Rogue River: Itinerary & Highlights Southwest Oregon       3, 4 or 5 days     April - September Class III+    Book a Rogue River Rafting Trip Rogue Rafting Trip Schedule & Prices

First morning

We meet at 8:30 AM on the day your trip begins at the Galice Resort Cafe. The Resort is situated along the banks of the river not far from the town of Grants Pass. Galice is roughly 400 miles north of San Francisco, California, and 250 miles south of Portland, Oregon.  (Please have your breakfast before our meeting time, and arrive in your river clothes.) Our Lead Guide will meet you in front of the cafe and store. Look for a vehicle sporting the O.R.E. logo. If in doubt about where to find us, ask a Galice employee at the store, and they will assist you. After a brief orientation you will pack your things into our river bags, and park your vehicles at Galice. We will then go by van to the launch site a few miles downstream. Depending upon trip length and water level, we begin our river trip at either Almeda Bar, Argo Bar, or Grave Creek boat ramp.

Once we arrive at our launch site, you’ll meet the rest of our guide crew, and they’ll conduct a short safety and orientation briefing, which will include instruction on paddle and rowing techniques as needed. We’re normally on our way downstream by mid-morning.

On the river

Each day is a bit different. But a typical day on the river begins with freshly brewed coffee around 7 AM, and breakfast by 8 AM. After breakfast we’ll pack our bags and load the boats. Then, after a brief orientation to the day’s adventures, we’ll head downstream.

We’re on the river an average of four hours per day. Along the way we stop for a riverside picnic lunch. We may also stop to swim, to explore historic sites, to scout rapids, or hike up scenic side streams. We usually arrive at camp or lodge by mid to late afternoon, and while the guides (or lodge staff) prepare hors d’oeuvres and dinner, you’ll have time to hike, swim, fish, read, or nap.

Last day

We typically arrive at Foster Bar, our take-out point, between 1:30 and 3 PM. Once we’ve unpacked, you’ll board a van for the ride back to Galice. (On small trips, we will completely de-rig the boats, and our guides will accompany you back to Galice. On larger trips, you will say good-bye to the guides when you leave Foster Bar, as they will stay behind to finish de-rigging.) The ride takes about two hours, on scenic Bear Camp Road through the Siskiyou National Forest. Climbing 4,000 feet through mountainous terrain before descending to Galice, it’s a beautiful drive. (It is also a winding road, so if you’re particularly susceptible to car sickness you may want to bring Dramamine.) We arrive back in Galice between 4:30 and 6:00 PM.

Trip Highlights

Our first day on the river begins with mild rapids which are ideal for a warm up, especially for those behind the oars or paddling an inflatable kayak. Once past Grave Creek boat ramp we encounter our first major rapids, Grave Creek rapids and Grave Creek falls. Not long after we come to the biggest rapid on the river: class V+ Rainie Falls. No-one will raft the falls themselves, and most people will walk around the rapids altogether. But water levels permitting we may invite members of the group to challenge a class III+ side channel, the "Fish Ladder". While at Rainie we’ll keep an eye out for Salmon, jumping the falls: a spectacular sight.

Days two and three provide the most exciting whitewater of the trip. (One three day trips, these rapids are run in the afternoon on day one, and all day the next.) We encounter numerous class III rapids, including Wildcat, Horseshoe Bend, and Black Bar Falls. Two spectacular class IV rapids — Mule Creek Canyon and Blossom Bar — are the whitewater highlights of the trip. (Please note: Unless water levels are particularly favorable, our guides will take the inflatable kayaks and row-yourself rafts through the first section of Blossom Bar before turning these boats back over to our guests for the remainder of the rapid.)

In addition to the rapids the Rogue offers other attractions. Time and conditions permitting we may hike up to the double waterfalls at Dulog Creek, stop to explore the swimming holes at Howard Creek or Big Windy Creek, pay a visit to the historic Rogue River Ranch, or stop for a picnic lunch at the waterfalls of beautiful Flora Dell.

Weather and Climate

The weather in the Rogue River canyon is usually very pleasant. Warm or hot days are likely, especially June through September. The river water itself is cool in the Spring, and warms by early July to the high 60’s.

 

Overview

Itinerary

Details

Packing List

Maps

Weather

History

Natural History