Rogue River Rafting - Oregon… (trip)

Rogue River Rafting - Oregon Rafting

  • Medford Airport, Medford, OR, United States
  • Boats, Barges & Small Ship Cruises
Oregon, United States, North America

from $945* per person4 DaysMay-September
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 4
Operator: ROW International 12 people max
Rogue River Rafting in Oregon's stunning wilderness background is one of the most exciting summer trips we have. Congress recognized the Rogue River’s special qualities when it was designated as one of the original Wild & Scenic Rivers in 1968 because of its beauty, vast repertoire of wildlife, rich flora and diversity of life. It is the home to a number of pioneer homesteads which are a big part of the lore of the Wild West. The Rogue River also provides freshwater habitat to large annual ocean-going salmon and steelhead runs and is home to a diversity of flora and fauna that is unmatched anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

The Rogue River in Oregon flows from the Cascade Mountain Range near Crater Lake National Park. It passes through a wide variety of topography including dramatic natural rock formations and its canyons are home to a large amount of wildlife and an abundance of a variety of flora. This Oregon rafting trip boasts of over 80 rapids and whitewater treats that are exciting to all levels of river rafters.

Our unique Oregon rafting on the Rogue River include lodge-based trips that give you the best of both worlds - outdoor rafting fun during the day and comfort of a lodge at night. The lodges are basic but comfortable, set in remote wilderness near the river. As the sun shines down on the Rogue River you are surrounded by the untamed natural beauty of the Northwest U.S. The Rogue winds down from the awe-inspiring Cascades and makes its way down to the rough, untarnished coastline. This rafting tour takes you on over 40 miles of the best parts of the Rogue.

The rapids on this river make a perfect rafting adventure for your family. The Rogue accommodates any experience level, whether beginner or intermediate, so anyone can enjoy the whitewater excitement. Famous rapids like Rainie Falls and Blossom Bar make the adrenaline fueled trip absolutely unforgettable. Feeling adventurous? Try an inflatable kayak (duckie) for an experience you'll never forget on the rapids.

The Rogue River was named by French fur trappers who arrived here in the early 1820’s and had skirmishes with the local Indians of the area. The French called these people “les Coquins” which means “the Rogues” and named the river “La Riviere aux Coquins,” the Rogue River.

Our trips flow through the most remote and scenic canyons of the Rogue River where the surrounding forest is brimming with wildlife, watching your every move as you cascade down the river. Most people leave with memories of river otters and deer, and if you're lucky you may even see a black bear on the shores. Another wildlife highlight is the incredible variety of birds you'll see swooping gracefully through the air and perching on pine branches. Keep an eye out for osprey, great blue herons, and the majestic bald eagle.

The variety of conifer and hardwood tree species, as well as evergreen shrubs in the Rogue River canyon is impressive. The most common plants are evergreen hardwoods such as tanoak, madrone and chinquapin. There is also Oregon white oak on the south-facing slopes as well as Canyon live oak. There are also older forests of conifer species such as sugar pine, the mighty ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, white fir, incense cedar and Pacific yew. Beneath these grow rhododendron and salal.

The Siskiyou and Klamath Mountains, through which the Rogue River flows, are world renowned for botanical diversity. During our spring rafting trips on the Rogue the canyon is in full bloom. There are a number of unique and rare plants including various mosses and fungi. It’s always exciting to find the endemic Rogue River stonecrop (Sedum moranii) sometimes found on cliff faces and rocky outcrops. The white flowered ginger is another beautiful species we see as we raft the Rogue River.

The Rogue River has seen people living along its banks for thousands of years. Early Native Americans lived along the Rogue, or “Gelam” River. These included the Takelma, or Da-Gel-Ma, names that translate t o mean “those who live alongside the river.” Upstread were another band of Takelma called the “Ha-ne-sakh’s” meaning the “rotten log people.” Near Galice Creek was a band called the “Tal-tuc-tun-te-de” and further downriver were the Tutuni. . These people lived off the land, eating acorns, salmon, steelhead, deer and various plants including camas.

Today it’s easy to imagine what life must have been like for these people and when you raft with us our guides will help you better understand the rich history of the Rogue.

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Locations visited/nearby

Oregon, United States, North America

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Special information

  • Family oriented trip.

Itinerary

DAY 0 - Travel to Merlin, Oregon and meet your Team Leader at Morrison's Lodge at 5:45pm for a one-hour orientation meeting to answer last minute questions.  You will receive your waterproof gear bags (one for every two people) to pack.  Dinner is on your own.

DAY 1 - Everything on the first day of Rogue River rafting camping trip follows the same schedule as above except that on day one we usually stop to camp at Tyee Raids around 4:00 pm. While tents are being setup and the camp is getting organized for the evening, we lay out our legendary ROW Adventures’ hors d’oeuvres along with complimentary drinks and ice. Some of our guides work on dinner while others are available to spend time with you, lead a walk and tell stories about the river. Dinner is generally served around 6:30 or 7:00 pm. We serve fresh and bountiful food, making a point to locally source as much as we can. Our huge coolers carry fresh fruits, vegetables and meats along with other dry storage boxes filled with delectable items. After dinner we enjoy sitting under the night sky and visiting before heading to spacious tents to sleep.

DAY 2 – We greet you with hot coffee, tea or cocoa and then serve breakfast about 7:30 am. We try to get back on the water by 9 - 9:30 am. each day. We spend the second day going through a series of boisterous Class II and III rapids such as Wildcat, Russian, Slim Pickins and Plowshare. After a fun morning we stop for lunch at a riverside beach, or under the towering pines. Later in the day we stop at Zane Grey's Cabin and take a break to go view the historic items near the cabin. A bit further down the Rogue River, we arrive at the second night's camp site, Missouri Creek. Camp is set up and we fall into our evening routine as the day before. Once again, hors d’oeuvres are served followed by dinner. Stories of the day are shared and memories fondly recalled.

DAY 3 - After a big camp breakfast of little sausages, hazelnut encrusted french toast, homemade fruit salad and applesauce we get on the water about 9:30am and head out to experience the biggest rapids of the 4 day adventure. Rapids like John's rapids and China rapids are Class II and lead up to the "big three"--Mule Creek Canyon, Blossom Bar, and Devil's Staircase rapids. The three latter rapids are Class IV, Class IV, and Class III. After that heart pumping experience, the river mellows out a bit and we typically stop for lunch soon after rafting through Devil's Staircase. The afternoon is filled with fun Class II and III rapids and we will pick one of two different camp sites for the late evening: Half Moon Bar or Solitude. Again, we make camp about 4:00pm and settle in to the now-comfortable routing. Our evening meal might be our signature Dutch oven prime rib or something equally delicious.

DAY 4 – On our last morning we once again bring coffee to your tent and then enjoy a hearty breakfast. Back on the water about 9:30am we continue floating through the gorgeous forests of the Rogue River canyon. We stop for lunch along the way and then arrive at Foster Bar about 2:00pm. There we say good-bye and board the vans for the two hour ride back to Morrison's Lodge.

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