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Oregon's most famous river
Rogue River, OR
The river we grew up on. Warm water, bears on the bank and a lodge bed after Blossom Bar. Kayaking, rafting, fishing, rentals and shuttles, all from Merlin.
RIVER TRIPS & ACTIVITIES
America's great family vacation, three days of Rogue whitewater with a hot shower and a real bed every night.
Four days without phones on a slower Rogue trip with more side hikes, more history and camp on pristine beaches.
The lodge trip with a layover day at Paradise Lodge to hike, swim, read or nap.
A splashy half-day float on the Rogue with mellow Class I and IIs, swimming and stories on a morning float.
The Rogue's biggest drops in the shortest time, Nugget Falls and Powerhouse Falls in a paddle raft.
Hike the Rogue River Trail with a daypack, sleep in the lodges, and let the raft carry everything else.
Nugget Falls in a paddle raft in the morning, your own inflatable kayak in the afternoon.
Your first river night, a mellow two-day introduction to camping and rafting on the Rogue.
A full day on the Rogue with Class I to III rapids, Argo Canyon and a riverside lunch.
Run the Rogue River Trail lodge to lodge with a light vest while the raft carries your bags.
A sunset wine and cheese happy hour float through Hellgate Canyon.
Four days fishing the Wild and Scenic Rogue from a drift boat, staying at three historic lodges along the way.
A full day drift fishing for Rogue River salmon and steelhead, from mid-August to mid-April.
Didn't win the permit lottery? Row your own boat down the Rogue with our guides on the lines, the camps and the cooking.
Rogue River, OR
The Rogue is where it all started for us. Orange Torpedo Trips ran its first inflatable kayaks here in 1969, Briggs has guided anglers on it since 1930, and Whitewater Cowboys has rented rafts and run shuttles here for more than 30 years. It is the one river where everything we do comes together, on one of the original rivers protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.
The river
The Rogue runs 215 miles with only one major dam. The Wild and Scenic section, Grave Creek to Foster Bar, is the famous stretch. Class II and III rapids come steadily, Mule Creek Canyon squeezes the river to less than 15 feet wide, and Blossom Bar is the best-known class IV boulder garden on the river. Black bears, otters, deer and eagles are regulars, and there is no cell service once you drop in. Upstream, the Hellgate Canyon day stretch near Galice is warm, splashy class II water.
Trips on the Rogue
Orange Torpedo Trips runs the 3-day lodge trip, the only multi-day trip in the country where you float lodge to lodge on a Wild and Scenic river, plus a 4-day camping trip, a 2-day intro and half-day and full-day trips from Merlin. Rogue River Trail hiking and running trips go lodge to lodge with rafts carrying your gear. Briggs Rogue River Trips fishes the Rogue from classic drift boats, single days nearly year-round and 4-day lodge trips for fall salmon and steelhead. Whitewater Cowboys rents rafts and inflatable kayaks and shuttles vehicles for the Wild and Scenic section, the day stretch and the trail.
When to go
Day trips run May through October, and the lodge and camping trips go June through August, when the water is warm. Trail trips run in spring and fall. Fall is fishing season, with Briggs lodge trips from late August through October.
Getting there
Trips leave from our shop at 210 Merlin Road, off I-5 exit 61 north of Grants Pass. Medford airport is 34 miles away. Private boaters need a launch permit from May 15 to October 15, and we rent gear and run shuttles if you draw one.
Interactive map
