Dos Rios: Rafting and Birdwatching

The Dos Rios region is associated with the confluence of the Eel River and the Middle Fork Eel River. When looking for a hotel, you can distinguish between three different interests here: a multi-day river route, birdwatching at the Dos Rios Bridge, and winegrowing in the Dos Rios AVA. If you choose your destination based on activities, you can first decide whether rafting, wildlife watching, or the wine region will be the main focus of your stay.

Rafting on the Eel River

Dos Rios is a popular launch point for rafting and kayaking trips on a four-day route through the Eel River Canyon to Alderpoint. For planning purposes, the four-day route provides a clear timeframe and differs from a single day trip. Dos Rios is the launch point; Alderpoint is the endpoint of the route. This makes the river tangible not only as a landscape, but also as a specific itinerary. The Eel River received a state Wild and Scenic River designation in 1972 and a corresponding federal designation in 1981. The two years represent different designation levels for the same river. A section of the Middle Fork Eel River runs through rolling green oak woodlands and chaparral.

Birdwatching at the Dos Rios Bridge

For birdwatching, the Dos Rios Bridge at mile 15.29 is a detour from Highway 162. Along Laytonville-Dos Rios Road, the bridge is about half a mile away; there is a parking area at the south end of the bridge. From the bridge, you can watch schools of Chinook salmon, and overwintering ducks are occasionally seen. The bridge provides a named viewing spot, while the rafting and kayaking route is described as a multi-day journey. When comparing the activities, the difference is not just the subject, but also the format: a viewing spot or a river route ending in Alderpoint. Check the route before your visit.

Winegrowing and regional culture

Dos Rios is a recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Mendocino County. Vin de Tevis farms six acres of vineyard land within the Dos Rios AVA. The AVA designation anchors Dos Rios in Mendocino County’s winegrowing region; the figure of six acres makes Vin de Tevis’s connection more specific. If you are weighing river activities against winegrowing, a multi-day route and a named growing region are two different travel interests.

Dos Rios Ranch is a summer camp, workshop, and performance center. Summer Feast is a site-specific performance held throughout the Dos Rios property. This offers another, culturally focused perspective on the trip: unlike the river route, Summer Feast is tied to the property. Check the event dates before planning your stay around it.

Discover more destinations: Ukiah, Mendocino, Hopland, Redwood Valley, Gualala, Fort Bragg, Anchor Bay, Point Arena

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