Owner, Matt loves whitewater kayaking and rafting on the Rogue River and Klamath River and all the creeks in between.

About Kokopelli River Center

There is a small town in Southern Oregon nestled at the convergence of the ancient eroding Siskiyou Mountains and the youthful, volcanic Cascade Mountain Range of the Pacific Northwest. Ashland, Oregon is the name of this unique hamlet, located 15 miles from Medford, 14 miles from the California border, a few hours drive from Crater Lake, and an hour from Mount Shasta California. Ashland is a cultural center, home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and a truly unique company. We are Kokopelli River Guides, or just "Kokopelli" as we are called locally.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy at Kokopelli is to provide an intimate experience where not only your rafting guide or kayaking instructor gets to know you, but our entire company becomes your friend. You'll never be just another number to us. You are guaranteed to leave your whitewater rafting trip, kayak lesson, or your relaxing river trip with a newfound understanding and respect for the rivers of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Ashland, Oregon and the surrounding Pacific Northwest will become part of your soul and Kokopelli will be here year after year to entertain and pamper you on our deluxe whitewater rafting trips, inflatable kayaking trips,whitewater kayaking lessons or recreational kayaking lessons and tours.

Rivers for us at Kokopelli River Guides are a way of life. Rafting and kayaking are what we do not only for our jobs but for our vacations as well. There is so much beauty in Southern Oregon and Northern California that most people never see while driving in their car. But once you are on the river you can get to places and things that most people never see in their lifetime. Once you get out on the water you begin to shed away the layers of stress from every day life and begin to get in touch with what is really important in life. Running rivers is in our blood and we would love to share that love with you.

We believe in taking care of and protecting the environment and the places where we play for future generations to experience and love as much as we do. That's why we have changed all of our electric usage in our shop to the Green Tags program which replaces "traditional polluting sources of electricity with clean, secure, and sustainable renewable sources of energy that come from solar and wind power from across North America."

Owner, Leslie, loves rowing rafts and kayaking down Southern Oregon and Northern California rivers.

The Owners of Kokopelli

Kokopelli River Center is owned by Matt and Leslie Dopp. Matt and Leslie met while living in Vail, Colorado living the ski bum and raft guide lifestyle. Both spent the summers guiding rafts down the rivers of Colorado. Matt also taught kayaking for Alpine Kayak in Vail as well. Matt has been raft guiding for 14 years and is an American Canoe Association certified kayak instructor. He still loves the adrenaline of rafting and kayaking and has been known to run some pretty gnarly creeks and rivers in his kayak and raft. Matt is an extremely patient kayak instructor and is well versed in most everything you want to know about boating equipment. Leslie has been a raft guide for 13 years and enjoys whitewater kayaking and rowing a raft on multi-day river trips with their dog Granite (who you see on their website) as her fearless co-pilot. Leslie is a competent Class 4+ raft guide. She enjoys the beauty of being on the river and the peace it brings her as well as the challenge it presents.

Matt and Leslie decided they were growing weary of the ski bum lifestyle in Vail so they decided to move to Ashland, Oregon and start their own business. They named the business Kokopelli because they really love running rivers and backpacking in the desert southwest and the Kokopelli figure is well known in this area. Kokopelli began simply as a kayak school and has evolved into what it is today- kayak instruction, white water rafting trips, kayak and raft rentals, and a retail paddlesports store...And it's still growing.

Both Matt and Leslie are actively involved in the daily operations of Kokopelli River Center. You may see them running the retail shop, teaching kayak classes, guiding raft trips on the Rogue River and the Klamath River, or renting you an inflatable kayak to take for a day on the river. They both are actively involved in the Ashland Parks and Rec rafting and kayaking summer programs for kids. Matt and Leslie love what they do and being involved in a business that brings joy to so many people.

Our Guides, Instructors, and Equipment

We provide only the best paddling equipment with all our kayaking trips and kayak lessons. Your kayak guides and ACA-certified kayak instructors have been handpicked and trained for their ability to provide the most entertaining, informative, and safe river trip you have ever experienced.

Thank you and happy paddling,
Everyone at Kokopelli River Center