The Grande Ronde River Golden Stonefly Hatch is a remarkable, one-time-a-year occurrence. Beautiful Golden Stoneflies become thick in the air and fish cannot get enough of these succulent morsels. Come join the fun during this hatch on our 4 day, fully-guided, and all-inclusive expedition on the beautiful waters of the Grande Ronde wild and scenic section. We’ll take care of every logistic for you, from putting you in the best spots to catch Rainbow Trout to setting up your tent and preparing gourmet meals. When you finish the day, you’ll be greeted with delicious appetizers and drinks. Life doesn’t get much better than that. And we are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. Please note: these dates are flexible within reason (the hatch has a window). *Contact us if you would like to explore other date options for a group of at least 4-6 anglers.
The beautiful Grande Ronde River canyon
Our multi-day trips float through the Wild & Scenic section of the Grande Ronde River
Common Merganser family. Parents adopt young who have drifted downstream of their folks.
Camp scene among the Ponderosa Pines
Our guests never go hungry! We use local ingredients whenever possible.
River otters are a familiar site on all of our rivers
Evening light on the canyon walls
Oregon Swallowtail Butterflies along the Grande Ronde's banks
Columbia River Basalt forms the canyon walls of the Grande Ronde
Majestic Ponderosa Pines lord over the Grande Ronde's river banks
Hikes with fantastic views
Class II and III white water on this beautiful scenic float
Great fly fishing river, especially for Grande Ronde Steelhead
May 13-17 Photography & Wildflowers May 20: Open May 31: 2 seats left June 8: Full June 16: Seats Available June 24:Full July 2: 3 seats left July 10: Full July 18: Full July 26: Full August 3:Seats Available August 11:Plate and Pitchfork trip August 19:Open August 27:Seats Available September: 4 Fishtrap
Float the deepest river canyon in North America, the Snake River through Hells Canyon on our 5 day rafting adventure. This whitewater rafting trip runs 79 miles through the heart of Hells Canyon, from Hells Canyon Dam to Heller Bar in Idaho. Each trip begins and ends in Joseph, Oregon where round-trip transportation to and from the river is included in your trip cost. Run world-class, powerful class III and IV whitewater, the likes of Granite and Wild Sheep rapids. Visit historical sites, fish for Rainbow Trout and prehistoric White Sturgeon, and let our guides take care of your every last need. And we’d to like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients when available. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. A perfect trip for adventure-seekers ages 7 and up.
Sunrise in the canyon
Sunset at Eureka Bar, confluence of the Snake and Imnaha Rivers.
Farm fresh eggs (we have our own chickens, so we know they're fresh!), fresh breads, and seasonal fruits are always on the menu.
Inflatable kayaks are on every trip
Nez Perce pictograph sites are abundant in the canyon. We stop to visit them throughout the trip.
Tomato and blue cheese bruschetta
World-class whitewater (Class III & IV). That's an 18 foot raft.
Hells Canyon, the deepest river canyon in North America
One of the many campsites in the canyon
Trails are abundant throughout the canyon and there are many hiking opportunities.
White Sturgeon, indigenous to the Snake River watershed, can grow up to 20 feet in length.
Black Bear are among the myriad of wildlife we see in the canyon.
Wild caught Salmon cooked on a cedar plank, one of our specialties.
July: 3rd (4 day only) July9th(4 day only) July15th Full July16th Full July21st Full July23rd Full July29th Full July31st Seats Available August: 6th Seats Available August12th Full August 20th Open August25th Full
Custom Private Charter Dates available upon request
Join us on 5 day trip of a lifetime through the lower portion of the Salmon River known as the Canyons. This rafting adventure is quite possibly the best family vacation available today. As the longest free-flowing river contained within 1 state in the lower 48 United States, the Salmon River is arguably one of the most beautiful rivers in North America. Crystal clear water flows 425 miles through a pristine watershed, which is primarily wilderness. Float through 4 deep river canyons while navigating exhilarating class III and IV whitewater in a guided oar boat, paddle raft, and/or inflatable kayak. The white sand beaches are perfect for beach games as well as camping. Let our guides take care of every last detail while you build memories to last a lifetime. And we’d like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. This rafting trip is ideal for both thrill-seekers and relaxation-seekers alike ages 5 and up.
Sunset on the Salmon
Snowhole Canyon
Class III and IV whitewater
Beautiful white sand beaches
Snowhole Rapid, Class IV Whitewater
Deep canyons where all you hear is the trill of Canyon Wrens & laughter from the group
Fascinating geology, including Columnar Basalt
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep
Class III and IV whitewater
Beautiful white sand beaches and warm, crystal clear water.
Quality family time
A typical beach camp along the Salmon
Sumo wrestling…a hilarious scene
Rest, relax, and let us take care of everything
Native American pictograph site in Green Canyon
Cliff jumping
Wild caught salmon cooked on a cedar plank is one of our mouth-watering specialties.
The zen of the canyons
Perfect adventure for individuals, families, and groups
Farm fresh eggs (from our WWRE chickens), fresh breads, and seasonal fruits are always on the menu.
July 3rd Seats Available July 9th 4 Seats Left July 15th Full July 16th Full July 21st Full July 23rd Full July 29th Full July31st (5 day only) Seats Available August 6th (5 day only) Seats Available August 12th Full/Please Call August 20th Open August25th Full September 9th Full
Custom Private Charter Dates available upon request
Join us on a 4 day trip of a lifetime through the lower portion of the Salmon River known as the Canyons. This rafting adventure is quite possibly the best family vacation available today. As the longest free-flowing river contained within 1 state in the lower 48 United States, the Salmon River is arguably one of the most beautiful rivers in North America. Crystal clear water flows 425 miles through a pristine watershed, which is primarily wilderness. Float through 4 deep river canyons while navigating exhilarating class III and IV whitewater in a guided oar boat, paddle raft, and/or inflatable kayak. We also bring along stand up paddle boards. The white sand beaches are perfect for beach games as well as camping. And we’d like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. Let our guides take care of every last detail while you build memories to last a lifetime. This trip is ideal for both thrill-seekers and relaxation-seekers alike ages 5 and up.
Sunset on the Salmon
Snowhole Canyon
Class III and IV whitewater
Beautiful white sand beaches
Snowhole Rapid, Class IV Whitewater
Deep canyons where all you hear is the trill of Canyon Wrens & laughter from the group
Fascinating geology, including Columnar Basalt
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep
Class III and IV whitewater
Beautiful white sand beaches and warm, crystal clear water.
Quality family time
A typical beach camp along the Salmon
Sumo wrestling…a hilarious scene
Rest, relax, and let us take care of everything
Native American pictograph site in Green Canyon
Cliff jumping
Wild caught salmon cooked on a cedar plank is one of our mouth-watering specialties.
The zen of the canyons
Perfect adventure for individuals, families, and groups
Farm fresh eggs (from our WWRE chickens), fresh breads, and seasonal fruits are always on the menu.
May 20: Open May 31: 2 seats left June 8: Full June 16: Seats Available June 24:Full July 2: 3 seats left July 10: Full July 18: 2 seats left July 26: Full August 3:Seats Available August 11:Plate and Pitchfork August 19:Open August 27:Seats Available September 4 Fishtrap
Float the deepest river canyon in North America, the Snake River through Hells Canyon on our 3 day rafting adventure, which runs 32 miles through the upper section of Hells Canyon, from Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing in Idaho. This trip begins in Joseph, Oregon. You will drive your vehicle to Hells Canyon Dam (the launch) the morning of the trip and your vehicle will be shuttled to the take-out at Pittsburg Landing, Idaho. Pittsburg Landing is located 5 hours from Joseph, where you will start your trip. Run the biggest whitewater in the Pacific Northwest, visit historical sites, fish for prehistoric White Sturgeon, and let our guides take care of your every last need. And we’d to like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients when available. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. A perfect trip for adventure-seekers ages 7 and up.
Sunrise in the canyon
Sunset at Eureka Bar, confluence of the Snake and Imnaha Rivers.
Farm fresh eggs (we have our own chickens, so we know they're fresh!), fresh breads, and seasonal fruits are always on the menu.
Inflatable kayaks are on every trip
Nez Perce pictograph sites are abundant in the canyon. We stop to visit them throughout the trip.
Tomato and blue cheese bruschetta
World-class whitewater (Class III & IV). That's an 18 foot raft.
Hells Canyon, the deepest river canyon in North America
One of the many campsites in the canyon
Trails are abundant throughout the canyon and there are many hiking opportunities.
White Sturgeon, indigenous to the Snake River watershed, can grow up to 20 feet in length.
Black Bear are among the myriad of wildlife we see in the canyon.
Wild caught Salmon cooked on a cedar plank, one of our specialties.
Join Adventure/Fine Art Photographer & Naturalist Kendrick Moholt on a 5 day photography workshop and wildflower tour while rafting on the Snake River in Hells Canyon during the spectacular spring wildflower bloom. This trip is open to photographers and non-photographers simply interested in the natural history of Hells Canyon. Float 51 miles through the heart of Hells Canyon, from Hells Canyon Creek to Heller Bar. This trip begins and ends in Joseph, Oregon where round-trip transportation to and from the river is included in your trip cost. Run powerful class III and IV whitewater, the likes of Granite and Wild Sheep rapids. Visit historical sites, fish for prehistoric White Sturgeon, and let the Winding Waters’ guides take care of your every last need. And we’d like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients when available. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request.
About the Photography Workshop: Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. Kendrick will provide photographic instruction tailored to individual needs. Photography topics will range from basic setting for outdoor digital work to finding the right landscape composition through perspective and from techniques for capturing moving water to action/recreation photography. A priority on this trip will be getting to know the canyon with extra time out of camp and off the raft. And Hells Canyon will come alive with Kendrick’s enthusiasm for Hells Canyon’s natural history, especially wildflowers. This adventure is open to all outdoor enthusiasts who want to learn more about the natural wonders of Hells Canyon. Learn more about the workshop.
About Kendrick Moholt: Kendrick has photographed some of the most remote corners of the planet while traveling on all seven continents. Though he continues to love working in faraway places, Kendrick equally enjoys working from his home base in northeast Oregon because of the outstanding wildlife and landscape opportunities. He has worked extensively in Hells Canyon as both a field biologist and professional photographer. Learn more about Kendrick.
Wallowa Resources Whitewater Retreat:
The confluence of history, restoration and adventure
May 31st- June 2nd, 2024: 3 Seats Available
Experience the beauty, history, and union of natural resources and rural communities on this unique 3-day guided river trip through the Wild & Scenic section of the beautiful Grande Ronde River in Northeastern Oregon. Float the river and run the rapids by day, then sit by the campfire and listen to live music and inspiring speakers by night while eating locally sourced food and sipping a cold Terminal Gravity pilsner.
Learn about a rural community’s connection to the land on this unique educational adventure. Featured speakers will cover a wide range of topics related to their history, sense of place, and the promise of a sustainable future through exciting new land management practices and an innovative new stewardship economy.
Highlights:
Welcome gathering at the Winding Water’s boathouse in Joseph
Inspiring Campfire Storytellers
Live acoustic music each day
Local sourced meals and & Terminal Gravity beer
Volunteer opportunities available for those interested
Seventy Five percent of your trip cost will go towards 501(c)3 non-profit Wallowa Resources Stewardship Programs that are strengthening our rural communities, investing in people and the land, and fostering the next generation of rural leaders.
Musical Entertainment: provided by the talented Darrell Brann and his daughter Meredith owners/operators of the almost 100 year old OK Theater in Enterprise, OR. Locally Sourced Food and Beer: Winding Waters’ gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised, grown and sourced ingredients, including beef from Liza Jane’s 6 Ranch. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. Let our guides take care of every last detail while you build memories to last a lifetime.
For more information about Wallowa Resources and their work, please visit these websites:
Wallowa Resources – A nationally recognized community based non-profit.
Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition – a coalition of community-based groups, small businesses, county governments, and regional and national partners promoting balanced conservation-based approaches to the ecological and economic problems facing the rural West and the nation.
My Blue Mountains Woodland – a public-private partnership advancing forest restoration and stewardship across 900,000 acres of family forest lands in Northeast Oregon.
Wallowa Whitman Forest Collaborative – a diverse group of stakeholders working to improve the social, economic, and ecological resiliency of the Wallowa Whitman National Forest and local communities through collaboration.
Guest Speakers:
Nils Christoffersen, Wallowa Resources Executive Director, has diverse experience in place-based natural resource management from working around the world, including ranching in Australia, farming in Israel, fishing and forestry in Norway, and forestry and wildlife in southern Africa. He is passionate about working landscapes and the role of rural communities in their stewardship. He is a graduate of both Williams College (B.A. Economics) and Oxford University (M.S. Forestry), and has served on many local and national boards – including the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry. He currently serves on the Oregon Board of Forestry, World Forest Center’s Board of Directors, and Enterprise School District Board. He previously served on the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (2003-2008), and Chaired the Governor of Oregon’s Eastside Forest Advisory Panel from 2003-2005.
We expect to have 1 or 2 additional speakers along to share their stories with us. These are yet to be scheduled.
The beautiful Grande Ronde River canyon
Our multi-day trips float through the Wild & Scenic section of the Grande Ronde River
Common Merganser family. Parents adopt young who have drifted downstream of their folks.
Camp scene among the Ponderosa Pines
Our guests never go hungry! We use local ingredients whenever possible.
River otters are a familiar site on all of our rivers
Evening light on the canyon walls
Oregon Swallowtail Butterflies along the Grande Ronde's banks
Columbia River Basalt forms the canyon walls of the Grande Ronde
Majestic Ponderosa Pines lord over the Grande Ronde's river banks
Hikes with fantastic views
Class II and III white water on this beautiful scenic float
Great fly fishing river, especially for Grande Ronde Steelhead
Announcing the 12th annualPlate & Pitchfork Raft Trip, a wonderful Ranch to River Bank adventure. We’re thrilled to have Chef/Owner Ben Bettinger from The Laurelhurst Market and Big’s Chicken in Portland, OR joining us again on the rafts this year. Ben’s delicious and hearty meals will feature products grown and raised in Northeastern Oregon.
Because no trip is complete without good beer, Terminal Gravity Brewery will fill our coolers with their delicious ales. You’ll be well fueled for your adventures. And we are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request.
In addition to fabulous food, you’ll enjoy three days filled with thrilling Class III & IV whitewater, incredible scenery, wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities as we venture thirty-two river miles through the heart of the deepest river canyon in North America, the Snake River in Hells Canyon. After dinner, enjoy campfire camaraderie and falling asleep under magnificent starry skis listening to the sound of the river babbling by.
Sunrise in the canyon
Sunset at Eureka Bar, confluence of the Snake and Imnaha Rivers.
Farm fresh eggs (we have our own chickens, so we know they're fresh!), fresh breads, and seasonal fruits are always on the menu.
Inflatable kayaks are on every trip
Nez Perce pictograph sites are abundant in the canyon. We stop to visit them throughout the trip.
Tomato and blue cheese bruschetta
World-class whitewater (Class III & IV). That's an 18 foot raft.
Hells Canyon, the deepest river canyon in North America
One of the many campsites in the canyon
Trails are abundant throughout the canyon and there are many hiking opportunities.
White Sturgeon, indigenous to the Snake River watershed, can grow up to 20 feet in length.
Black Bear are among the myriad of wildlife we see in the canyon.
Wild caught Salmon cooked on a cedar plank, one of our specialties.
September 3-8, 2024, Seats Available: 7 Registration is through Fishtrap
WRITING THE RIVER – Love Stories from the Wild
Floating the deepest river gorge wilderness in North America with Gary Ferguson and Mary M Clare. This workshop is an Outpost for Fishtrap, a local non-profit whose mission is to promote “clear thinking and good writing in and about the West.”
Join best-selling nature writer Gary Ferguson and social scientist Mary M Clare for a grand adventure on one of the world’s most beautiful rivers. Along the way you’ll learn not just new techniques to empower your writing, but also ways to grow a deeper relationship with wild nature – in the process, bringing fresh vitality to the stories you tell.
Writing well means honing essential storytelling skills – gaining facility with things like transition, setting, tone, and narrative arc. But we also believe that the energy needed to really animate your writing – to bring energy and spirit to your stories – comes from learning to look and listen more deeply. And each day on the Snake River, we’ll be doing exactly that – helping you build the kind of kinship to the world around you that will resonate powerfully with your readers. From the first dip of our oars to our final sunrise, this is a journey to shape not just your writing, but your life.
This program also includes individual manuscript review, as well as one-on-one sessions with the instructors.
Best-selling nature writer Gary Ferguson spent the early years of his career “chronicling the tracks humans leave in nature.” For the past two decades, however, the author Publishers Weekly calls “ever-evocative” has been working instead “to portray the tracks nature leaves in us.” Ferguson is the author of 27 books, including the highly acclaimed The Carry Home, winner of the Sigurd Olson Award, and described by The Los Angeles Times as a book with “beauty on every page.” His latest work, The Eight Master Lessons of Nature, shines a powerful light on the dazzling processes that nourish the creative powers of nature – and further, what they can teach us about navigating our own lives. Ferguson has taught at dozens of writing workshops in the United States and Europe and spent a decade on the faculty for the Rainier Writing Workshop Master of Fine Arts program at Pacific Lutheran University. He is a co-founder of Full Ecology, with social scientist Dr. Mary M. Clare
From Montana, via Texas, California, Georgia, Nebraska, and Oregon, Mary M Clare, Ph.D. brings her lifelong passion for the natural world together with a 30-year career as a social and cultural psychologist. A fellow in the American Psychological Association with over 100 scholarly articles, she opens doorways for considering how the natural world – both around us and inside of us – can be tapped as a guiding force for creating more contented and fruitful lives. Dr. Clare is also a published poet and an Oregon Pen Women finalist. She’s written three nonfiction books, including 100 Voices: Americans Talk about Change (2011) and most recently, with science and nature writer Gary Ferguson, the award-winning Full Ecology: Repairing Our Relationship with the Natural World. Her spirited insights and techniques are helping nature writers forge new perspectives, deepening the relationship between their creative instincts and the world around them.
Join us on our 3 day scenic whitewater float through the Wild & Scenic section of the beautiful Grande Ronde River in Oregon. Easy class II whitewater, a deep basalt river canyon, and stunning Ponderosa Pine forests provide the perfect backdrop for a relaxing, fun-filled adventure on one of Oregon’s hidden gems. Our all-inclusive trips include round-trip transportation to and from Joseph, OR. Float in a guided oar raft, paddle raft and/or inflatable kayak. We also take stand up paddle boards on these adventures. And we’d like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. Let our guides take care of every last detail while you build memories to last a lifetime. A perfect trip for families, groups, and individuals wishing to explore one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful rivers.
Float the deepest river canyon in North America, the Snake River through Hells Canyon on this 4 day fishing expedition, targeting Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout and White Sturgeon. This Fishing and whitewater rafting trip runs 32 miles through the heart of Hells Canyon, from Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing in Idaho. Each trip begins in Joseph, Oregon, and ends at Pittsburg Landing, where we will have your vehicle shuttled for the end of the trip. Run world-class, powerful class III and IV whitewater, the likes of Granite and Wild Sheep rapids. Fish for Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout and White Sturgeon in this world-class Bass fishery. Our guides are experienced at guiding/teaching all skill levels from beginner to advanced and are happy to accommodate both Fly Fisherman and Spin Casters. This is a perfect trip for the experienced angler and the 12 year old first time angler. There have been a many “First Fish Evers” on this trip.
In addition to catching your fill, you will also have the opportunity to run some amazing whitewater, take a short hike, spot wildlife, and visit many historical sites while our guides take care of your every last need. And we’d like to mention that our gourmet menu is capstoned with locally raised and grown ingredients when available. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. A perfect trip for adventure-seeking anglers ages 12 and up.
become thick in the air and fish cannot get enough of these succulent morsels. Come join the fun during this hatch on our 4 day, fully-guided, and all-inclusive expedition on the beautiful waters of the Grande Ronde wild and scenic section. We’ll take care of every logistic for you, from putting you in the best spots to catch Rainbow Trout to setting up your tent and preparing gourmet meals. When you finish the day, you’ll be greeted with delicious appetizers and drinks. Life doesn’t get much better than that. And we are happy to accommodate most dietary needs upon request. Please note: these dates are flexible within reason (the hatch has a window). *Contact us if you would like to explore other date options for a group of at least 4-6 anglers.
