Ogimi River Trek

CONTRIBUTED BY CAPTAIN IAN

Looking for a sheer, unadulterated, organic adventure in the form of a gorgeous fresh water river trek? Here’s our answer!

I have been trekking up this river for 2 years. I discovered it during a Coleman Camping photo shoot. Coleman sent a small team of spot scouts looking for the perfect place to capitalize on their new advertising campaign. They did well! I showed up for the shoot and was AMAZED by the beauty and innocence of the surrounding jungle and fresh-water river. I was so awe-struck that I began to wonder up a small stream. For two hours! I couldn’t stop! Around each bend the river water got more clear, and the green leaves began to reflect the sun in a glitter more impressive than a disco ball made of diamonds. My mind said “Go Back, you’ve got modeling to do!” Buy my heart said “Dude… You’re dumb if you don’t find out what’s beyond the next bend!” So, I continued to walk. Eventually I made it back to the team and nobody noticed I was gone. Success! I am either really ugly, or extremely unimportant… Bahhh! (I’ll bury that deep down inside).

The next week I was back at the river to do some serious exploring with my dogs. I spent five hours wandering up the river and through the jungle. Still, I never reached a section that didn’t encourage me to press further. It’s that beautiful!

I have been on countless river treks in Okinawa. Most have been average, and some even bad experiences. Once I got bit by a strange bug and had to go to the hospital. I ended up with swollen hands that resembled Mickey Mouse. Other rivers were dirty, or littered with trash, or crowded with people. But not the Ogimi River Trek!

If you make the best decision of your Okinawan life and venture to explore this river, be prepared to get wet up to your waist at some points. Bring bug spray, or a long sleeve shirt and pants just to be safe. However, wildlife on the river is very tame and shouldn’t send you to the hospital. Find yourself a good walking stick and take off up any stream or river you are led too. You have many options! Please be kind to the surrounding nature. Let’s keep it natural!

Directions: From Kadena gate 1 go right on 58 towards Nago (about 1 hour 20 minutes). Pass Nago. Pass the big Aeon Mall and NEO park as you near the end of Nago. Begin looking for Highway 14 once the ocean appears on your left again. Make a right on Highway 14 (if you hit a Family Mart on your RIGHT side you’ve gone too far). Stay on highway 14 for 1 kilometer. Make a right immediately after the first small bridge. Continue straight on that road for as long as you want. The road follows the natural path of the river. Stop at any point you believe is beautiful and begin hiking up stream. I recommend you drive at least 10 minutes along the river before you begin your trek. It gets more beautiful the further you go.

 

*If anyone can supply the google coordinates, we would love to add this to the map!*