Float trips

Offer a real family trip that will reacquaint you with the majestic beauty of nature, with a new panorama unfolding around each bend in the river.

There are sheer cliffs, rippling waters, smooth runs, some rapids, a variety of wildlife, historical and archeological sites and most important – an inner peace and serenity.

For most of its length, the John Day River is simply water moving by gravity through Class 1 and Class 2 rapids and rifles.

The best time to run the John Day River is from March through June, depending on the weather and water level.

Normally, the trip will be made at between two to four miles per hour depending on the type of craft used. The John Day River, for the most part, is a leisurely waterway.

The river has several access points, including a convenient river access park at Monument, at about the confluence of the north fork of the John Day and its main stem.