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Illinois River
 Poll our guides and they will tell you that this is their favorite river. . . .
The Illinois combines the lush beauty of the Rogue with the challenging whitewater of the Tuolumne and the solitude of the Selway.
Every trip is a test; a test of skill, (numerous Class IV and V rapids in a narrow, rocky canyon), a test of patience (highly unpredictable flows and wildly fluctuating levels), and a test of rain gear, (Southern Oregon in the spring!)
But, when everything falls into place, this is river trip nirvana! The water is cold and often has a glacial, aquamarine tint to it; the canyon is green and is always blanketed with a dazzling mixture of trees, shrubs, and flowers; the creeks are ubiquitous, blasting into the main river and tumbling from the surrounding cliffs; and the rapids are big, bold and knee-knocking.
This is an incredible whitewater rafting trip for intrepid adventurers only; if you get cold, scared or bruised easily, stay at home.
"This is the most beautiful place I have ever been"
Harold Burns
ARTA GUIDE
AARON CAVAGNOLO
 SWM, 32, well-educated, (BS, UCD), employed, (D-I women's H20 polo coach, Class V ww guide), Pisces, with passion for thrift stores and chess, seeks SF, 23 to 30, with reliable transportation who doesn't think "math jokes" is an oxymoron; possible LTR or STR. Must enjoy romantic campfires, outdoor cooking, eating, and sleeping, and long walks on the beach carrying heavy loads; own lifejacket a plus. Nice clothes, makeup, and shoes not necessary. Will do own laundry, cooking, cleaning, and checkbook reconciliation; need help with hair care. Send picture of kayak to BOX ARTA, Groveland, CA 95321.
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For Left Brained People:
In one word: Unpredictable
In another word: Waterfalls
Expect to: Overdose on
 endorphins
Meeting Place:Grants Pass, OR
Length in days: 4
Length in miles: 31
Gradient: 26 feet/mile
Overall difficulty: IV+
Highest difficulty (#): V (4)
Rapids/day: ~ 15
Signature Rapid: Green Wall
Types of boats: Oar & combo
Hiking: B-
Scenery: A
Wilderness: A+
Fishing: C
Campsites: B+
Wildlife: B
Swimming: D
For Right Brained People:
If you are right-brained, (responsive to visual stimuli) you’ll love this place, (but of course, you won’t be able to verbalize your feelings about it afterwards). It is unbelievably beautiful, especially if you like to look at waterfalls and at every possible shade of green, (it is no exaggeration to say that the only time you can’t see a waterfall is when you are asleep or to say that this is the greenest place on Earth). But the waterfalls and greenery aren’t the main attraction; they’re not even second place. The main attraction is the whitewater and it is the real thing, lots of challenging rapids, mostly in the middle section, mostly roaring, crooked, fast, blind slalom courses through, around and over big boulders. Even in this wealth of whitewater, Green Wall stands out: words don’t do it justice; you have to be there, quaking, to get a sense of it. And then there is the remoteness and isolation, which are a bit scary; the river is really the only way in or out – no roads, no trails, no escape routes. Far more than any other trip we offer, leaving the launch site on the Illinois feels like heading into the unknown. We can’t wait.
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