Start making plans to run the Owyhee and Bruneau Rivers - snowpack looks good!

Cave Draw is only accessible from the river

Hi all,

We had a big crowd for my River Talk on Tuesday night, sponsored by Idaho Rivers United, at Idaho River Sports, where I shared some of my experiences in running the Jarbidge-Bruneau River and several forks of the Owyhee River.

Here's my slide show if you want to take a peek: https://www.slideshare.net/SteveStuebner1/running-rivers-in-the-owyhee-canyonlands

Wendy's favorite is the East Fork of the Owyhee River 

Back in the day, intel about these rivers was considered kind of a closely-guarded secret among those in the know, but that's changed quite a bit some 30+ years after I started running them in the 1980s. Early-day  "river rats" were really the first to explore the Owyhee and Jarbidge-Bruneau rivers back in the day in the 1970s with primitive river gear and craft. Nowadays most people know about the opportunity, but it's not easy to access the rivers in many instances (rough roads, muddy roads, need a big 4WD truck, etc.), and you might not have your own boat.

This spring will be a good one to float the Owyhee or the Bruneau Rivers because we are looking at more than 100 percent of normal snowpack. It's just a question of when things begin to melt.

If you've never done one of our desert rivers, it's a good time to book with an Idaho outfitter. Four companies lead trips on those rivers every year, including:

• Far and Away Adventures in Sun Valley.
• ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene. 
• Wilderness River Adventures in Salmon. 
• Jon Barker - Barker River Expeditions. Barker also leads canyoneering trips in the Owyhees.

All of those outfitters are rock-solid. Check with the individual outfitters on pricing, style of trip, etc. 

Dad and Drew on the Lower Owyhee

Here are some highlights from my presentation:

1. The Owyhee and Bruneau River systems are spring rivers. There are no upstream storage reservoirs. You have to watch the snowpack and the river flows to get a sense of when you need to plan a trip out there. In general, Owyhee River season is March-May, and Bruneau is May-June. The biggest limiting factor is weather and road access.

2.  The Lower Owyhee River is the easiest fork of the Owyhee River system to access and the easiest river to negotiate in terms of the rapids. But you still need a solid 4WD rig to get out of the canyon at Birch Creek.

• Logistics ... 48 miles from BLM Rome put-in west of Jordan Valley, OR, to BLM Birch Creek takeout. Put in is about 2+ hours from Boise. 
• Allow 3-5 days for the trip. A longer trip provides more flexibility for layover days and side hikes.  
• Dress in cold-weather gear on your trip. There can be extreme headwinds in the spring, bone-chilling NW winds, blizzards or driving rain. I've had all of those things in one trip. 
• Lower Owyhee has Class 2-3+ rapids ... experienced Stand Up Paddle (SUPs) boarders do well on that trip. Also good for rafts, IKs, skilled whitewater canoeists.

East Fork Owyhee near "The Tules"

3. East Fork Owyhee River is one of the most challenging rivers to do because of challenging access at the start and the end, but one of the most scenic and secluded.

• Logistics ... 43 miles from Garat BLM put-in west of Duck Valley Indian Reservation to Crutcher's Crossing BLM takeout. Put in is about 4+ hours from Boise. 
• Allow 5-6 days for the trip. A longer trip provides more flexibility for layover days and side hikes.  
• Dress in cold-weather gear on your trip. There can be extreme headwinds in the spring, bone-chilling NW winds, blizzards or driving rain. I've had all of those things in one trip. 
• High-clearance 4WD required.
• Portage at Owyhee Falls required. Many Class 2-3 rapids. Portage at Eye of the Needle may be required, too.
• Go with someone who's been there before. 
• Watch for snakes after things warm up.

Whitewater canoes double as camp table on the East Fork.

4. Three Forks to Rome section of Owyhee River is also super challenging and remote, but it's a favorite of hard-core whitewater rafters because of the potential to run or portage Widowmaker. Other challenging Class 4+ rapids include Ledge, located less than a mile from the put-in, and Halfmile, about half way through the trip.

• Only experienced and skilled boaters should go on this section. 
• 37 miles ... allow 3-4 days for the trip 
• Put-in at Three Forks (unimproved dirt road); takeout at Rome.
• High-clearance 4WD required.
• Be sure to scout Widowmaker to plan portage or run the rapids.  

Steve feeling the #Private Idaho experience in the Bruneau Canyon.

5. Bruneau River is one of my all-time favorites. It's a super scenic canyon.

• Logistics ... 41 miles from Hot Springs put-in south of Bruneau and the Bruneau Canyon. Put in is about 4.5+ hours from Boise. 
• Allow 3-5 days for the trip. A longer trip provides more flexibility for layover days and side hikes.  
• Dress in cold-weather gear on your trip. There can be extreme headwinds in the spring, bone-chilling NW winds, blizzards or driving rain. I've had all of those things in one trip. 
• High-clearance 4WD required to reach the put-in at Hot Springs. Very, very rough road.

Steve on his first Bruneau River trip in a Maravia Espirit new self-bailing raft. Circa May 1987.

6. Jarbidge River is very challenging for skilled kayakers. Lots of Class 3-4-5 rapids. Multiple portages. Go with someone who's been there before. Need a strong crew. Be safe!

You will need to shuttle your rigs from the put-in to the takeout with a shuttle service or do it yourself. The BLM and other sources have a list of shuttle services for the desert rivers. Make sure you have your invasive species permit!

There you have it! Have fun!
- SS          

Time to plan a river trip in the Owyhees

Bruneau River canyon

Lower Owyhee. Great campsites!

East Fork of the Owyhee River

Hi all,

April is upon us, and that means it's time to run desert rivers in SW Idaho and eastern Oregon.

I'm talking about the Owyhee River and the Bruneau River -- world-class river canyons that are only several hours from Boise. These are natural freeflowing rivers, so you need to time your trip with the best water flows, which can be anytime from now until late May or early June. It's also nice to time your trip with nice weather.

Here's some video of running the lower Owyhee.

Every year can be tricky because snowpack levels change rapidly during the tumultuous spring weather and runoff. Right now, however, with the resurgence of winter weather in the last few weeks, the Owyhee and Bruneau basins are in the 90 percent range.

No permits are required for either river (except for self-issue BLM permits), so you can just plan your dates and go. Watch the river-flow reports to check on the best flows. In general, the Owyhee is best for rafting and kayaking above 1,500 cfs at Rome, Ore. The Bruneau is best above 1,200 cfs at Bruneau Hot Springs.

For those of you who don't have your own rafting or kayaking equipment, consider going with one of many outfitters who run the Owyhee River. I'd also check on the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association web site for suggestions.

The outfitters who run the Owyhee that I'm familiar with include:

• River Odysseys West (ROW)
• Idaho Adventures
• Wapiti River Guides
• Far & Away Adventures
• Payette River Co.
• Wilderness River Outfitters

Every outfitter has their particular style of trip. Ask questions about what's important to you -- food, drink, side-hiking, interpretation, putting up your own tent or having them do it for you -- all of these things may be different with each outfitter.

If you're going on your own, pick up a good river map from the BLM office in Boise so you know how to get to the boat-launch site, what kinds of rapids to expect in various river reaches, where to find campsites, etc. River shuttle services can be found here.

The main thing is to get out and experience these stunningly beautiful river canyons right in our backyard. All you have to do is seize the day and do it before the water goes away ....

- SS