The section that we run is 64 miles from the put-in at Minam Oregon which is actually on the Wallowa River, to the take out back at Boogan’s in Washington. I am always surprised when I talk with local people and they ask what I have been up to and I tell them about floating the Ronde and they have never heard of it. It really is a gem. The upper section is wild and Scenic River, a fairly steep canyon that is heavily forested and the lower section opens up into more arid grasslands. Deer, Elk and Bighorn sheep can be spotted in a major portion of the float.

I have floated the river at flows from 1200 to 3000 cfs and would rate the river as a II for the most part. There is quite a bit of white water but most of it is fairly easy. There are a couple of bigger waves but they are pretty straight forward. The guide books rate some of the rapids as II/III. I guess the III part would be because there are rocks that you need to avoid. As a comparison Gypsum Creek on the San Juan is rated as a II and it was way bigger this May than anything we did on the Grande Ronde in July. We were on the water from 7/27 to 7/30 which was quite a bit later than previous years due to heavy winter snowfall and late runoff. Below 1200 CFS it gets pretty boney in some spots, could be difficult in a small boat and a real slog in a raft. Having a 'BLM Wallowa and Grande Ronde River Guide' book along is a really good idea.

The most significant part of the story is that we floated 4 days, camped 3 nights in great camp spots with no neighbors in shouting distance and had a great time. We weren't fishing but there is a good trout and Smallmouth Bass fishery. Steelhead run in the fall and winter.

But!

There was a little learning lesson the on the first evening that might be useful to point out. I am defining a learning lesson as something just on the no injury side of a disaster. The lessons learned were;

1. Don't wear jeans.

2. Make ABSOULUTLY SURE your PFD PFD (a.k.a. life vest) is properly fitted and strapped on securely.

3. Don't overload your inflatable tub toy.

4. If most of your food is in one cooler make sure it is tied on well.