This trip was different; I gained weight. Each raft had a cooler with frozen water jugs, which kept everything cold for four days. We reserved one cooler for beer and the other for food. One of us premade dozens of breakfast burritos that we heated in a cast iron pan over a Coleman two-burner stove. We made coffee in a percolator. One of the best perks was having two folding tables to prepare meals. They doubled as card tables after dinner. There was no-bake cheesecake and more snacks than we could eat.  

3. The River Does the Work  

We traveled about 65 river miles, floating through old burns and basalt canyons created by ancient volcanoes—and we barely broke a sweat. Granted, the temperature was typically in the 50s, but all we needed to do was steer. The river did the rest. On our trip, the Grande Ronde was flowing around 4,000 cubic feet per second. We learned this meant we cruised at 4-5 miles/hour. This means we were only on the river an average of four hours each day. The rest of that time was spent lounging in camp, eating, packing, unpacking, and playing bocci ball. My shoulders were slightly sore from rowing, and that was a small price to pay. Overall, though, few calories were burned.  

Because the river only flows one way, we arranged for a shuttle to drop off the trailer at the exit point. This is common on more popular rivers. Our shuttle set us back $220, but it’s worth it. Just don’t wait until the last minute to arrange a shuttle, as they do fill up.  

4. Fishing and Wildlife  

When a river like the Grande Ronde is designated a Wild and Scenic River, you know you’re about to enter the middle of nowhere, U.S.A. The river is designated this because of its free-flowing conditions (no dams) and outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. Our river, in particular, featured an upper portion with steep basalt canyons and ascending ridges within dense evergreen forest, with portions only accessible by boat. The canyon began to widen in the middle section. We saw powerlines and remote cattle ranches once we floated into Washington near the lower portion. 

From what I read, the fishing is typically superb, but the river was too high and fast for our trip. The fishing would have been great if the river had been lower, but low flows mean you are dragging boats over the shallows. It was a trade-off. The wildlife was impressive. Bald eagles soared over us on thermals, bighorn sheep ewes and lambs watched us from rock ledges, a mountain goat in shaggy spring fur got a drink, and elk dotted the lush, grassy hillsides. We never knew what was going to be around the next bend.  

5. Family Friendly  

Even though I had left my wife and two kids behind, they were still much on my mind—at least initially. As the days passed and the beers mysteriously disappeared, I let my guard down and felt like my 20-year-old, freewheeling self. Even so, I couldn’t shake the thought that this would be a great outdoor experience for the family. My kids aren’t quite old enough to haul all of their gear on a backpacking trip, which means I’m the pack mule. No thanks. I knew my wife would appreciate my newfound luxuries like the Paco Pad and solar shower. There’s no reason to suffer on a river trip. 

A multi-day river trip on a mellow stretch of water can be great for families. As a parent, I will add that my kids have been on a swim team for years and are confident in and around most water, which helps ease my mind. Taking a paddling or swiftwater rescue course never hurts if you’re the do-it-yourself type. If you’re unsure of a trip like this or want to max out the vacation points, just book a guided river trip. Let your guides set up camp and cook while you and the family explore ridges and side canyons. It costs more, but if you’ve never done something like this, it’s worth spending the money to see if you like it.  

When we arrived at the takeout three days and 60-plus miles later, we found the shuttle service had delivered the car and trailer on schedule. The restaurant at Boggan’s Oasis had burgers and ice-cold Cokes. We celebrated one last time before parting ways. The emails have already started flowing as we decide where we’re heading next year.  

 PJ DelHomme writes and edits content from western Montana. He runs Crazy Canyon Media and Crazy Canyon Journal.