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Rogue River, OR
Rogue River Half-Day Nugget Falls Trip
Half day
The Rogue's biggest drops
Day Trips
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
OVERVIEW
The Rogue's biggest drops
The Rogue's biggest drops in the shortest time, Nugget Falls and Powerhouse Falls in a paddle raft.
Half day
Duration
8
+
Min Age
Day Trips
Trip Style
DATES
Upcoming Dates
Mon
23
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Wed
25
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Fri
27
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Highlights
Best Parts of The Trip
- Nugget Falls, Class IV Build from mellow Class I through some Class II, then drop into a Class IV waterfall.
- Powerhouse Falls About 10 minutes later comes Powerhouse Falls, the largest commercially run rapids on the Rogue.
- Shortest time, biggest drops About two and a half hours on the water, short and intense on purpose.
- Raft surfing if flows allow After the orientation we do a practice run and a surf in the raft if the flow allows.
- Ages 8 and up Everyone is in the paddle raft and everyone paddles, a great team trip for families.
INSIDER TIP
From Our Guides
Clip your water bottle to the raft with a carabiner and bring it full, because we rarely bring a water jug on a trip this short. A photographer shoots Nugget Falls, so your drop gets captured, and you can buy the shots directly from Jeff Wishard Photography.
Your boat
Boats on This Trip
Paddle Raft
Ages 8 and up on Oregon day trips
Everybody paddles and your guide calls the strokes
MORE INFOITINERARY
Day by day
Day 1
Meet at the Merlin shop or Gold Hill Sports Park and take the short drive to Fishers Ferry. Your guide runs a Nugget-specific orientation, where the handles are and how to hold on, then a practice run and a surf in the raft if the flow allows. Then Nugget Falls, 10 minutes to Powerhouse Falls, and five minutes to the takeout at Gold Hill Sports Park.
Miles covered
4.8
miles
rogue-river-half-day-nugget-falls-trip
1
Inclusions
What's Included
Guides and gear
- Paddle raft and guide
- Helmet and PFD
- Nugget Falls orientation
Getting there
- Shuttle to the put-in
Bring or rent
- A full water bottle with a carabiner
From $99
BOOK NOWACCOMMODATIONS
Day Trips
Nights are a mix of historic lodge rooms and guided riverside camps, depending on the launch.
Rogue River
Lucas Lodge
Sadie Lucas built this lodge around 1912 on a ranch where the Illinois River meets the Rogue, and her family has welcomed guests for seven generations since. Your last night on the river ends here with a prime rib dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Owyhee River
Owyhee Camps
Desert canyon camps on the Owyhee, set below rimrock and red rock spires that light up at sunset.
See the full stay
Lower Salmon River
Lower Salmon Camps
Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole, and your tent is up before you arrive.
See the full stayMain Salmon, River of No Return
Main Salmon Camps
Big sandy beach camps under the pines. When you pull in, your tent is already set up, your sleeping pad is in it and your dry bags are stacked and waiting.
See the full stay
Snake River in Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Camps
Riverside camps below the walls of Hells Canyon. Your tent is up before you arrive, and evenings start with a cold drink under the shade tarps.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Rogue River Camps
Riverside beach camps on the Rogue. Your gear boater runs ahead so camp is ready when you pull in, with tents up and dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Paradise Lodge
Paradise has the big deck where we do movie night, with lodge cooking and a real bed. Every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Black Bar Lodge
Black Bar sits right on the water. You pull in at the end of Day 1 to a home-cooked dinner and a real bed, and every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Meeting Logistics
Where & When To Meet
Meet at the Merlin shop at 8:15 AM PT or 1:15 PM PT, or meet us at Gold Hill Sports Park, which is the takeout, at 2:00 PM PT for the afternoon trip. From there it is about a 10-minute drive up to the Fishers Ferry put-in.
TRAVEL
Getting there
Most guests fly into Medford or drive to Grants Pass the day before. Stay locally — launch mornings start early.
Meeting point
Merlin shop or Gold Hill Sports Park
Merlin shop 8:15 AM or 1:15 PM, or Gold Hill Sports Park at 2:00 PM. Confirm your meeting spot when you book.
How to get there
Fly into Medford (MFR)
About 40 minutes by car. Rentals are at the airport.
Drive I-5 to exit 61
Overnight parking is available in the shop lot, including RVs.
Stay in Grants Pass
We can pick up and drop off at Grants Pass hotels.
Airport transfer
Hotel pickup in Grants Pass is free when arranged.
Skip the rental car: Whitewater Cowboys runs a van between the Medford airport and Grants Pass hotels or the Merlin shop, $149 for up to 12 people.
PACKING
What to Bring
A full water bottle with a carabiner to clip it in. Everything else stays in the van.
REVIEWS
What guests say
POLICIES
Cancellation timeline
90+ days out
Full refund of the trip payment
Minus any non-refundable permit fees.
30–89 days out
50% refund
Date changes may be available if space remains.
Under 30 days
No refund
Weather holds are reviewed case by case.
Refunds depend on how far out you cancel. Weather holds are handled case by case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my younger kid ride in an oar raft on Nugget Falls?
No. Eight is the youngest on Nugget Falls, in any raft.
Will my group have a raft to ourselves?
Rafts hold a maximum of 8. A group of 8 gets its own raft; smaller groups will likely share. We cannot guarantee you will be alone in the raft with just your family.
Who takes the photos?
On the Rogue lodge trips our guides shoot photos and video and email you the raw files about three days after the trip.
At Nugget Falls, Jeff Wishard Photography shoots the falls, and you can buy your shots directly from his site. A second photographer, Capturing Carnage, is sometimes set up at Powerhouse Falls.
Do I have to wear a PFD and helmet in Oregon?
Your life jacket stays on any time you are on the water, and the only exception is sunscreen time. Helmets are required on Nugget Falls and for every guest on the North Umpqua.
What do I do with my car keys?
Hand them to your guide and they ride in a dry bag, or leave them at the shop if you met there. On the Golden Hour float the shop is locked by 8:30, so keep your keys or give them to your guide. On the North Umpqua they stay with the guide or in the van.
MORE TRIPS
Our Most Booked Trips
|
4 days
|
Class
Hike the Rogue River Trail with a daypack, sleep in the lodges, and let the raft carry everything else.
|
3 days
|
Class
Run the Rogue River Trail lodge to lodge with a light vest while the raft carries your bags.
