Trip Details: Rogue River Whitewater Rafting Trips

Trip Dates and Prices
Price per person. Please be sure to add the 6% govt./land use fee to these prices. Trip includes all overnight accommodations or personal camping gear, meals, transportation between the river and rendezvous, guides, and specialty river gear.

Three-Day Rogue River Lodge Trip:
Our three-day Rogue lodge trips are priced at $845 per adult and $795 per youth (under 16), plus a 6% govt./land use fee. Trips include all accommodations (in lodges such as Clay Hill lodge on the left--with real deer in the yard!), meals, guides, transportation between the rendezvous and river, and specialty rafting gear. Lodge trips are available throughout April and May at anytime, and on the following dates: June 3, 10, 17, 24; July 1, 8, 15, 22 August 5, 12, 26; Sept. 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28.

Four-Day Rogue River Camp Trip:
We offer four-day camp trips throughout the summer with regularly scheduled departures. We als offer on a charter trip, demand basis four-day lodge trips. And, we run three-day Rogue river lodge trips that depart every week. Our four-day camp trips are priced at $845 per adult and $795 per youth (under 16). The three-day Rogue river lodge trip is priced at $845 per adult and $795 per youth (under 16). Please be sure to add the 6% govt./land use fee to these prices. The camp trips include all meals, guides, specialty rafting gear, and all personal camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, pads, etc.). Four-day camp trips are available throughout April and May and up through mid-June at anytime, and on the following dates: June 2, 5, 10, 13, 17, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 29, 31; August 9, 17, 18, 22, 26; Sept. 3, 8, 13, 14, 18, 23.

Four-Day Rogue River Rafting Camp/Lodge Combo Trips:
Please call for prices
Four-day camp/lodge combo trips are available throughout April and May and up through mid-June at anytime, and on the following dates: April-May, anytime. June 3, 10, 17, 24; July 1, 8, 15, 22 August 5, 12, 26; Sept. 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28. Please call for prices.

River Difficulty
The Rogue river is regarded as a class III river. This means that the vast majority of rapids are class III or easier. There are, at most water levels, a couple of class easier IV rapids. Class I is flat water and Class VI is unrunnably difficult. Class II has current with small waves and some obstacles.Class III rapids are fun and thrilling, ideal for first-time and experienced rafters. Class IV whitewater is great for experienced rafters and reasonable for fit first-timers who have had some warm-up in class III. Class V is very difficult and for experienced river rafters.

Meeting Time and Place
We meet by the gas pump at the Galice Resort at 7:00 am the morning of your trip for lodge trips. Camp trips meet at 8:00 am. Your guides will answer questions and distribute waterproof bags. After packing your waterproof bags we provide breakfast at the Galice Resort. At breakfast your trip leader will explain the trip and answer any last minute questions.

Getting To The Rendezvous
By Air:
Medford, Oregon has the nearest commercial airport with services by major airlines. Please plan to arrive the evening before your trip, and to leave no sooner than 7 p.m. on the last day of your trip. We can arrange for shuttle transportation from and to the Medford Airport for you.

By Car:
Take the Merlin Exit (#61) off of I-5 (about 3 miles north of Grants Pass). Go west on the Merlin-Galice Road after exiting the freeway. You will pass through the town of Merlin. Continue on this road, crossing over the Hellgate Bridge and on to Galice. The Galice Resort, approximately 16 miles from the freeway, is marked by a small sign and a gas pump. If you cross the Rogue a second time, you've gone about 7 miles too far. Please plan to arrive in Galice the evening before your trip.

Rogue Excursions provides all transportation from Galice to our launch site, and back to Galice from our take-out. Additional transportation to and from Medford or Grants Pass can be arranged for an additional fee.

Trip Outline
Trip Departure: After breakfast, we will re-park your cars in the parking area and board a van for the short ride to the launch site. There will be a comprehensive orientation and safety talk at the put-in before getting on the water.

Note: The below itinerary describes a lodge trip. For camp trips we pull ashore at the end of the day and the guides set up camp and help you with your tent, sleeping bags, etc. In the evening the guides serve gourmet dinners that follow satisfying happy hour snacks and beverages. In the morning the guides prepare a hot, multi-course breakfast that fuels you for the morning's runs.

Day One:
Your trip leader and river shuttle vehicle will meet you just downstream of the gas pumps at Galice Resort, at 7:00 a.m., on the first day of your Rogue river white water rafting trip. After a brief introduction the trip leader will distribute waterproof "dry" bags. You will then pack your night clothes into the dry bag (be sure to keep any items you want during the day out of this dry bag, as we have separate "day" dry bags). After packing your dry bag we will provide breakfast, answer any last minute questions you may have, and help assure that your car is parked in a secure parking area. We then head to the launch point and participate in a thorough instructional and safety presentation.

Then, its on the river! Fun whitewater, peaceful calms and magnificent scenery will fill your senses. After this initial stretch of river we reach Rainie Falls, a thundering drop that we skirt by walking around or running a sneak channel, depending on water levels. Then, an expansive lunch fuels your system for the afternoon of rafting. More phenomenal rapids and scenery await below Rainie, and we reach the first lodge late in the afternoon after an unbelievably enjoyable first day. You relax in the company of downright friendly people at the lodge, take a shower, enjoy an early evening hors doeuvres, and unwind as the lodge makes a delicious dinner. After filling up on a delicious and hearty meal we listen to the river and share tales of the Rogue as twilight comes to the canyon. To cap the day you crawl into your comfortable bed and dream of the next day's adventure!

Subsequent Days (The number of days varies according to your trip length):
Each day on the Rogue river rafting trip follows a similar routine although no two days are alike. Breakfast, a multi-course affair with hot cowboy coffee, is served as the sun warms the canyon. After loading the rafts we run rapid after exhilarating rapid, drift through idyllic calms, marvel at the rock formations, watch eagle and osprey as they circle overhead, and on and on. Depending on the day we may visit Zane Grey's former writing getaway, hike up to one of the many side creek waterfalls, or visit a remote wilderness lodge. Lunch is set up each day around noon, with more than enough delicious food to energize you for the afternoon's whitewater. In the late afternoon we reach the next lodge in another beautiful and secluded wild place. The early evening hours provide time to fish, hike, read a book, enjoy happy hour snacks and beverages, or take a nap. Dinner, in all of its glory, is prepared with style and flair. You will eat to your stomach's content and the sound of the river lulls us to sleep. Please note that there may be periods during the summer when campfires are prohibited.

Final Day:
After breakfast we float the final stretch of river, enjoy lunch on the magical banks, and reach take-out, near the tiny town of Agness, in the early afternoon. Following a celebration toast and salute to a great trip, our shuttle vehicle meets us and we head over the hills back to Galice Resort. This drive, approximately two hours, is along the ridge tops of the Rogue river canyon, and affords panoramic views of the Siskiyou Mountains. We reach Galice late in the afternoon, but generally in time for night flights out of Medford. Note: the river take-out point at Agness is approximately sixty miles from the Oregon coast. Those with travel plans that include visiting the coast may want to have their vehicles shuttled to the take-out point as Agness is closer to the coast than Galice. There is a small fee for this service.

Where To Stay
We recommend lodging at the Galice Resort (541-476-3818) before and after your trip. A rustic, family run place, Galice is friendly and convenient. Those seeking more upscale accommodations may consider the Windmill Inn in Medford. You may choose to camp at Alameda Bar County Park, several miles past the Galice Resort.

Additional Information
Experience Required
No previous experience is necessary for the Rogue river whitewater rafting trip. It is a great trip for first timers. Our minimum age is 6, except for high water trips, in which case the minimum age is 12. The maximum age is up to you! Your guides will gladly help with any aspect of our trip that is new for you, whether that means setting up a new tent or learning to paddle.

Participant Fitness And Activity Levels
Rogue Excursions trips are created with fun, curious, and nature-loving adventurers in mind. Our Rogue river rafting trip is ideal for those with a zest for the outdoors, moderate adventures, and self-determined activity levels. While you should be fit and in good health for this trip, you need not be a honed athlete. First timers, families, friends, experienced rafters, and independent and mature travelers are welcome and thrive on our Rogue river rafting trips.

Weather
The Rogue has relatively mild weather almost year-round. Temperatures from late May through June, and then in September, are usually in the high 70's to high 80's during the day and 50's to 60's at night. July and August days often reach into the 90's and nights are in the 50's and 60's. Of course, rain can occur any time and weather in the canyon can be unpredictable. Always bring rain gear and a tent. Wetsuits are required for all spring and fall trips. These are available free of charge from Rogue Excursions.

Equipment
Rogue Excursions provides lifejackets, waterproof bags, personal camping gear such as sleeping bags, pads, and tents, camp chairs and eating utensils and all the specialized river gear you need. Inflatable kayaks are provided on every Rogue trip. A complete list of what you should bring will be included in your confirmation packet. Note: For lodge trips guests need not bring anything related to bedding. All linens are provided by the lodges.

Fishing
Fishing on the Rogue river is generally good. We will gladly carry on the gear rafts any personal fishing gear you want to bring. Oregon requires you to have a fishing license if you intend to fish during your visit. Your guide can help you obtain a license at the rendezvous. Depending on the season, anglers may land trout, salmon and steelhead. It may be necessary in many cases to release the catch, depending on the season.

Meals and Beverages
We serve gourmet meals prepared with fresh ingredients. We also provide a variety of beverages with each meal. Each afternoon we set up happy hour snacks and beverages. We are also happy to prepare certain foods that you may want or need (including birthday or anniversary cakes). Please let us know if you have special dietary concerns, and we will plan and cook accordingly.

Gratuities
It is common to tip wilderness guides on adventure trips. It is not expected, but always appreciated. If you are happy with your trip please let us and your guide(s) know. Thanks!

Itinerary Changes
While we do everything possible to follow the itineraries in this packet we may be forced to adjust trips due to reasons beyond our control. Therefore, these itineraries are subject to change.

References
Many of our past trip members have offered to speak with folks who are considering our trips. We know we could blow our own horn until we are blue in the face about the great time we feel you would have on our trips. So, we invite you to contact us for a list of clients who have participated on Rogue Excursions trips and we'll let them do the talking!

Rogue Excursions Guides
The pride of our outfit, our guides bring a wealth of talent and experience to each trip we run. Destination Wilderness guides (and they are our guides not subcontracted outfitters) have years and years of experience leading trips in the U.S. and abroad. Each is licensed in first-aid and CPR. Furthermore, they create an environment that fosters camaraderie and positive experiences. Simply put, they care about what it is that YOU want from YOUR TRIP and do everything possible to make that happen! We are confident that you will find your guides to be one of the highlights of the adventure.

Suggested Rogue River Reading
Kay Atwood, Illahee, The Story of Settlement in the Rogue River Canyon.
Arman and Wooldridge, The Rogue: A River to Run.
Jackman & Bernstein, Hip-Pocket Naturalist: A Guide to Oregon's Rogue River Basin.

Natural HIstory
Visitors to the wild Rogue river are taken by this river's magnificent charm. Perhaps it stems from the Rogue's lush forests, deep green pools, sparkling waterfalls, classic rapids, and rich past dotted with natives, pioneer families and early whitewater boaters. In 1968 Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to preserve the nation's outstanding rivers.

The Rogue was one of the eight original rivers protected by this act. Congress was merely validating what an exclusive group of adventurers already knew: that this is a rare treasure. Rogue voyages are the oldest and most famous river trips in the Northwest. As early as the 1920s, Hollywood stars and presidents paid local guides to carry them through the canyon for fishing, sight seeing and whitewater thrills. The Rogue quickly developed a legendary reputation as one of the West's greatest adventures. In this era, Glen Wooldridge became one of the original river guides. Much of the river's illustrious boating history is recounted in his book, A River to Run.

Before the 1900s, the Rogue river was home to the Takelma and Tutuni tribes. These nomadic people moved from the coast to the mountains subsisting on the river's abundant population of salmon and steelhead. Early exploration by French trappers brought conflict, and the French began calling the tribes "coquins," or rogues. The river then became known as "La Riviere aux Coquins," which was later shortened to the Rogue River. White settlement in the Rogue valley boomed after the discovery of gold in the canyon. The lower Rogue, where our trip takes place, remained wild and untamed. The lure of precious metal, though, did bring new comers. Most were hermit miners who worked along the many side creeks. Some were packers or pioneer families who made a living offering services for the miners. The gold rush put pressure on local resources and by the late 1800s the Takelma and Tutuni were gone.

Much of the Rogue's mysterious charm resides in it's lush surroundings. The dense forest is one of the oldest, most diverse forests in the country, where ancient forces still hold sway. Huge pine and fir trees mix with dramatic madrones, maple, mock orange and a myriad of wildflowers. The lower canyon has dozens of side creeks with fern-lined grottos and some of the most spectacular swimming holes anywhere. The entire canyon is virtually covered in green The Rogue wilderness is also home to abundant wildlife. Deer are very common, as well as black bear and Osprey. Bald Eagles have recently reestablished a permanent home in the canyon. The Rogue has long been famous for strong salmon runs, and a patient observer can still sight one leaping the main drop at Rainie Falls or cooling off at the mouth of a side creek. A very sharp eye might spot an elusive ring-tailed cat or lone coyote.

Our journey passes through several canyons of dark gray and green rock where the river's unique geology is strikingly apparent. Geologists surmise the Rogue river was already cutting it's westerly course when the coast range was uplifted. As the mountains formed, the river continued west, dropping into new cracks in the earth. In these places, such as Mule Creek Canyon, the river narrows to a little as ten feet across. Rafting this slot is a thrill!

The narrow confines of the lower Rogue river canyons create some of the best white water in the west. Never fierce, the Rogue is always fun. Most rapids here are boulder-choked mazes of whitewater, with large, calm pools beneath. On several stretches of our run, the rapids come one right after the other. Tyee, Wildcat and Slim Pickins rapids lead to Black Bar Falls. The adrenaline-building mile before Mule Creek Canyon leads to the famous Blossom Bar. This is paddle-boating and inflatable kayaking paradise, as the Rogue offers great rapids for all skill levels.

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