Whitewater Rafting in Maupin, Oregon: An Insider’s Guide
Situated on the banks of the Lower Deschutes River, surrounded by swaying wheat fields and family owned ranches, is the picturesque town of Mapuin, Oregon. Maupin, with its proud population of 437, is the hub of southern Wasco County. When the local economy shifted away from logging in the ‘80s, Maupin reinvented itself as an ideal destination for outdoor activities, such as fly fishing, bicycling, and our favorite- whitewater rafting!
Laughing and Splashing on the Mighty Lower Deschutes River
Whitewater Rafting in Maupin, Oregon
All the elements for great rafting come together in Maupin, with easy access to the super fun Lower Deschutes River! You’ll find family-friendly whitewater, consistently warm, sunny summer days and a rafting season that runs from April thru October. With 100 miles of the Lower Deschutes to explore, there are lots of options for getting on the water! Here are a list of Maupin, Oregon rafting trips we offer.
One-Day Maupin Rafting Trips
The popular day-section of the Lower Deschutes river goes right through the town of Maupin, with paved access roads along the river making the drive to the river put-ins and camping easy. The 3-hour half-day trips hit all the highlights with the big named rapids of Wapinitia, Boxcar and Oak Springs, and other fun features of the Deschutes River. The full-day trips are about 6.5 hours, with stops for a riverside grilled lunch, dips in the water and other fun adventures.
Multi-Day and Overnight Maupin Rafting Trips
One of the biggest draws to the Maupin section of the Deschutes River is the multi-day rafting/camping trips. Much of the river on the overnight sections have limited or no road access, so rafting is the only way to access the float-in campsites that dot the river banks.
Guided overnight rafting trips meet at our office in Maupin where we will help you get your gear packed in our large dry bags. As we load into the transport van, we will go over the information about the trip. Once we are out at the location, we will get the rafts packed, and get on our way! Overnight trips can be 2, 3, or 5 days long.
Rentals for Your Maupin Rafting Trip
Renting rafts and inflatable kayaks is another great option on the Deschutes River. With some know-how, you can rent boats and gear for the day or multiple days. You can haul it yourself with pick up in Maupin, or we offer delivery and pick up options! We also have van or bus shuttles available.
The rental equipment includes your Personal Flotation Device (PFD), helmets, paddles, a dry bag, and a cooler. Multi-day rentals include the above equipment, plus rowing frames, oars, pump, repair kit, straps, and porta-potty. We are happy to deliver the rafts and equipment, and can help with car shuttle service. Our informative office staff is here to help you plan your trip and work through all the logistics.
What Should I Wear on a Deschutes Rafting Trip?
One of our most commonly asked questions about rafting on the Deschutes is, “what should I wear?” Wearing the right clothing makes a rafting trip more enjoyable, but you don’t need to go out and buy a whole new set of clothes (unless you’re looking for an excuse!).
On hot days, wear t-shirts, bathing suits or other comfortable, lightweight man-made clothing. It’s best to avoid heavy cotton clothing as it tends to absorb and hold water.
On cooler days we recommend layering your clothes. Start with an insulating base layer and add a fleece or other synthetic material outer layer. We provide splash jackets and wet suits if the weather is cool.
Water shoes or old tennis shoes that you can strap or tie on are best. Flip-flops are crummy rafting shoes because they can easily slide off and float away. For safety reasons, you definitely need something on your feet.
We also recommend bringing a hat and a pair of sunglasses. If you have prescription glasses, or just really like your sunglasses, we encourage you to get a restrainer strap. Just in case you forget any of these items we do sell water shoes, waterproof phone dry bags, sunscreen, and sunglass straps at our office.
What Should I Bring on the Raft?
We are often asked what people should bring on the raft with them, and the answer is, “not much!” Water bottles and sunscreen is about all that you will need. However, if there are any personal items that you need to bring with you, your guide will have a small dry bag that they are happy to store things in. If you have any medications that need special care, we have a hard-sided, waterproof first-aid kit available.
Are There Places to Stay in Maupin? Can I Find Something to Eat?
Yes and yes! There are many places to stay or camp in or around Maupin. You can check them out on our accommodations page for more information. Maupin has a number of restaurants in town where you can find a good burger and a beer, and the Maupin Market has an expansive selection of prepared foods at their deli and made-to order sandwiches.
