The combination of our camp, one of the most exciting class-IV+ rivers in the West, and a wild, high desert canyon makes for an active, comfortable, and quick wilderness escape – away from wifi, cell phone chatter, and hectic daily schedules. There are truly few trips like it.
We have two trip options – a 2-day (everything packed in:)) and a more relaxed 3-day version. We added the 3-day as a standard itinerary after most of our groups chose a 3-day option and loved the camp time and pace.
- The 2 day Itinerary follows –
- For the 3-Day Itinerary Click here >>
2-Day Multi-Sport Itinerary
Day 1:
Getting there, big whitewater, and camp…
We pick guests up at their hotel in Ashland between 8 and 9 in the morning and head up the edge of where the Cascades meet the Siskiyou’s to the “put-in” at the Spring Island boat launch. We will have a continental breakfast while the guides are getting the boats ready and do a short safety and orientation talk. After that we hop into the boats and begin the trip downriver.
The Upper Klamath begins with a fun class-III warm-up stretch which makes it a recommended rafting trip for first-timers or experts in good health. After about 3 miles of warm up the canyon constricts, the river drops out of sight, and we enter the famous “Hells Corner” section of the canyon – beginning with a 150 yard rapid known as ‘Caldera’. There are very few stretches of summer whitewater like it. Somewhere in the canyon we will pull over for a big lunch.
In the afternoon we will pull into our comfortable riverside Upper Klamath Bush Camp. The afternoon and evening can be spent hiking, fly-fishing, playing games in the sun, or just hanging out. We will serve appetizers, a big dinner, and dessert.
Day 2:
Mountain biking or Hiking, Big Whitewater, & Inflatable Kayaking…
Day 1 was a big day, but for those interested day 2 can be even bigger. If you choose you can mountain bike or run, raft, and inflatable kayak. After a hearty breakfast and plenty of time for a second cup of coffee we will leave base camp and guests will have a number of options. We have a short journey along a narrow old dirt stage coach road that winds through remote pine forests, meadows and the old west ruins of a time in the not-so-distant past. You have a choice of a 6 mile mountain bike ride (or run) or a short (but bumpy) drive. The track is rolling, but does not include any significant climbs.
The track will drop us off by the rafts and at the top of Caldera Rapid – the first major rapid of the run. We will run the big continues class IV+ section again and stop for lunch. After passing camp and exiting the canyon guests will have the choice of staying in a raft or jumping in an inflatable kayak and running whitewater under their own guidance. The last section is class II+ (class III+ in the kayaks) and quickly flows through a more open canyon. For many this can be the most exciting and memorable section of the trip.
We finish the trip on the California side of the Siskiyou’s and return to Ashland around 6 in the afternoon.
PLEASE NOTE: guests may need to be physically able to walk up a steep 150 yard trail to exit camp.
Upper Klamath 3-Day Itinerary
Many people visiting our camp have had one complaint – ‘I wish we could stay longer’. So now you can! This itinerary allows for more time to see everything, more time at camp, and more time to really unplug and relax.
Day 1:
Getting there, big whitewater, and camp…
We pick guests up at their hotel in Ashland between 8 and 9 in the morning and head up the edge of where the Cascades meet the Siskiyou’s to the “put-in” at the Spring Island boat launch. We will have a continental breakfast while the guides are getting the boats ready and do a short safety and orientation talk. After that we hop into the boats and begin the trip downriver.
The Upper Klamath begins with a fun class-III warm-up stretch which makes it a recommended rafting trip for first-timers or experts in good health. After about 3 miles of warm up the canyon constricts, the river drops out of sight, and we enter the famous “Hells Corner” section of the canyon – beginning with a 150 yard rapid known as ‘Caldera’. There are very few stretches of summer whitewater like it. Somewhere in the canyon we will pull over for a big lunch.
In the afternoon we will pull into our comfortable Upper Klamath Bush Camp. The afternoon and evening can be spent hiking, fly-fishing, playing games in the sun, or just hanging out. We will serve appetizers, a big dinner, and dessert.
Day 2:
Mountain biking or Hiking, Big Whitewater, and camp…
Day 1 was a big day, but for those interested day 2 can be even bigger. After a hearty breakfast and plenty of time for a second cup of coffee we will leave base camp and guests will have a number of options. We have a short journey along a narrow old dirt stage coach road that winds through remote pine forests, meadows and the old west ruins of a time in the not-so-distant past. You have a choice of a 6 mile mountain bike ride (or run) or a short (but bumpy) drive. The track is rolling, but does not include any significant climbs.
The track will drop us off by the rafts and at the top of Caldera Rapid – the first major rapid of the run. We will run the big continues class IV+ section again (the section the Upper Klamath is famous for) and, once again, stop for lunch along the river.
In the afternoon we will pull back into camp and you will once again have all the options and amenities of our camp followed by another comfortable night in the beautiful high desert canyon.
Day 3:
Sleeping in, hiking (or running), Inflatable Kayaking, and home…
Your second morning in the Upper Klamath canyon can be as mellow or active as you like! We will put out an early (and substantial) continental breakfast that can be enjoyed anytime you decide to rise. For those wanting a rare mellow morning this one might be your favorite! For those still looking for action it could be the perfect morning for fly fishing or joining a guide for a morning hike to the rim.
Around 11 or 12 we will say a final goodbye to camp, float through a few more larger rapids, and then arrive for a late lunch and a posse of inflatable kayaks. From this point on you will have the choice of staying in a raft or jumping in an inflatable kayak and running whitewater under your own guidance. The last section is class II+ (class III+ in the kayaks) and quickly flows through a more open canyon. For many this can be the most exciting and memorable section of the trip.
We finish the trip on the California side of the Siskiyou’s and return to Ashland around 4:30 in the afternoon.
PLEASE NOTE: guests may need to be physically able to walk up a steep 150 yard trail to exit camp.