For Right-Brained People
Map of the Rogue River

Everyone loves the Rogue! The river is beautiful, but in that unassuming, natural, comfortable, not-flashy kind of way; like it would look good in sweat pants and a T-shirt, in the morning. No stunning, cover-of-National-Geographic vistas, just mile after mile of gentle prettiness. Same with the rapids, no real heart-stoppers or poster-shots, just mile after mile of fun, straightforward, manageable drops and chutes; frequent, but not frenzied. It has its moments, like at Mule Creek Canyon where the whole river channels down into a narrow, walled-in gorge and rushes through a mile-long stretch of lively whitewater, but for the most part, this is just an easy place to be. The water is that perfect-for-swimming temperature; we take lots of different kinds of boats, from ridiculously relaxing oar rafts to dial-your-own-thrill-level inflatable kayaks; there are tons of side-streams; there are good campsites with great swimming opportunities; a few short hikes, a few historic cabins, and so much wildlife that you may get tired of watching osprey dive for fish. For kids it’s like a playground; for parents, well, it’s like taking your kids to the playground.

More about the Rogue River

The Rogue River is born on the slopes of the Klamath Mountains surrounding Crater Lake. It flows west past the towns of Medford and Grants Pass before carving a wild and remote canyon through the coastal range of the Siskiyou Mountains. It is here, in the beautiful, heavily forested, “Wild Rogue” canyon, that our trips take place.

The canyon slopes are blanketed with stands of douglas fir, ponderosa pine, madrone, and numerous varieties of oak. Ferns, wildflowers, and blackberries flourish up the numerous side streams. Abundant wildlife inhabits the canyon and we commonly see deer, otter, osprey, bald eagles, and an occasional black bear. The river itself follows a diverse course, alternately crashing over abrupt ledges, flattening into shallow expanses, and squeezing between house-sized boulders or through narrow gorges. There are rapids every day with highlights at Mule Creek Canyon and Blossom Bar on day 3 or 4.

There are also numerous sites of historical interest along the way. While the original inhabitants, the Siletz Indians, left little behind, a decaying legacy of the miners, homesteaders, and hermits who followed still remains. Old miner’s shacks, historical ranches, and even Zane Grey’s fishing cabin provide a glimpse into the region’s past.

In 1968, the Rogue was one of the first rivers to be declared a National Wild and Scenic River, protecting its wild beauty for future generations, such as ours, to enjoy.

I can’t say enough about your guides. They all really helped make the trip one of the greatest vacations my kids and I have ever been on.

Susan McKinney

A special way to see the Rogue

Wilderness Lodge Trips
Our Rogue River Camp – Lodge trips offer the best of both worlds

One night of peaceful, wilderness camping along the shores of the river and one night of rustic luxury at a wilderness lodge. One evening of cold beer around the crackling campfire and one evening of cocktails on the porch. One dinner cooked by our guides and enjoyed with our toes in the sand and one dinner prepared by the lodge and served around big tables in the dining room. One night of star-gazing and then another night of star-gazing. (And, let’s not forget, one night of groover and one night of indoor plumbing). This might be the most relaxing river trip we offer.

We offer a few scheduled Lodge or Camp-Lodge trips on the Rogue every summer and we can arrange more by request. Details here. Contact us if you are interested. 209-962-7873.