Whitewater Rafting Tours on the McKenzie River Oregon

The McKenzie River has its origin in the high Cascade Mountains of western Oregon. Its crystal clear waters tumble down past tall fir and hemlock trees, which are home to the many osprey that inhabit the area. This beautiful river works its way down the mountains to its confluence with the Willamette River near the city of Eugene.

Caster's Guide Service runs whitewater rafting tours with 4-8 paddlers per boat. Your paddle team, under the control of an experienced, licensed guide, will navigate the many thrilling rapids the McKenzie has to offer.

The Upper McKenzie Float

The upper section of the McKenzie River is characterized by nearly continuous, cascading-type of rapids, boulder-strewn pockets of pristine water, and old growth trees with an occasional osprey nest at the top. This is an extremely scenic and unique stretch of the McKenzie that will make for a memorable day on the river.

The Middle McKenzie Float

The middle section of the McKenzie becomes more of a pool and drop type of river, in which, exhilarating rapids are separated by relaxing slower stretches of water. Osprey nests and a variety of water fowl are prevalent on this part of the river. The rapids are characterized by fun waves with an occasional class III bounce like Brown's Hole and the grand finale of the float, class III Martin's Rapids, just before the take out.

Both the upper and middle sections of the McKenzie are excellent raft trips for all ability levels. The rapids are fun and exciting yet not overwhelming, and the mountain scenery is magnificent.

Meal Options:

All of our day trips stop for a riverside lunch, which includes delicious deli style sandwiches with all the trimmings (soft drinks are provided). You may also choose to stop and enjoy a wonderful lunch at one of the unique riverside inns that are situated along the way. For large groups we can arrange for cookouts and custom designed meals to meet your needs.

Trip Schedule:

On a typical day trip we generally meet guests at the take-out location at 10:00 a.m., carpool to the put-in, and climb aboard and head down river. After a stop for lunch we continue down river and arrive at the take-out between 4:00 and 4:30. A reliable shuttle service is available for vehicles. This is our standard day trip schedule, however, we are happy to adapt the scheduling to meet your requirements.

Large Groups:

These raft trips are great activities for large groups, such as, family reunions, team building, or large corporate events. They can be an excellent addition to a conference, or tour group, and are an exciting alternative to the typical company picnic.

Large Group Multi-day Camp and Lodge Trips

Lodging is available at the many inns, B&Bs, and cabins situated along the river. See our links page in order to check out the various lodging opportunities. We can also arrange for cookouts at some of these lodges.

Caster's Guide Service has access to a private camp just off the river that can host up to 32 people. Beautifully situated this camp gives you the real backcountry camp feel without all the hassle of packing the gear. All you need to bring are your clothes, personal items, and a sleeping bag, and we do the rest. There are several open cabins with built-in bunks, a covered campfire area, and a camp kitchen. There is no electricity but we do have running water and even hot showers. We take care of all the meals, which are prepared over wood fires while you relax and enjoy some of our delicious dutch oven camp cooking. Due to the many recreational opportunities in the area we can also design a multi-activity trip that can combine fishing, hiking, hot springs, or golf, along with your rafting.

Booking early is recommended for both the riverside lodges and the camp, as they tend to fill quickly. For these multi-day camp and lodge trips please contact us for a quote.

Book a river adventure!

The scenic beauty, exciting whitewater, excellent food and fun on the water all add up to the McKenzie River Experience. Call us today to book a fantastic day to remember!

Reservations & Pricing

fish@castersguideservice.com