Rafting the Deschutes River, Maupin OR

7/27/2021

There are several guided whitewater rafting outfits in Maupin OR, not all accommodating for a person in a wheelchair. We had a terrific experience with Deschutes River Adventures. They are conveniently located right downtown Maupin, and across from a little park with picnic tables, restrooom nearby, and access to water. We were able to park at the little park, and it was perfect. Our guide Dawson was great, all the staff friendly and helpful, Ruby got some superb shots of the exciting parts. A little expensive, but my friend and I split the cost to get all the photos, because there were so many we liked. I took my phone camera in a protective bag, not always easy to get out. But for this post (and Oregon Trail, and Gone Fishin') I was glad I had it with me.
Maupin City--check out the links!

https://cityofmaupin.org/about-maupin/
Deschutes River Adventures https://www.raftdra.com/

We saw lots of ducks on the river, but I could never get my camera out in time, or was busy holding on as we headed into the thrills!

Tips:
1. We needed minimum 4 people. Good idea to have at least a couple strong young men. I'm strong and thought I could paddle, but the ride is rough enough that I had to hold on for balance
2. DRA has changing rooms, a little challenging to change in a chair. Might need a helper.
3. I knew half day would be enough for me. Full day is same route, but stops for lunch & such. I dressed to protect from sun, plus lotion. Bug spray didn't seem necessary. Splashing was enough to keep my legs cool in the sun.
4. We came with enough time for lunch in the park. Good to bring something on the raft for paddler energy. Snack bar or drink. DRA brings bottled water, but paddlers might need more.
5. Launch site and put-in site are gravel/rocky. Not deep gravel, but a wheelchair may need help. At the start I was able to get my wheelchair up to the raft, and got help into it; they deflated the seat at request so I wouldn't bounce out of the raft. In the end I had them tip my chair and pull me backwards on the big wheels up from the raft to the bus. My helper gave me the boost I needed into the bus, as he is used to helping.

We didn't have as much time to explore as I wanted, but here are some more photos from Maupin OR. I didn't get a photo of the city park that is right on the river and offers camping and amenities (see Maupin City link above).

I had checked out dining options ahead of time and thought The Riverside restaurant looked good. Our rafting guide raved about them, and we were delighted with their great food, large plates, interesting decor. The dishes may sound ordinary, but they are anything but! They have outdoor dining, but with the temps in the 90s, we were glad to eat indoors. https://www.facebook.com/riversidemaupin