Owyhee

We were on this section May 14-16, 2024 at a level of around 1,100 cfs. We thought this was an excellent flow, and a remarkable section of river. There is not much whitewater, but the whitewater that is there is quality. Planning out where to grab clear water is important if you don't want to filter directly from the river itself.

Trip Report:

http://mthoodh2o.blogspot.com/2025/05/upper-owyhee.html

With low flows we elected not to boat the Owyhee but instead set up a base camp at Three Forks and explored the area with colleagues from Friends of the Owyhee, American Whitewater, Oregon Naturual Desert Association, and Conservation Lands Foundation. We did a couple trips up to the hotspring both hiking up and attaining up and floating back down.

Due to the oil company refusing public access to the Garat Road in 2017, we launched at Duck Valley, adding 20+ miles and significant whitewater to the run. There is a BLM self-registration kiosk on river left at Garat.

Alternate put-in: Garat Crossing, on the EF above the Deep Creek confluence.

Road drops 1,000 vertical feet in one mile.