Lower (Rome to Leslie Gulch)

Most of the lower Owyhee is read and run without scouting.  About 12 miles down Upset tends to sneak up on folks because there is really easy water before this rapid and  at medium flows it isn't much of an issue except you can't see it until you make the left hand turn.  At higher flows >5000 it is harder to read and a wave train sets up.  Upset and Bulls Eye are very close together and at higher water are hard to distinguish.  When you get to Upset and Bulls Eye stay out of the main wave train because a nasty hole lurks at the bottom.  A friend was trashed in this hole for about 30 minutes and a guided trip lost an inflatable kayak passenger there (drowned).  You can't really scout it just be aware of the hazard and stay out of the main wave train.  At low flows these rapids can get very tight.

None

After a little over 30 miles (30.25 or so) you will enter Whistling Bird  you will see a huge rock that has broken from the cliff face into the river.  The river runs on both sides of the this massive rock the right side leads to an under cut cave.  If you have not run Whistling Bird before there is an easy scout on the left side.  The debris on the left tends to push you right at medium water and is shallow.  The run next to the rock looks scary but really isn't too bad, and at medium to low water this is where you will likely wind up. Don't be tempted to run this too conservatively and crab an oar in the shallow water. At higher water run it to the left. 

There is a debris field on the left pull in and walk to see the entry if you have not run it before.  It is a very easy scout. 

This is consider the hardest rapid on the lower stretch, there is a boulder field you must negotiate at medium and low water and at high water  large waves develop.   At medium high you can do this as a read and run rapid enter left and pull to the center, at lower levels it is worth a scout if you haven't done it before because the river takes a dramatic left turn and can be hard to see. At the end of this rapid are 2 rocks on river left  it is very difficult pulling against the river through this turn and likely you will end up heading for these 2 rocks.  A narrow chute runs through the rocks  At higher water 2 large holes deveolp on either just run the chute it is much less work and less risky than trying to run it right.  At low water 700 CFS you can make the pull right of the 2 rocks but the chute is still an easy run.  I would call this a III+ .

Scout on river right near the debris field, but I have scouted river left as well

This rapid is only an issue if you run it at very low water <1000.  At about 1000 it is worth a scout so you know where to enter, I have run this at around 650- 700 and it was a very technical rapid, we managed to squeeze through a right entry then center run after being hung up and one boat went far  right and luckily made it through, we flipped one boat at that water level. If you are doing this at very low water be sure to scout this, because it becomes the hardest rapid on the river.  There is a a scout on the left that is easier but at low water you might want to look at it from the right, that means hiking through willows and poison oak a nasty, scout.  At most water levels is is an easy read and run rapid. 

left at 1000 CF you might consdier right at flows of 650cfs

See access info here.

This is a good take out option to skip the flat water in the Owyhee Reservoir.  Only downfall is the road is 4WD and would be difficult taking a trailer down.  Especially if the trailer is very long or big.

The Birch Creek Historic Ranch is located in the southeast corner of Oregon in Malheur County. From Highway 95, 8 miles north of Jordan Valley, turn west at the Jordan Craters sign onto Cow Creek Road. Follow Bureau of Land Management Owyhee River access signs 28 miles to the ranch.

This take out is for those who want some rowing excercise.  It is located part way down the eatern side of the Owyhee Reservoir.

South onUS 95 from Homedale, ID to Leslie Gulch Recration Area turnoff (McBride Creek Rd), then west for 25 miles to Campground. Note: roads may be impassable when wet.