Location: Minam to Troy, Oregon
Duration: 2-3 Day
Season: Spring - Summer
Distance: ~ 45 river miles, one way
Difficulty: Easy
The area is home to a wide range of wildlife including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, raccoons, otters, and eagles. Rainbow trout inhabit its waters as well as steelhead in fall and early spring (Note: fishing for trout is best July through September, and fall/winter steelheading is considered great).
You can expect unsettled weather, cooler waters and more solitude during the spring. During the summer, crowds, warm weather, fishing and great swimming are the norm. Campsites are clean, open gravel bars leading to level terraces with sandy spots for tenting.
The National Forest lands on the banks of this river are managed in a primitive state, so there are no facilities (i.e. restrooms, tables, grills, etc.). Bring your own porta-potties, shelters, and kitchen and pack everything out.
This trip documents the 45-mile wilderness section from Minam to Troy. This trip is suitable for families with young children or anyone who wants an exciting whitewater trip without the worries of extreme conditions. The whitewater is moderate enough for the novice and the river is runable year-round.
The trip begins on a tributary, the Wallowa River, which is upstream from the Grande Ronde and then floats down to the main river at its confluence. There are basically 2 major rapids on this trip and they’re both located on the first section of the Wallowa River. After that, it’s a bunch of smaller class II rapids on the Grande Ronde to Troy.
Now, the first major rapid you come to is House Rock Drop Rapid (class III), a drop around a boulder about the size of a small house. The chute is on river left of the boulder with a clean run-out. Blind Falls Rapid (class III) is next and has a class II rock garden that leads to an obscure ledge with a good chute in the center. Another class II rock garden and then a long class II section of rapids follow the ledge.
Because the ledge is very difficult to spot (hence the name) and you need to be river center to hit the chute correctly, start watching for it about a ½ mile downstream from marker #42 on the railroad track on the right bank.
As for campsites, they’re everywhere. Some to watch for are Howard Creek, which is shortly after a power line crosses over the river and just after Howard Creek on the right, the camping spot is on river left. From the camp spot at Howard Creek, the Wallowa River will join with the Grande Ronde at Rondowa.
After the confluence, there’s a nice campsite on river right across from Sheep Creek. At Clear Creek on river right there’s a nice campsite at the creek and a larger one about 5 minutes downstream on the right. After Meadow Creek there’s a nice campsite about 10 minutes below the creek on the left. And finally, downstream from Grossman Creek, there’s a nice campsite on river right.
Typical river levels during the primary floating season range between 2,000 to 10,000 c.f.s. (Cubic Feet per Second). The river drop is 21 feet per mile and the recommended flow to run the river is 1,500 to 4,000 c.f.s.
Higher, faster water conditions typically occur in the spring and early summer as warmer temperatures and rainfall melt mountain snow. Shallow, slower conditions typically occur by mid-July and remain through the fall and winter months with more exposed rocks being common. Boaters are strongly advised to obtain up-to-date river and weather conditions when planning their trip.
The summer months are the most popular, so to avoid crowds plan your trip on a weekday and avoid holidays. Self-issue boating permits are required for every boating party. They are free of charge and do not restrict the number of trips or affect trip itineraries. Permits are available at all major river access points.
Because campsites receive hundreds of visitors a season, boaters are asked to follow low-impact and Leave-No-Trace guidelines. Every boating party is required to carry and use a portable toilet suitable for their group size. All open fires must be contained in a fire pan and ash and charcoal must be packed out with other garbage (Note: fires are often prohibited during high fire danger).
Fire pan, portable toilet use, packing out all garbage and treading lightly on vegetation, helps to reduce impact and keeps campsites clean and healthy for future use. Bulletin boards at most access points are posted with detailed river information, seasonal fire restrictions and other special notices.
NOTE: Running rivers is a dangerous activity and it would be unreasonable to inform people how to specifically run certain rapids because of the variance or changing nature of rapids based on river flows. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you scout any and all rapids you are unfamiliar with.
Now, specific to this section of river, we highly recommend that you scout House Rock Drop and Blind Falls Rapid. House Rock Drop is usually run river left and Blind Falls is run river center through a distinct chute.
NOTE: There are a few other options for trips: a 2 day float can be had from Minam to Powwatka Bridge or the lower section in a more desert terrain from Boggan’s Oasis (Hwy 129) to Heller’s Bar at the confluence with the Snake River (the steelheading choice).
Finally, if you’re up to it, you can make longer wilderness trip combining all 3 trips from Minam to Heller’s Bar (~91 miles) (Note: this documenter has never done that one).
For pictures, map and more info click on Grande Ronde River
See you on the river,
Greg
