Rogue River Rafting
Information Directory:
Rogue River
Whitewater Rafting
Rogue River Rafting Guided Trips
River Description / Natural History
The
Rogue
River in Southern Oregon, an unmatched place for whitewater rafting trips,
is one of the West's most famous and captivating waterways. Rogue river trips
take place in a canyon of indescribable beauty. In 1968 the Rogue river was
designated as one of the nation's first Wild and Scenic Rivers. The most common section for Rogue river whitewater rafting is from Graves Creek to Foster Bar which is essentially an unspoiled wilderness except for the occasional riverside wilderness lodge which only add to the ambiance of this incredible canyon. For more information on fully-outfitted and guided trips please click on this Rogue river rafting trips link.
The canyon is home
to an abundance of wildlife including deer, otters, black bears, raptors and
waterfowl. It is not uncommon to witness the arrow-like plunge of an osprey
fishing or the playful antics of otters on the river's edge. The Rogue is known
for the spring and fall runs of salmon and steelhead. Standing at the edge of
Rainie Falls watching sparkling, red-hued salmon leap through the frothy water
is a sight to be remembered.
The river has rich history. The earliest inhabitants were the Takelma and Tutuni Indians who depended primarily on the immense salmon and steelhead runs for their subsistance. The influx of white explorers and settlers to the region for trapping and mining caused friction and conflict. In the mid 1800's the war escalated and the intervention of the U.S. Army ended with the defeat of the Indians. The famous western writer, Zane Grey, retreated to his cabin on the banks of the Rogue to write and fish.
Early Rogue river runners faced a formidible river, with
violent cataracts and inpenatrable boulder gardens. Both boaters and miners
used copious quantities of explosives to reconfigure the river to make most
rapids runnable. Today, Rogue river whitewater tours offer exciting but
forgiving rapids and is considered to be the classic family float. The rapids
are fairly consistant Class III with Rainie Falls and Blossom Bar adding a
little excitment to each boaters' adventure. In the spring and fall the salmon
and steelhead fishing is world famous.
Commercially guided rafting trips are available on the Rogue River. These Rogue river adventures range in length from three to five days, and are ideal for whitewater enthusiasts, first-timers, families and independent travelers. For more information on these and other Oregon river trips see the Destination Wilderness website.
Flows and weather for Rogue river rafting are generally best from May through October.
For information on other great Oregon and Idaho rafting rivers, please click on the links below.