Lower Deschutes rafting: Desert sun, big rapids and glorious campsites

Explore Oregon: Making the most of the outdoors

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks about the glory of rafting the Lower Deschutes River with expert boater Jared Linkhart. They talk about how the high desert scenery, big rapids and riverside campsites make it the state's most popular rafting trips and how to make it happen — either with an outfitter or by running your own boat. Jared breaks down the different segments of the river, talks about how to run the biggest rapids, find the best campsites and get permits. The podcast is also joined by Jared's two kids — Emma and Jacob — who talk about how they learned to run the rapids of the Deschutes and their favorite parts of experiencing it. Jared, of Dundee, is a longtime rafter and river sage to boaters learning to get their family on the water. He runs multiple Facebook groups, including Whitewater Families of the PNW.