Minam River Back Country Adventures with Go Wild!

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Hiking bridge over the Minam River which is designated as wild for your adventures.
Hiking bridge over the Minam River. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

The 42-mile long Minam River in Eastern Oregon is designated as wild and is totally contained within the unspoiled Eagle Cap Wilderness. The water in the summer here is pure snow melt and crystal clear. This was once land traveled by the indigenous people of the area. The Nez Perce Indians walked the river to track their prey and to fish the salmon and rainbow trout that abound in its waters. Today, this is still a remote and unspoiled land with elk, bears, water buffalo and an abundance of water fowl.

Watch a heard of elk cross Minam River during your adventures
A herd of elk crossing the Minam River. Photo credit: Dan Sizer, GoWild! Adventures

I was able to experience this once in a lifetime trip to the backcountry in mid-summer with a guided journey led by local Dan Sizer, owner of GoWild! Adventures. Dan grew up in this area and is the only guide allowed by the state to take small groups into the Eagle Cap Wilderness for hiking, packrafting the river and camping. He understands the need to protect the backcountry. This area is not accessible by vehicle. To get here requires a charter plane flight or an 8.5 mile hike or horseback ride.

Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!

Who This Trip is For

  • People with a love for adventure travel and the outdoors
  • Those wanting a detox from technology (mobile phones don’t work here!)
  • Travelers who may have not had prior experience with camping or white water rafting
  • Foodies who want to be spoiled with world class culinary experiences

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in nearby LaGrande, Oregon. Lodging overnight with a dinner in town and a debrief. Try on drysuits and helmets required for paddling the cold river water.

Day 2: Awake early and fly by short charter flight in a small engine plane (four seater) to Minam River Lodge. Breakfast at the lodge followed by time on your own (I chose barn yoga). Afternoon included training for the trip. I snuck in a massage on the property before a family-style dinner.

Day 3: 10 mile hike in the backcountry along the river to the first campsite.

Day 4: Awake to full breakfast, get gear ready, raft river in the afternoon before arriving at second campsite.

Day 5: Early breakfast and on the water for a half-day float to conclude the trip in Minam. Transportation return to lodging in LaGrande.

Relax in the cool waters of Minam River during warm days.
The days are warm, but the river water is cool. Relaxing during a break. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Dan and his three-person crew took the utmost care to ensure that our small group of five ranging in ages from 22-62 felt comfortable, safe and understood what was needed from us to participate in the trip. We also had a mule-team that took our gear from the Minam River Lodge to each destination on the trip. The two-person mule team and their entourage of horses and mules, and their two herding dogs, made the trip truly seem like something from the early settler days.

Horses geared up for the hike along Minam River by GoWild.
Gear is hauled for you on a Minam River Adventure grip with GoWild! Photo credit: Dan Sizer

Elements of the Trip

  • Moderate hiking
  • Overnight camping in basic tents
  • White water rafting in packrafts
  • Plant and wildlife education, including fly fishing lessons

SheBuysTravel Tip: There are no showers after leaving Minam River Lodge. Participants are required to pack light. A small bag with wet wipes is a good lifesaver for a number of uses.

This is the way to do camping. No tents to pitch or dinner to make. Dan and his crew make quick work of making us comfortable. (As much as one can be in the wilderness.) No stranger to tent camping and river rafting on slower waters, I thought I had this trip nailed. The next two days enlightened me to be a bit more humble and accept that nature is always in control.

Enjoy fly fishing along the bank of the Minam River.
Fly fishing along the bank of the Minam River. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Hiking

After departing the Minam River Lodge and after a scrumptious breakfast of homemade biscuits with duck gravy, we embarked on an educational 10 mile hike to our first campsite. Following a lunch break with an impressive charcuterie board with artisan cheeses, local sausages and cherries from Dan’s backyard, we bushwacked off trail to find a 300 year old Ponderosa Pine bearing a scar left from the Nez Perce tribe, who originally inhabited the land. The tree had been carved out over multiple decades by women from the tribe who used sap from the tree to treat the interiors of their basketry. This made the baskets waterproof and they could then sous vide their food in them. It was incredible to think these people from so long ago had lived along the very same river I now hiked alongside.

Guides of GoWild! Adventures will ensure you are able to learn everything you ae able to learn through out your adventure.
GoWild! Adventures guide Dan Sizer explaining indigenous markings on a tree. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Packrafting Adventure

Our first day at Minam River Lodge included a half day of training with our new companions for several hours each day. I’m not talking about the other participants of the trip, but rather our single-person packrafts.

Packrafting is rather new to the U.S. These inflatable boats are similar to a kayak but a bit larger. They contain waterproof dry bag sides that you can zip your entire gear into, your tent, your luggage, everything.

Despite the 100 degree outdoor temps, we wore Devo style drysuits to escape the chill of the water. In our first attempts at training, they showed us how to assemble and blow up our packrafts, some basic paddling techniques and how to do defensive swimming in swift water. We were taught to put our legs in front of us, “race car style” and float on the top of the water until we can safely swim to shore.

We are also briefed on how to handle getting dumped out of our packraft, how to “read” the water and its currents and avoid rocks and other dangers.

Day one on the river and packrafts in the water, I’m confidently following my guide Cory. She expertly navigates the curves of the river a few feet ahead and avoids the outcrops of rocks that are sometimes indistinguishable and lurking below the surface slightly.

As we round a curve, Cory is pointing out a large brown bear on the left shore line. It was amazingly beautiful and drawn to the water for a cool drink on a hot day. Or perhaps it thought I was its lunch. Either way, I swiftly paddle on by, feeling the excitement and adrenaline rush from seeing the bear.

Gear up for packrafting the white waters of the rugged Minam River.
Packrafting the white waters of the rugged Minam River. Photo credit: Dan Valencia

Dining

The last thing I expected on an outdoor camping trip was fine dining. But Dan and his team go all out to impress at every meal. They allow time on their trips for guests to relax. Hiking and rafting are physically strenuous. But while guests relax, Dan and his team painstakingly put together thoughtful culinary creations and libations.

Our paddling efforts were rewarded with five-star meals. We ate like royalty on our camp chair thrones. Pisco sours and mint mojitos quenched our thirst, and we were treated with tastes of Peru and Columbia as we ate masterfully made dishes inspired by Dan’s travels. This restaurant-quality food was the furthest thing from normal hot dogs and hamburgers from my previous camping trips. The Go Wild team takes pride in supporting locally Eastern Oregon-owned businesses and farms with their specially sourced ingredients.

Enjoyable dining during your Minam River adventure.
Dinner on our Minam River adventure. Photo credit: Dan Sizer

Camping

Guests overnight in small two-person tents that are set up and torn down by the crew for you. Our group was small, so we each got our own tent. Both nights we camped, we enjoyed campfires, fresh mountain air and more stars than you ever imagined! GoWild! Adventures even supplied sleeping bags.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Bring a small blow up camping pad to place underneath the sleeping bag. Your body will thank you.

Enjoy star gazing while camping along the Minam River.
Stars abound in the dark sky while camping along the Minam River. Photo credit: Dan Sizer

I slept soundly that night. I felt tremendous gratitude for the lessons of the river and the parallels they have with life. You can’t force your way through it. Let the river carry you. Don’t focus on the obstacles, focus on your way around them and your body will lead you the right way. I remark on what a beautiful and hard life the indigenous Nez Perce people had here, and how the last 200 years of civilization have changed the river. Much is still the same, and I’m thankful to have had this commune with nature, refreshing my soul and spirit.

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Lisa Chism is a culinary and travel journalist with experience covering hotels, restaurants and destinations worldwide. She has previously served as head of PR for companies in health care, fitness, telecom and government. Her experience as a travel writer encompasses everything from solo outdoor adventure travel to family-friendly trips.
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