Ouzel Outfitters

Meet Helen! Helen has been guiding for Ouzel since 2021. She was born and raised in San Diego, California. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in Marine Biology she moved to Bend and became friends with raft guides. They introduced her to fresh water activities including rafting. When Helen is not rafting you can find her mountain biking, painting or in the garage making jewelry. An accomplishment she is particularly proud of is making a three-foot-tall blue ceramic squirrel in a pottery class in college. It is now on display at her dad’s house on the Oregon coast.

Today we want to talk about Bobby! Bobby is from Fairfax, Virginia and started his guiding career in Northern California in 1999. He enjoys mt. biking, playing disc golf, fixing cars and spending time on the river with his wife and daughter. Bobby works in the Bend LaPine School District in the off season in a special education behavior program. A beloved member of the Ouzel family Bobby has been working rivers for Ouzel since 2001!

Return Guide Training 2026 is a wrap! Another incredible 4 days on the Wild and Scenic Rogue for these Ouzels. From "first timers" to "lost counters" fun was had by all. Things were learned, practiced and experienced and songs were written to commemorate. Cheers to another great season with even greater humans.

Ouzel guides spent the weekend brushing up on some medical skills at Sawyer Park recently. Not having an Owyhee season has given us a bit of extra time to get some training in. This Memorial Day weekend we head to the Rogue for our annual Return Guide Training and everyone is very much looking forward to getting on the river!

Winter may have given us a lousy snow pack but the Rogue will be running this season! Along with the Lower Salmon, the Deschutes and the McKenzie! Hop on a rafting trip to cool off and unplug from the chaos this summer.

The Wild & Scenic Rogue River is shaping up for another dependable summer rafting season. 🌊

While many Western rivers are experiencing lower water conditions this year, the Rogue benefits from managed releases through Lost Creek Reservoir, helping maintain reliable rafting flows throughout the season.

That means travelers can feel confident planning everything from family-friendly floats to multi-day wilderness adventures from May through October.

With warm weather, splashy rapids, forested canyons, wildlife, and nights under star-filled skies, the Rogue continues to stand out as one of the Pacific Northwest’s classic summer river trips. And with experienced guides and outfitters offering half-day, full-day, camping, and lodge-to-lodge experiences, getting on the river is easier than ever.

Learn more about rafting the Rogue and connect with Guides & Outfitters on https://www.southernoregon.org/water-sports-adventure/whitewater-rafting-adventures/family-friendly-rapids/how-to-raft-the-rogue-river-this-summer/

Next up on "Meet our Guides" is Hailey! Hailey is from from Georgia, but after graduating from Appalachian State in North Carolina she decided to move out west to be able to explore more of the outdoors. "I am super lucky to be working with a company like Ouzel in the summer and as a snowboarding instructor in the off season." In her free time she enjoys camping, hiking, travelling when she can, snowboarding, and playing music.

Meet our guides! Today we want to introduce Mikayla! Mikayla was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. She spent the last few years at Western Washington University studying Environmental Science. Since graduating she has been working seasonally at Mt. Baker Ski Area in Washington and guiding at Ouzel! Her first rafting trip was on the McKenzie river when she was three years old and she’s been hooked ever since! In her free time she enjoys skiing, climbing, yoga and baking sweet treats.

There is still plenty of room on our June 30th 4-Day Camp & Lodge Combination trip with 2 nights camping riverside and the last night spent at the luxurious Half Moon Bar Lodge! Our trips are fully outfitted and our camping is more like "glamping" but the beautifully restored Historic Half Moon Bar Lodge offers a cozy bed and a hot shower. Not to mention delicious meals made from fresh ingredients grown on the property garden. We also have 10 spaces available on our August 18th Camp & Lodge Combo Trip. Join us and experience this magical place only accessible by boat.

Our Lower Salmon trips have some seriously great places to relax riverside. Just saying.