Oregon And Northern California Rafting Blog
            Momentum River Expeditions: World-Class River Trips

Join us for a journey down the Chilko, Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers – a trip unmatched in its scenic diversity and huge stretches of class IV whitewater.  Big John, Farwell, and Lava Canyons; the continent’s longest stretch of commercially navigable whitewater; bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, wolves, and birds of all types; all set in the legendary wilderness of British Columbia.

Trip Length:
7 days
Trip Date:
August 29th 2010
Difficulty:
Class IV for experienced and beginner paddlers. Minimum Age 12
Meeting Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Price:
$3295 ($400 deposit)

Call Pete at Momentum (541 488 2525) or Book Online Here.

The Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser trip starts in Vancouver and begins with a flight over the towering mountains and massive glaciers of the Coast Range to the Chilcotin wilderness.  After an evening at the beautiful  Chilko Lake we’ll begin rafting on the Chilco River and then float into the Chilcotin and finally into the mighty Frazier River, lifeblood of Canada’s largest river system. We cover 130 miles and drop 3000 vertical feet - passing through lush alpine forests, narrow canyons, high desert plateaus and skyscraping hoodoos. The trip features world-class rapids including a 14 mile stretch considered the continent’s longest stretch of commercially navigable whitewater. On the last day of our expedition we’ll fly back crossing over the 2000-foot canyons of the lower Fraser and the lakes and mountains of the southern Coast Range.

This is a journey to one of the wildest and most beautiful places on the continent and we are excited to offer it – give us a call if you have any questions!

Call 541-488-2525 or Book Online Here.

Choose a Rafting Trip

Hike, Raft, or a mix of both!
The Rogue River National Recreation Trail follows the entire length of the Rogue River. It ducks up into beautiful side canyons, crosses tumbling side streams, and offers spectacular views of the Rogue River. On our Rogue Hike and Raft Lodge trips you can run the river in one of our rafts, hike the trail, or do a combination of both.

For those hiking all you need to carry is a day pack and a little water. All your personal gear is transported in the rafts to the lodges each evening and you and your guide meet the rafts for lunch at predetermined spots. The distance covered each day ranges from 5 to 15 miles depending on the day and if you hike the whole section. The trail follows the river and looses elevation overall.

The availability of lodges is a unique aspect of the Rogue River. There are very few places in the world with a system of remote riverside lodges only accessible by boat, foot, or small plane. It allows for the amazing experience of true wilderness adventure capped off by comfortable and cozy evenings in a remote lodge steeped in pioneer history.

Spring is an amazing time to see the Rogue. The Canyon is lush, wild flowers are blooming, and the temperature is perfect for hiking.

Our Rogue Spring Hike and Raft 4-Day Lodge Trips are offered on select dates in late may and June (custom dates are available). Check our schedule here.

Guests have the option of rafting, inflatable kayaking, hiking or a combination.

The trip price is $959 person.

Call or email if you have any questions!

The Fall is an amazing time to Raft the Rogue! Mild temperatures, fewer people, more bear sighting’s, and fall foliage. This year we are offering 10% off on select Lodge trips in September. Check our schedule here and look for “Rogue Wilderness Fall Special Lodge Trip”.

Join professional photographer Jared Cruce for a visual journey down the Rogue River - one of America’s truly wild and scenic rivers. This trip will provide a supportive and educational environment to practice and improve photography skills while capturing the dramatic light, fall colors, wildlife and scenery of the Rogue.

3-Day Lodge Trip September 5th , 2010 - $965
Guest Photographer: Jared Cruce
Call or Book Online Here
Read more about lodge trips here.

While primarily emphasizing landscape photography, Jared will provide group and one-on-one instruction on digital capture, workflow, travel and adventure topics that are relevant for beginner to advanced photographers. Each evening we will review the current days work and discuss techniques. Students will have ample opportunity to ask questions, learn and apply new concepts that are relevant to their style and photographic goals. A personal portfolio review is optional.

All are welcome on this trip regardless of your photographic passion or experience. For those with photographic intentions a digital slr camera and media is required**. Film,Medium / Large format cameras are welcome but discussions and techniques will emphasize digital capture. A complete list will be sent with confirmation.

About Jared:
Jared Cruce is an Ashland, Oregon based commercial and editorial photographer. He is one of a select group of sponsored Lowepro photographers, an alumnus of the Eddie Adams Workshop and an Explorers Club member. He has an amazingly diverse photographic palate that covers, landscape, travel, action, and portraiture. His images have been commissioned and published by companies and magazines such as New Balance, Camera Arts Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine, Oregon Travel, and Energy Trust of Oregon. He is an avid kayaker and rafter and has boated and photographed a multitude of the west’s rivers as well as photographed in over 17 countries worldwide. Jared’s Photography Work can be seen here: www.JaredCruce.com - Oregon Professional Photographer.

Call if you have any questions, it is an amazing time for rafting on the Rogue!

Momentum Wine Tasting trips have become huge guest (and guide!) favorites. Even to non-wine drinkers – those of us who grumble and say “I like Beer”:). We offer 6 flights of wine paired expertly with VERY good cheeses. Alyson’s of Ashland, a local wine store and deli, picks the wines and does the pairings.

We offer scheduled Wine Tasting trips on the Rogue River, the California Salmon, and the Upper Klamath River. We also include wine tasting on many charter trips.

If you are interested check out one of the rivers above or give us a call!

3 days September 16 , 2009 - $965
Guest Photographer: Jared Cruce
Call or Book Online Here

Join professional photographer Jared Cruce for a visual journey down the Rogue River - one of America’s truly wild and scenic rivers. This trip will provide a supportive and educational environment to practice and improve photography skills while capturing the dramatic light, fall colors, wildlife and scenery of the Rogue.

While primarily emphasizing landscape photography, Jared will provide group and one-on-one instruction on digital capture, workflow, travel and adventure topics that are relevant for beginner to advanced photographers. Each evening we will review the current days work and discuss techniques. Students will have ample opportunity to ask questions, learn and apply new concepts that are relevant to their style and photographic goals. A personal portfolio review is optional.

All are welcome on this trip regardless of your photographic passion or experience. For those with photographic intentions a digital slr camera and media is required**. Film,Medium / Large format cameras are welcome but discussions and techniques will emphasize digital capture. A complete list will be sent with confirmation.

About Jared:
Jared Cruce is an Ashland, Oregon based commercial and editorial photographer. He is one of a select group of sponsored Lowepro photographers, an alumnus of the Eddie Adams Workshop and an Explorers Club member. He has an amazingly diverse photographic palate that covers, landscape, travel, action, and portraiture. His images have been commissioned and published by companies and magazines such as New Balance, Camera Arts Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine, Oregon Travel, and Energy Trust of Oregon. He is an avid kayaker and rafter and has boated and photographed a multitude of the west’s rivers as well as photographed in over 17 countries worldwide. Jared’s Photography Work can be seen here: www.JaredCruce.com - Oregon Professional Photographer.

Call if you have any questions, it is an amazing time for rafting on the Rogue!

Here is a link to some AMAZING photos from an inflatable Kayaking trip on the Illinois.

Trip dates:  June 16th - 21st, 2009

Our “Exploratory” Inflatable Kayaking Trip on the Illinois. 6 days exploring the Illinois river during a time and in a way that has never been done before commercially (We think…). This will set the stage for future late spring and summer offerings on the Illinois. We are so excited about this trip. Please call if you would like to join us.

Leon Werdinger, a professional photographer and Guide will be joining us. Here excerpts of his trip description and pictures from the Illi in late spring:

Illinois River inflatable kayak expedition (SW Oregon)

Cost:  $1159
Meeting place:  Ashland or Grants Pass, Oregon
Information & reservations:  contact me or Momentum River Expeditions  http://www.momentumriverexpeditions.com/ 866-663-5628
Last June a couple friends and I did a low water self-support inflatable kayak trip on the Illinois River.  It was easily one of the most beautiful, enchanted and enjoyable river trips I’ve ever been down.  At the time I thought it’d be too challenging to run as a commercial trip.  But after seeing participants meet the rugged challenges on last summer’s Nahanni trip (mentioned above) I got to rethinking the Illinois.  In the last couple months I’ve been discussing a possible trip with the owner of Momentum and we’re both excited about going for it.
Everyone will paddle their own inflatable kayak that will also carry their personal gear and a share of group gear.  We’ll be going “backpack style” - think of what you’d bring backpacking, add an inflatable kayak, lifejacket, drybags, paddle, helmet, etc. and you get an idea of what we’ll be bringing.  Yup, this is not the usual raft trip “float & bloat” style.  There will be no raft support, as in mid-June the Illinois doesn’t have enough water for rafts.  This also means that we’ll have this gem of a river mainly to ourselves.
The two main challenges of running the Illinois at low water are the whitewater (the river’s rated Class IV and at low water the rapids are numerous and technical) and scouting and portaging along on rocky, sometimes bouldery, river banks.  On the other hand, we won’t have to deal with two of the challenges associated with running the Illinois during the rafting season - cold water and the likelihood of cold air temps and rain. Mid-June brings warm water and the likelihood of warm sunny days.  It also brings lots of hours of daylight which should give us time for exploring and relaxing.
If you have any questions, including about whether this trip is suitable for you, don’t hesitate to contact me or Pete at Momentum.
We’ll begin the trip with a half day of skills training on either an upper section of the Illinois or some other river (to be determined).  The trip is limited to 14 people maximum, including guides.  (There will be at least one guide for every three participants.)  The outfitter will be proving boats, boating gear, food, round trip transportation from the meeting point, etc.  Free to spread the word to others who you think would have the necessary skills and who’d be enjoyable to be with.
These images are from our Illinois trip last June.  As you can see, the Illinois at low water includes exciting whitewater and amazing pools: