The Owyhee River, protected as a Wild and Scenic River, is renowned among river runners as one of the region’s most spectacular multi-day spring trips. Three distinct sections of the mainstem can be paddled as separate adventures or combined into one extended journey. In addition, the river’s side canyons and tributaries offer opportunities for multi-sport exploration with a packraft.
While the river corridor itself enjoys protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, much of the surrounding backcountry—managed by the Bureau of Land Management—remains unprotected. Spanning over 2.5 million acres, the Owyhee Canyonlands represent the largest remaining landscape-scale conservation opportunity in the continental United States. This incredibly remote terrain is crossed by only two paved highways, which serve as gateways to vast and wild backcountry adventures. American Whitewater supports the designation of this surrounding landscape as wilderness.
To advance this conservation goal, American Whitewater is an active member of the Owyhee Canyonlands Campaign, a coalition of citizens working to preserve the Owyhee River and its iconic desert landscapes. We envision a future where native plant and animal communities thrive, open spaces and recreational opportunities endure, and traditional livelihoods and local communities continue to flourish. The stories, culture, and values of this region are rooted in its rolling sagebrush hills and dramatic river canyons—and we are committed to ensuring that future generations inherit the same beauty and solitude that define the Owyhee Canyonlands today.
American Whitewater has supported multiple approaches to protect this extraordinary landscape in partnership with other organizations. We deeply appreciate the leadership of Senator Wyden in bringing together conservation groups, ranchers, and community leaders to craft the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, which passed the full Senate in 2024. While we believe legislation provides the most durable path to safeguarding the Owyhee Canyonlands, American Whitewater also supports efforts to designate an Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument through Presidential Proclamation, recognizing the challenges of moving legislation through Congress.