Rivers We Float | Grande Ronde River

Grande Ronde | Rafting | Steelhead Fly Fishing

This trip was more fun than being allowed to play video games all day long. The food was better than a pizza party with soda.

Sky Taylor Grand Junction, CO

The Grande Ronde is a scenic river with class II rapids ideal for families. Fed by the melting snows of the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountain Ranges, the Grande Ronde River curves 185 miles through northeastern Oregon, then into Washington where it eventually flows into the Snake River. The landscape of the Grande Ronde consists of steep volcanic canyons composed of horizontal basalt ledges, which alternate with grassy and forested slopes of predominantly ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. The majority of the 39 mile stretch of river that we most often float has been protected under the Wild and Scenic River Act. The Grande Ronde river corridor is home to wildlife such as bald eagle, deer, elk, black bear, and bighorn sheep.

The Grande Ronde is a healthy fishery with abundant rainbow trout, steelhead, and smallmouth bass. There are many opportunities to wet a line if you so choose. All of our guests wishing to fish will be required to have the appropriate licenses. If you would like to have a guided fishing experience, let us know and we can arrange a trip specifically for you.

Steelhead fishing on the Grande Ronde River is unique for many reasons. The first being the dry fly action that can be experienced in October. If you have never caught a Steelhead on a dry fly you need to come and experience this. The Second reason is the lack of crowds. In late October and early November the water gets so low that it can be a challenge to navigate a loaded gear boat throught the shallow waters of the 38 miles of roadless river. This keeps the crowds away. Our guides have figured out how to get their heavy boats down there enabling us to access these amazing Grande Ronde River Steelhead runs and have them to ourselves. Join us!