California and Oregon · Klamath River
Klamath River rafting trips
A river running free again after the 2024 dam removals, with big water up top and gentle family trips downstream. Every overnight outfitter we found, side by side.
2 to 5 days / 1 to 4 nightsQuick answer
Guided Klamath River rafting trips run 2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights. Upper Klamath trips run Hell's Corner and the new canyon left by the 2024 dam removals. Lower Klamath trips near Happy Camp are gentler and take kids from 4. We found 10 overnight outfitters. Listed prices start at $399 per person (checked September 2026).
The route
Spring Island to Fall Creek
The Upper Klamath overnight runs Hell's Corner, then floats through valley that was under Copco Reservoir before dropping into K'íkac'éki Canyon.
- Mile 0Spring IslandLaunch, Oregon
- Mile 17Copco Access 1End of Hell's Corner, Class IV+
- Mile 23Grizzly HillClass I to II
- Mile 26Fall CreekTake out, California
- Day 1
- Day 2
Section miles and classes from Noah's River Adventures' description of the post dam river; American Whitewater gives 16 miles from Access 1 to Iron Gate. The post dam river is new, so ask your outfitter about current conditions. Shown for a 2 day, 1 night trip.
Compare outfitters
Every overnight Klamath River outfitter we found
Neither the BLM nor the Klamath National Forest list we could reach names every outfitter. This table comes from each outfitter's own overnight trip page, Upper Klamath first, then Lower, each listed alphabetically.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per adult | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Country Expeditions, Upper | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle; inflatable kayak on day 3 | May to September | 13 to 14 (page lists both) | $7502 day, 1 night trip; year not shown; $30 fee extra; 3 day $1,025. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with High Country |
| Indigo Creek Outfitters, Upper | 2 days, 1 night (lodge) to 3 days, 2 nights (camp and lodge) | Raft | April to September | 14 | $7952 day, 1 night trip with a lodge night; year not shown; 3 day $1,125 (2026). Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Indigo Creek |
| Momentum River Expeditions, Upper | 2 days, 1 night | Raft; inflatable kayak option | June to September | 14 | $750Listed as $750 to $860; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Momentum |
| Noah's River Adventures, Upper | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle | March to October | 12 | $7252 day, 1 night trip; year not shown; 3 day $1,150. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Noah's |
| H2O Adventures, Lower | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Not listed | Not listed | 6 | Price not found on its site. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with H2O Adventures |
| High Country Expeditions, Lower | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Raft, inflatable kayak | June to September | 4 (can vary) | $6952 day, 1 night trip, listed as $695 to $795; year not shown; $30 fee extra. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with High Country |
| Indigo Creek Outfitters, Lower | 2 days, 1 night to 4 days, 3 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | May to August | 6 | $895Private charter only, 8 guest minimum; its hub page lists $1,095. Confirm. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Indigo Creek |
| Ironhead Guide Service, Lower | 2 days, 1 night | Raft | May to August | 6 | $399$1,200 group minimum; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Ironhead |
| Momentum River Expeditions, Lower | 3 days, 2 nights; 1 to 4 day charters | Raft, kayak | April to mid August | 6 (5 on one section) | $990Listed as $990 to $1,590; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Momentum |
| OARS, Lower | 3 days, 2 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | Late June to mid August | 4 | $1,0992027. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with OARS |
| Orange Torpedo Trips, Lower | 3 days, 2 nights | Inflatable kayak, paddle, oar | May to June | About 4 (oar raft for ages 4 to 11) | $1,2992026. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Orange Torpedo |
| River Dancers, Lower | 2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights | Raft, kayak | May to September | Not listed (all ages) | $5602 day, 1 night trip; year not shown; July 2026 3 day, 2 night trip $760. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with River Dancers |
| Tributary Whitewater Tours, Lower | 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle, inflatable kayak | June to July | 4 | $7502024 price, the latest shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Tributary |
"Not listed" means we could not find it on the outfitter's site in September 2026. Where a site gives days only, nights are days minus one. Upper means Hell's Corner and the new canyon in Oregon and California; Lower means the Happy Camp area in California. Confirm when booking.
Indigo Creek also runs a Class I to II Beswick overnight through the former reservoir, by request, for groups of 8 to 16, from $495. Day trip only outfitters are not shown. Missing an outfitter? Tell us.
The no lottery way in
Guided trip or private trip?
There is no lottery on the Klamath. The BLM says private boaters need no permit on the Upper Klamath. What a guide adds is experience on Class IV+ water and on river that only reopened after the dams came out.
No lottery
Book a guided trip
- How you get a spot
- Pick a date with one of the outfitters above and book it.
- Which section
- Upper for Class IV+ water; Lower for families and first timers.
- Trip length
- 2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights on the trips we checked.
- Where you sleep
- Riverside camps with cots on many trips; some Upper trips use a lodge.
Private permit
Run it on your own
- Permit
- None for non commercial boating on the Upper Klamath, per the BLM.
- Campfires
- A California campfire permit for stoves or fires outside developed areas on the Klamath National Forest.
- Access
- New river access sites opened August 1, 2025.
- Hazards
- Class IV+ rapids below Pioneer Park West, Moonshine Falls and Grizzly Hill, per the Klamath River Renewal Corporation.
Sources: BLM Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River, Klamath River Renewal Corporation recreation page and the Klamath National Forest.
On the river
What a day on a Klamath River rafting trip looks like
Most Klamath overnights are short, one or two nights, so the days are full: rapids in the morning, camp by afternoon.
- Morning
Breakfast in camp, then back on the water.
- Midday
Rapids, with lunch on the bank.
- Afternoon
Swimming or an inflatable kayak on calmer water, then camp.
- Evening
Dinner cooked by the guides; many Klamath camps set up cots.
What outfitters list as included
- Guides, boats and life jackets
- Meals on the river
- Camp gear, often with cots
- Transportation to the put in on many trips
High Country Expeditions adds a $30 fee; Tributary's camp includes a tent, pad and cot. Check each outfitter's list.
Worth checking before you book
- Fees added at checkout
- Sleeping bags
- Travel to Ashland, Phoenix or Happy Camp
- Guide tips
More on camp life, meals and the toilet in river camping, and on tips in tipping your guides.
When to go
The Klamath River rafting season
Upper Klamath overnights run from March or April into September or October, depending on the outfitter; Indigo Creek runs its Hell's Corner overnight mainly in spring. Lower Klamath trips run mostly from May to August.
Minimum ages run 12 to 14 on the Upper; several Lower trips take kids from 4. See when to go rafting for how seasons compare.
Who it suits
Which Klamath trip fits you
Families
Go Lower. OARS, High Country Expeditions and Tributary take kids from 4. See family rafting trips.
Whitewater seekers
Go Upper for Hell's Corner and K'íkac'éki Canyon, Class IV+, ages 12 to 14 and up. See whitewater camping trips.
Short on time
Most Klamath overnights are 2 days, 1 night. See 2 day rafting trips.
Questions
Klamath River rafting trip questions
How much does an overnight Klamath River rafting trip cost?
On the outfitters' own sites, checked in September 2026, the lowest listed rate is $399 per person for a 2 day, 1 night Lower Klamath trip with Ironhead, with a $1,200 group minimum. Upper Klamath overnights list from $725. Confirm when booking.
What changed when the Klamath dams came out?
All four dams on the Klamath were removed in 2024, according to American Whitewater. That opened river where reservoirs used to be, including K'íkac'éki Canyon, formerly Wards Canyon. New access sites opened on August 1, 2025, according to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, and several outfitters now run overnight trips through the new canyon.
Which part of the Klamath should I raft?
It depends on the group. The Upper Klamath, through Hell's Corner and the new canyon, has Class IV and IV+ rapids and minimum ages of 12 to 14. The Lower Klamath near Happy Camp is mostly Class II to III, and several outfitters take kids from 4.
Do I need a permit to raft the Klamath?
No lottery. The BLM says non commercial boating on the Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River needs no permit. On the Klamath National Forest, a California campfire permit is needed for a stove or fire outside developed areas.
How long are Klamath overnight trips?
Most run 2 days, 1 night or 3 days, 2 nights. Indigo Creek and River Dancers offer longer trips on the Lower, up to 4 or 5 days.
Where do Klamath trips start?
Upper Klamath outfitters meet in Ashland or Phoenix, Oregon. Lower Klamath trips meet in or near Happy Camp, California; River Dancers meets in Mount Shasta.
Can we sleep in a lodge?
On some Upper Klamath trips. Indigo Creek's Hell's Corner overnight stays at a private lodge, and its 3 day, 2 night trip mixes camping and lodging. Noah's 3 day, 2 night trip spends its second night at a house at the top of the valley.
When is the Klamath rafting season?
Outfitters run from spring into early fall. Upper Klamath trips run from March or April to September or October, and most Lower Klamath trips run from May to August.
How hard are the rapids on Hell's Corner?
American Whitewater rates the Hell's Corner run Class III to IV+. The BLM says the Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River has rapids from Class I to V, with five above Class IV.
Is the Lower Klamath good for families?
Several Lower trips take young kids. OARS, High Country Expeditions and Tributary list a minimum age of 4, and OARS describes its trip as Class II with one Class III. See family rafting trips.
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Compare trip lengths, boats and minimum ages, then check dates directly with the outfitter.