Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Trip
TIME TO GRAB A PADDLE...
At Sun Country Tours, anyone over the age of six with a great attitude is welcome on our river trips. We are honored to guide guests of all abilities — young and old, big and small, athletic or not — down our rivers, and our professionally-trained guides will teach you everything you need to know to ensure a fun and safe trip. Whether it's your very first time whitewater rafting, or you just need to jog your memory about what to wear, learn more about what you can expect on your journey below!
CHECK-IN, TRANSPORTATION, & SAFETY
We ask that you arrive no later than 20 to 30 minutes before your trip to check in, sign waivers, and complete any other necessary transactions. Once you’ve been checked in, you'll join the other guest groups on our patio to get fitted for gear, meet your guide, and board our transport vehicle.
On the half-day Big Eddy Thriller trips, you can expect about 20-30 minutes of transport time to and from the river put-in from either our Bend or Sunriver offices, and approx. 1.5 hours of river time. For full day trips down the McKenzie River, you can expect 1.25 hours of transport time each way with 3 total hours of river time; and 2 hours of transport time each way with 4.5 total hours of river time on the Lower Deschutes All Day Adventure.*
After arriving at the river launch site, your guides will provide an instructional and safety tip briefing.
THE RAFTING EXPERIENCE
After gearing up, it's time to hit the water in your guided raft! Guests that have booked a seat in a "general seating" raft may be sharing a boat with paddlers or parties from different households/travel groups. We recommend booking a private raft if you would like to ensure that you are only rafting with those who are part of your agreed-upon “guest group". There is a maximum of 6 paddlers permitted per raft.
While all of our trips include transportation to and from the river and stunning natural landscapes, only our full-day trips include a riverside lunch and the opportunity for swimming and boulder jumping!
FIRST TIMERS: WHAT TO EXPECT
You don’t need any experience, we are honored to guide people of all abilities down our rivers, and our professionally-trained guides will teach you everything you need to know to ensure a fun and safe trip. We also welcome disabled guests and can provide ADA accommodations upon request. Please contact us ahead of time to make special arrangements.
Whitewater rapids are classified on a scale of one to six using Roman numerals according to the International Scale of River Difficulty. Class I rapids are very mild, and we sometimes refer to them as "riffles." Class II and III are intermediate rapids, Class IV and V are rapids requiring advanced skills, and Class VI rapids are widely considered impassible. Sun Country Tours does not offer trips down any rivers with greater than a Class III rapid rating.
While there is a chance of falling out of the raft into the river, Sun Country Tours guides do everything they can to prevent it. However, many times, those who do fall out recount the experience as the highlight of their rafting adventure! The best way to prevent falling out, though, is to listen to your guide, both when they explain how to brace yourself while traveling rapids, and also what to do if you fall out.
WHAT TO WEAR
Weather in Central Oregon can change quickly, and we encourage you to check current and forecasted conditions to dress appropriately.
Warmer Weather:
- Bathing Suits
- T-Shirts
- Shorts
- Sunglasses
Colder Weather:
- Athletic Gear
- Rain Jackets
- Wool (helps wick moisture and keep you warmer)
- Complimentary splash gear is provided for all of our rafting trips that fit over your clothing to help block wind and big splashes
Try to avoid cotton clothing if possible! Cotton does not dry very well and you will likely be wet for the duration of your trip.
We always recommend that you wear shoes that can stay on your feet, like river sandals, water socks or athletic shoes that can get wet. Flip flops are not allowed, we do offer shoes for purchase in the retail shop.
WHAT TO BRING
- Water, preferably in refillable bottles, for the ride to and from the river
- Other non-alcoholic beverages
- Snacks for the ride to and from the river
- A towel and a change of dry clothing to make your ride back to town more comfortable after the McKenzie Magic, All Day Adventure and Umpqua 2-Day trips
- You may bring a towel and dry clothes for the Big Eddy Thriller if you wish
- We recommend leaving cell phones and other electronics on the bus to avoid water damage.
- GoPros are welcome on the raft—don’t forget to share your footage for a chance to be featured on our social platforms.
If you want to capture memories from this unforgettable trip without risking your personal devices, explore our Photo Packages so that you can relive this incredible adventure forever.
