River Rafting Trip Mile by Mile River Guide
Rogue River Rafting Guided Trips
River Description / Natural History
Mile 0 -Grave Creek Boat Ramp is just below the Grave Creek Bridge on river right. There is no drinking water here and ramp can be crowded in the summer. There are alternate put-ins upstream. The Class III whitewater begins immediately with Grave Creek Rapid, stay left of the island as you approach. Grave Creek Falls immediately below and is a good drop with big waves.
Mile 1 - The river splits around a big island, stay left.
Mile 1.7 - Ranie Falls (V+) is preceded by a large calm pool with a horizon line. Scout from either bank, the left offers better views but boaters must go right to run the Fish Ladder or the Middle Chute. The Fish Ladder is an artificial channel on the right and is shallow and rocky but provides a route for running or lining moderate-sized boats, can be difficult at low flows. The Middle Chute (IV) is a narrow staircase that carries enough water for larger boats but has tricky entrance that involves a close approach to the main falls, the entrance is difficult to see from river level.
Mile 4.5 - Tyee Rapid (III) is a left bend studded with rocks and holes with a house rock on the left. Just downstream is Wildcat (III) where the rivers splits into two long rocky channels, usually either channel is runnable, low flows increase difficulty. The following two miles has many Class II rapids.
Mile 8 - Big Windy Creek enters on the left just above Upper Black Bar Falls (III), a rock garden where the current sweeps strongely into the right wall, scout right. Is more difficult at higher flows. Lower Black Bar Falls (III) is just below and is a drop with big waves. Black Bar Lodge is hidden on the left bank.
Mile 10.5 - Horseshoe Bend is Class II and III rapids as the river sweeps rights then into a long left bend.
Mile 12-13 - Kelsey Canyon is where sculpted rock walls narrow the river into boils and small waves.
Mile 14 - Battle Bar is a riffle and is the site of a famous skirmish between the US Cavalry and the Rogue Indians in 1856. A mile downstream is Zane Grey's cabin where tourists are welcome.
Mile 19.5 - Mule Creek enters on the right with a popular campsite and Rogue River Ranch on the right. Mariel Lodge is a half-mile below on the right.
Mile 20.8-21.5 - Mule Creek Canyon (III+) is where the canyon closes into a narrow channel, at one point only 10' wide, creating boils, whirlpools and diagonal waves. Two house rocks in the channel mark the entrance.
Mile 22.5 - Blossom Bar (IV) is the biggest rapid of the trip and is a long technical boulder garden. Scouting is mandatory even for those who know the rapid as frequent mishaps can result in lines strung across runnable channels. The standard run is to catch a critical eddy behind a house rock at the top left, move to center and through a pour-over, then rock hop through various routes. Those who miss the eddy at the top are either swept down a nasty chute on the left or hung up on the row of rocks known as the Picket Fence. At high flows this rapid develops big hydraulics and is more difficult. Just below is Devil's Staircase (III-) where a long chain of waves sweeps into a rocj spur. The river is calmer from here and jet boats may be seen.
Mile 23.5 - Paradise Lodge is on the right. Cold drinks, snacks, airstrip available. A half-mile down is Half-Moon Bar Lodge on the left.
Mile 28 - Tate Creek enters on the right with a popular side hike to a sliding rock. Three-quarters of a mile below is Clay Hill Lodge. Just below the lodge is Clay Hill Rapid (III-) where the river turns left. Stay left after rounding the corner.
Mile 30.5 - Flora Dell Creek enters on the right. A mile below is the Wild River Lodge.
Mile
34 - Foster Bar Boat Ramp. Take-out is on the right.
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