Middle (Three Forks to Rome)
Oregon – US
- Class
- III to V-
- Length
- 35 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 17 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 3,985 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 3,383 Feet
- Typical season
- March to June
Current Flow
81 CFS
Gauge height: 1.31 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:30 PM
▼ -0.26/hr (12h) ▼ -0.13/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- OWYHEE RIVER NR ROME OR Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 1,000 |
| Average | 2,000 |
| Maximum | 5,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
The Middle Owyhee is an excellent scenic and remote river and canyon. If you can hit this river when the water is flowing you will most likely have 2 to 4 days of river time all to yourself.
The Middle has plenty of challenging rapids, flat water, great camping and scenery to make this stretch of river a "must do". See the rapids section below for more info on the degree of whitewater throughout this canyon.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ledge Rapid | III to V- | 1,000–5,000 | After a mile or so of flat water to get warmed up you will encounter The Ledge. This is a boulder strewn technical section. The entrance usually requires a drop and then choosing a line down the boulders. At high, pushy water, this rapid can be quite difficult. |
Scout on the left side of the river. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Three Forks | 3,985 Feet | No | No | No | 4WD Only | Three Forks can be reached by taking the Three Forks road south from Highway 95. The turn off onto this road from 95 is 17 miles to the east of where 95 crosses the Owyhee. The Three Forks road is mellow except for the last mile or so where it drops from the canyon rim to the river. This is a steep switch-backed area that requires 4-wheel drive and high clearance. Pulling a trailer could be tricky on this last section of road. |
| Take-Out | Rome | 3,383 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Where Highway 95 crosses the Owyhee River in Rome, OR you can access the river just north of the bridge on the west side. |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
Oregon State Office
Bureau of Land Management
333 S.W. 1st. Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
All private boaters will receive a permit. Essentially obtaining a permit requires registering with the BLM office.
See the BLM site here for info on regulations.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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