The Klamath River seems to be a destination where great stories come from. Stories parents share of playing games with their kids or watching them jump off a rock into the river for the first time and seeing their kids grow in confidence. We hear stories of six year old kids going on their first big rafting adventure and falling in love with being splashed in roller-coaster rapids and sitting around the campfire at night. Come to the Klamath River and build your own stories of adventure and escaping the world to spend time with those you cherish most.
We love all of these stories for different reasons. We are also passionate about creating spaces for parents and their kids to build those memories of playing by the river; memories both will cherish for a lifetime. We are passionate about teaching people to inflatable kayak so they build the skills to paddle themselves through rapids and grow in self-confidence as they come smiling through the bottom waves. We love hearing these stories from our guests and rafting on the Klamath River is the perfect place to create your stories.
2025 is the ultimate year to come and join us on the Klamath River. Over the last year the largest dam removal project in U.S. history happened on the Klamath River opening up hundreds of miles of free flowing river for the first time in a century. Come join us and be the first to experience the free-flowing Klamath River. Due to the unknowns related to this dam removal and expected summer water levels we are only running trips in May and June of 2025 and space is very limited.
So give us a call today and learn about why the Klamath River is the premier multi-day river adventure in California and why National Geographic Adventure named this trip one of their top 10 family vacations.
Trip at a glance
Great trip for families looking to raft and camp together. Perfect for the younger kids.
Dates / Rates
Klamath River 3-day Trips
2025
Price:
Adults $1299
Youth $1199
Youth rate applies to anyone 17 years old and under.
Trip Dates:
May 23-25
May 30-June 1
June 6-8
June 13-15
June 27-29
Please meet us at the Indian Creek boat launch near Happy Camp CA. at 10:15 AM. Prior to the trip you need to arrange to have your car shuttled from Indian Creek to Ti Bar. From Indian Creek we float with everything for the trip for the following three days.
Detailed Itinerary for the Klamath River
Exact itineraries for the Klamath River fluctuate based on the river levels, the time of year and the group of participants.
Day 1: Meet the guides at Indian Creek at 10:15 AM. Your vehicle will remain here and you will transfer your luggage into a dry bag for the trip.
At the put-in on the Klamath River your guide will give you a thorough safety and paddling orientation before heading downstream towards the many Class II and III rapids. Expect today to be filled with exciting waves and great scenery. Class III rapids such as Kanaka, Devils Toenail and The Trench fill out the morning. Around lunchtime the group will pull over so the guides can make the first riverside lunch of sandwiches salads, cookies and other snacks. After lunch the group will continue down through more thrilling Klamath River whitewater interrupted by big pools for relaxing before reaching a beach where we set up camp for the night. In camp play some Frisbee with the kids, swim, or enjoy a beverage as the guides prepare your three-course dinner. Finish a hot Dutch oven dessert before you lay back with a great glass of wine, re-live the stories of the day around the fire, and then head into your tent where your cot is waiting for you.
Day 2: Start with a fresh cup of coffee and a hot breakfast complete with freshly baked cinnamon rolls. After breakfast lather on the sunscreen and climb into your boat. Today is another day of exciting Klamath River rapids such as Ferry Point, Independence Creek, and Dragons Tooth. Picture yourself floating between rapids, laying back in your boat and relaxing in the hot sun while the kids try to splash you from the raft.
If the group is up for it the afternoon, you may take on a technical hike/climb up to the falls at Ukanom creek for some swimming and pictures. After your hike and one more exciting rapid you arrive at an enormous beach camp for the night on the edge of the Klamath River. Tonight is typically one of our favorite camps with a big swimming hole and lots of sand for games.
Day 3: More whitewater and exploring. The final section of river includes a number of great class II and III rapids before the trip arrives at the takeout at Ti Bar. You car should be waiting for you at the takeout.
Where to Meet Orange Torpedo Trips
Indian Creek Boat Ramp near Happy Camp Ca. We meet in the parking lot at 10:15 AM. Your vehicle will be left here until ideally picked up that same day by the shuttle company.
Shuttles
You need to arrange to have your vehicle shuttled from Indian Creek boat ramp to Ti bar boat ramp. Have them pick up your vehicle on launch day and deliver on takeout day.
Accommodations
We recommend staying the night before in Yreka California, if coming from the south and Ashland, Oregon if coming from the north. Then drive into Happy Camp in the morning. While staying in Yreka leaves you with a 1.5 hour drive in the morning it has many more lodging opportunities than Happy Camp. In Yreka we recommend:
- Miners Inn/Best Western Yreka California 530-842-4355
Camping
If you want to camp in the Happy Camp area the night before or after your trip there are several campgrounds in the Kalmath River corridor. The one we prefere and the one closest to the meeting place in the morning is Curly Jack Campground
Flying In
Fly into either Medford Oregon or Redding California. Flying into Sacramento California puts you about 2 hours further away but it’s often significantly cheaper.
Typical Weather
Southern Oregon and Northern California are known for great summer weather. The Klamath River is especially known for hot weather making swimming ideal. While rain does occasionally sneak in during the summer months it is rare and usually only stays for a short time. Averages are:
Averages are:
- May · High (F)76 Low (F)41 Avg. Rainfall 1.55 in.
- June · High (F)84 Low (F)47 Avg. Rainfall .66 in.
- July · High (F)92 Low (F)51 Avg. Rainfall .31 in.
- August · High (F)92 Low (F)51 Avg. Rainfall .54 in.
When you meet us in Happy Camp your luggage will be moved into a dry bag for the trips.
We strongly recommend leaving lap-tops, tablets and other tech devices at home.
What to pack
On the River
- 2 or 3 swimsuits or shorts and top (cotton not recommended)
- Sports sandals or hard-soled wetsuit booties
- Synthetic paddling gloves
- Wide rimmed hat or ball cap (ball cap fits well under helmet)
- Polypro, synthetic or hydro-skin shirt (nice for mornings and chilly days)
- Water Bottle (1 liter) with carabiner
- Waterproof sunscreen
- Sunglasses with strap (consider bringing two pairs)
- OTT will supply wetsuits and splash-tops for chilly mornings
In Camp
- 2 pair pants & shorts (3 shirts)
- Fleece jacket or sweatshirt
- Light rain jacket
- Sleeping bag (can be provided) (synthetic material recommended - rated to 45F)
- Small towel
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Beanie
- Camera with extra film or memory cards and batteries
- Personal hygiene items
FAQs
Gratuity is certainly appreciated but by no means required. At the conclusion of a trip please just give any gratuity to the head guide who will divide it evenly among the crew. Standard restaurant gratuity percentages tend to apply these days. That is what we typically see on this trip as an average, please don’t feel obligated.
As on all OTT trips, this trip requires a 30% deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the trip launches. Upon making your reservation you have the option to set up your credit card to automatically run the balance on the due date.
On the River we typically have one guide for every three guests on a trip but the ratio depends on the size of the group and the types of boats everyone chooses.
NOPE. One of the best parts of a wilderness river trip is that your phone will not work. No cell service, 3G, wireless or any of the above. It’s a beautiful thing.
Yes, but with some limitation. If you start in an inflatable kayak and decide quickly that it’s not for you. We will get you out of the kayak. If you start in a raft and decide you want to kayak, we cannot always guarantee that ability. Based on what people tell us they want to do we pack a specific amount of equipment and bring an appropriate number of guides for a trip. Sometimes that does not leave much room to add kayakers mid-trip. People will often be willing to switch out throughout the trip, but if someone signs up to tackle the river in an inflatable kayak, we want to make sure they have chance to paddle the entire trip if they want.
Everything for the trip will go down the river. When you pack a dry bag at the put-in, that will be all of your stuff for the duration of the trip. All food, drinks, and camping equipment will be transported on our rafts for the entirety of the trip.
Orange Torpedo Trips was founded on the Rogue River in 1969 by rafting visionary, Jerry Bentley. Within just a few years OTT had spread to numerous rivers throughout the Northwest including the Klamath River, the Main Salmon River and Snake Rivers.
Youth is 17 and under.
As on most of our trips we offer a variety of river craft to choose from. Orange Torpedo Trips is best known for inflatable kayaking with 80% of our customers choosing this as the way to go down the river, but on this trip we offer 3 types of river craft on this trip. Watch the video to learn more about our 3-boats.
Orange Torpedo
Learn to paddle your own inflatable kayak (Torpedo). We have guides in Torpedo’s teaching you how to paddle and leading you through the rapids in a 4 to 1 ratio. If you happen to fall out the guides have you out of the river in seconds. 50+ years of doing it on the Rogue River and tens of thousands of satisfied returning customers prove that it is extremely fun.
Paddle Raft
A more traditional type of rafting, paddle rafts are a great way to go if you still want to do some work, but think the torpedo is just a little to much. Work with a team of your friends paddling the big boat through the rapids as the guide sits in the back to help navigate.
Oared Raft
Hop on an oared raft and ride in luxury. This is the relaxed way to travel. If taking in the scenery and letting the guide do the work is how you vacation then hop on board. This is how kids 4-11 years old will usually travel.
On this trip you will be required to sign an acknowledgement of risk form. You can find a copy of form here: Acknowledgement of Risk