Whitewater Rafting on the Rogue River
The "Wild Rogue" section of the Rogue River is a great western river trip. The Rogue is one of the nation's very first Wild and Scenic Rivers and is located in southwest Oregon. Rogue River rafting trips begin at Graves Creek or the larger boat ramp at Almeda Bar County Park a few miles upstream. Typical trips cover the 36 miles of the Wild Rogue section in 2 to 4 nights.Within the first hour each river trip must confront Rainie Falls, a dramatic vertical drop. Some elect to run the falls but most take the more prudent and less-steep chute to the right or line the small artificial stream channel called the Fish Ladder that takes a gradual detour around the falls. After Rainie Falls, excellent campsites begin to appear on both banks as the Rogue River trip unfolds.
Another of the Rogue's famous features is scenic Mule Creek Canyon, which is a mile long natural version of a amusement park thrill ride. At Mule Creek Canyon, the entire river is constricted to barely wider than a raft is long. Rafts careen down its twisting mile long length, with vertical walls whizzing by. Shortly after the canyon opens again, river rafters confront Blossom Bar, the Rogue's signature Class IV rapid with it's 'must make' move at the top. Boaters who fail to negotiate that first critical maneuver end up in trouble on the infamous row of sharp rocks called the Picket Fence. After Blossom Bar, rafting trips begin to encounter both bear country and tourist country, with commercial jet boats occasionally sharing the river with Rogue River rafting parties.
Rogue river trips begin in the dry climate of inland Oregon with oak and grassy hillsides. The Rogue cuts westward though the Oregon coastal mountain range into the wetter climate as it nears the Pacific Ocean. Trips finish up at Foster Bar, a mere 25 miles from the ocean.
Most Rogue rapids are rated class III with the notable exceptions of Rainie Falls and Blossom Bar. The Rogue therefore offers a compelling combination of whitewater challenge and excellent scenery. Also, the river corridor contains evidence of human occupation over the last 8,000 years.
<<< Select a campsite
To view the Google Maps satellite photo of Grave Creek click here. Zoom up or down, and drag the photo to follow the river.