To paddle the Owyhee is to boat through desert canyons with walls towering more than a thousand feet overhead. We feast on delicious food, sleep under the stars, and spend plenty of time exploring. The side hikes are world-class and for many, an unexpected highlight of the trip. We visit places like Pruitt’s Castle, Chalk Basin, Jackson Creek, and Devils Tower. This is desert canyon country where there are no maintained trails. Making our way through sand, sagebrush and rock, these hikes, a mix of mellow to rugged, provide panoramic views of this unique landscape.
The Owyhee is a natural flowing river. The volume depends on the interplay between the spring rains and how the higher elevation snowpack melts off. Runnable flows can be anywhere between 800 to 8000 cfs! There are numerous pool-drop Class II and III rapids. At flows around 3000 cfs, they tend to be bouncy wave trains. As flows drop below 1000 cfs, lines become more technical as rocks become exposed.
The Owyhee is home to a wide array of wildlife and birds and is an important breeding habitat for Woodhouse and Western Toads during the spring. The area is rich in cultural history with Native American petroglyphs up to 9,000 years old and abandoned ranches from a far more recent time.
This is a wilderness journey enjoyed by few, a magical place that is perfect for anyone wanting that once-in-a-lifetime trip to a place less traveled. The relaxed 6-day pace allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience, with time for hiking and relaxing in this hidden gem!
