Willamette River Itinerary

The Willamette River accounts for 15 percent of the Columbia River's flow. Its main stem is 187 miles - 301 km - in northwestern Oregon as it flows northward between the Oregon coast and Cascade ranges. The Willamette Valley basin that contains two-thirds of Oregon's population and is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in North America, hence the destination of many 19^thcentury pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail. The river supports 60 fish species, including salmon and trout.

The Upper Tributaries of the Willamette originate in the mountains south and southeast of Eugene and meanders north to join the Columbia about 101 miles - 163 km - from the larger River's mouth on the Pacific Ocean. The channel is the main navigational channel for Portland's harbor and industrial areas.

The Willamette River has over 50 Bridges and Crossings

Watershed The Willamette River drains a region of 11,478 square miles - 29,730 km² - 12 percent of the total area of Oregon. Watersheds bordering the Willamette basin include the Deschutes and Sandy Rivers. Sixty-four percent of the watershed is privately owned, while 36 percent is publicly owned. 

Your anchor locations when visiting the Willamette River:
Portland Oregon and Seattle

Recent History by the early 20^th century, major river-control projects began to take place. Levees were constructed along the river in most urban areas, and Portland built concrete walls to protect its downtown sector. Decades later, many large dams were built on Cascade Range tributaries of the Willamette. The Army Corps of Engineers operates 13 such dams, which affect flows from about 40 percent of the basin. With development near the river came increased pollution. By the late 1930s, efforts to stem the pollution led to formation of a state sanitary board to oversee modest cleanup efforts. In the 1960s, Governor Tom McCall led a push for stronger pollution controls to enhance historical, natural, and recreational values along the river.

There are 20 Dams on the Willamette as well as a series of Levees Dikes and Channels

The Willamette Greenway program has created a system of parks, trails, and wildlife refuges along the river leading to the 1998 appellation of American Heritage River. 

Connect for a Willamette River Itinerary

American Westward Expansion

The Oregon California Mormon and Bozeman Trails

River Valley Trails played an important role in the westward expansion of the United States, providing the route for several major emigrant trails, including the Oregon, California, Mormon and Bozeman Trails. The French were the first Europeans to reach the Platte. At Casper, Wyoming the trails left the North Platte valley and followed the Sweetwater River valley and other river valleys going further west.

The Platte River originates in the state of Nebraska and is about 310 miles - 500 km - long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over 1,050 miles - 1,690 km. The Platte is a tributary of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. 

The North Platte River is approximately 716 miles - 1,152 km – long, across Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. It is navigable over most of its length at high water by canoes, kayaks and rafts. In Colorado and Wyoming, the river is narrower and much swifter flowing than it is in Nebraska, where it becomes a slow, shallow stream. The upper reaches of the river in the Rockies in Colorado and Wyoming are popular for recreation rafting and fishing. 

Casper Wyoming was established in 1860. Near what is now Casper was the location of several ferries that offered passage across the North Platte River during the summer Trail season starting about 1847. The wagon trails following the south side of the Platte/North Platte River ferried or waded in low water years across the South Platte River in several places to stay on the south side of the North Platte River where the trails were located. Those who went to Denver followed the South Platte River trail into Colorado. Historically, the North Platte River used to be up to a mile wide (1.6 km) in many places as evidenced by the old streambed and written records. 

The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River located in the eastern flank of the Colorado Rockies, Nebraska and southeastern Wyoming near Cheyenne. The river forms southwest of Denver in the South Park grassland basin and is a major source of drinking water for the Denver area, flowing north through central Denver. The highly industrial Denver Valley is also a major railroad route. North of Denver it is joined by Clear Creek which descends from the mountains to the west in a canyon that was the cradle of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush.

The South Platte is the Principal Source of Water for Eastern Colorado

History originally called the Rio Chato, and before the city of Denver was founded, many travelers came to the South Platte River to escape the arid Great Plains. 

Fly Fishing a Gold Medal Western trout river on the Eastern Slope of Colorado, the river is well known for its brown and rainbow trout.

the best way to travel is in the company of people who live and work in the places you visit.

Your Connection to the Oregon California Mormon and Bozeman Trails

A Visit to Lawrence Kansas

History Education Energy Water Parks Neighborhood Architecture and Local Transit

Downtown Lawrence is located 25 miles - 40 kilometers - east of Topeka and 35 miles - 56 km – west of Kansas City. Though Lawrence has a designated elevation of 866 feet - 264 m, the highest elevation is Mount Oread on the University of Kansas campus with an elevation of

1,020 feet - 310 m.

History Douglas County was part of the Shawnee Indian Reservation until the Kansas Territory was

opened to settlement in 1854; the Oregon Trail went through here and Hogback Ridge was used as a landmark on the trail. Lawrence was entangled with the slavery issue as Northern Democrats argued that residents should be able to decide the issue in newly created territories. Popular sovereignty was embodied in the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The law united anti-slavery forces into a movement committed to stopping the expansion of slavery, resulting in pro and anti-slavery elements moving into Kansas.

Emigration the New England Emigrant Aid Company was chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature to facilitate emigration to the region and selecting Lawrence as the site for the first colony with twenty-nine men remarking on the beauty of the spot and the magnificence of the view. The main street was named Massachusetts to commemorate the origins of the pioneer party. Pro and Anti-slavery groups co-existed for a few short months when pro-slavery settler Franklin Coleman killed a Free Stater at Hickory Point; violent political divisions characterized public life in Kansas for the next 10 years. During the Civil War, pro Confederacy forces rode into the city; houses and businesses in Lawrence were burned and between nearly 200 men and boys were murdered.

Quantrill's Raid was one of the most destructive in the history of Kansas

Energy facing an energy crisis in the early 1870s, Lawrence constructed a dam across the Kansas River to help provide the city with power; the Lawrence Land & Water Company completed the dam in 1873. The dam helped win business against Kansas City and Leavenworth.

Water Lawrence is located between the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers and several major creeks: Burroughs Creek, Baldwin Creek, Yankee Tank Creek in southwest Lawrence flows through central Lawrence and converges with the Wakarusa River which was dammed to form Clinton Lake. Potter Lake is on the University of Kansas Campus and Mary’s Lake is located within Prairie Park. The Haskell-Baker Wetlands, maintained by Haskell University is an extensive open space located in the southern part of the city featuring wetlands, native plants, hiking and biking trails, and interpretative signage about the prairie and wetland ecosystems.

Travel destinations and itineraries based on client interests by leveraging an in-depth knowledge of your destination, superior client service in the planning stages and throughout the trip or event and logistics expertise to reduce accommodations and transport costs as well as transfer times.

Education Lawrence is home to University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University. The United States Indian Industrial Training School opened in 1884. Boys learned tailor making, blacksmithing and farming while girls were taught cooking and homemaking. In 1993 the name was changed to the Haskell Indian Nations University.

The Elizabeth M. Watkins Community Museum is on the premises of the Watkins National Bank which opened in 1888 at 11th and Massachusetts. Founded by Jabez B. Watkins, the bank would last until 1929. Watkin’s wife Elizabeth donated the bank building to the city.

 The Free State Brewing Company opened in 1989, becoming the first legal brewery in Kansas in more than 100 years. The restaurant is in a renovated inter-urban trolley station in downtown Lawrence.

Parks Lawrence has 54 parks which include community and neighborhood parks, trails, cemeteries and nature preserves. A new, multi-use trail system called the Lawrence Loop encircles the city and will create a 22-mile paved recreational trail, a green transportation network, and opportunities for environmental restoration.

Neighborhood Architecture The architecture of Lawrence is greatly varied. Most buildings built before 1860 were destroyed in the Lawrence Massacre. Architectural styles represented in Old West Lawrence include Italianate, Victorian, Gothic Revival and Tudor.The National Register of Historic Places includes: Old West Lawrence, Oread, Hancock, Breezedale, and most of Rhode Island Street in East Lawrence.

Local Transit in 1871, the Lawrence Street Railway Company opened and offered citizens easy access to hotels and businesses along Massachusetts Street. The first streetcar was pulled by horses and mules.

Today, two bus systems operate in the city: Lawrence Transit, known as the T, is a public bus system operated by the city, and KU on Wheels, operated by the University of Kansas. Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound. Amtrak provides passenger service with a stop at the downtown Lawrence Station on the Southwest Chief line connecting Chicago and Los Angeles.

The North and South Platte Rivers

American River Trails

The Platte River originates in the state of Nebraska and is about 310 miles - 500 km - long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte, it flows for over 1,050 miles - 1,690 km. The Platte is a tributary of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

River Valley Trails played an important role in the westward expansion of the United States, providing the route for several major emigrant trails, including the Oregon, California, Mormon and Bozeman Trails. The French were the first Europeans to reach the Platte. At Casper, Wyoming the trails left the North Platte valley and followed the Sweetwater River valley and other river valleys going further west.

The North Platte River is approximately 716 miles - 1,152 km – long, across Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. It is navigable over most of its length at high water by canoes, kayaks and rafts. In Colorado and Wyoming, the river is narrower and much swifter flowing than it is in Nebraska, where it becomes a slow, shallow stream. The upper reaches of the river in the Rockies in Colorado and Wyoming are popular for recreation rafting and fishing.

Casper Wyoming was established in 1860. Near what is now Casper was the location of several ferries that offered passage across the North Platte River during the summer Trail season starting about 1847. The wagon trails following the south side of the Platte/North Platte River ferried or waded in low water years across the South Platte River in several places to stay on the south side of the North Platte River where the trails were located. Those who went to Denver followed the South Platte River trail into Colorado. Historically, the North Platte River used to be up to a mile wide (1.6 km) in many places as evidenced by the old streambed and written records.

Planning Your Trip assumes uniquely local dimensions in the places you visit, rooted in the local economy, history and traditions. TEMA develops personalized itineraries based on your preferences; we leverage an in-depth knowledge of your destinations with superior client service throughout your trip.

Your anchor locations when visiting the North and South Platte Rivers include Denver and Wyoming

The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River located in the eastern flank of the Colorado Rockies, Nebraska and southeastern Wyoming near Cheyenne. The river forms southwest of Denver in the South Park grassland basin and is a major source of drinking water for the Denver area, flowing north through central Denver. The highly industrial Denver Valley is also a major railroad route. North of Denver it is joined by Clear Creek which descends from the mountains to the west in a canyon that was the cradle of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush.

The South Platte is the Principal Source of Water for Eastern Colorado

History originally called the Rio Chato, and before the city of Denver was founded, many travelers came to the South Platte River to escape the arid Great Plains.

Fly Fishing a Gold Medal Western trout river on the Eastern Slope of Colorado, the river is well known for its brown and rainbow trout. 

Connect with Tema for North and South Platte River Itineraries

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