White Water Rafting on Rogue River

The Pacific Northwest is quite possibly at its best along the shores of the Rogue River. Deep in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon, the Rogue River winds its way through one of the most beautiful thick-forested canyons in North America. During the days you will be surrounded by the life shaping beauty of the Rogue River. The Rogue flows from its headwaters high in the Cascades to the incomparable Oregon coastline; your O.A.R.S. vacation provides 45 miles of the Rogue's best. So beautiful, in fact, is this stretch of river that it has been protected since 1968 as Wild and Scenic.

The Rogue River is the perfect family rafting trip. The generally moderate whitewater is ideal for all levels of experience, with excitement from beginner to intermediate. However, rapids such as Blossom Bar and Rainie Falls are sure to inspire a generous dose of adrenaline. For the more adventurous, our inflatable kayaks provide an up-close and personal encounter with the rapids of the Rogue. Your trip will surely be witnessed, whether you know it or not, by the abundant wildlife living onshore. The most common sightings include deer and river otter, along with an occasional black bear. And let's not forget the many species birds we will see along the way including Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle and Osprey. Indeed, this river canyon is the birdwatcher's as well as fisherman's delight. As for the accommodations, we will make camp on one of the many sandy beaches that line the river. Inside a tent or under the starry night sky, you'll sleep soundly, serenaded by the crickets and the rush of the passing river.

Why the Rogue?

As if Southwestern Oregon's varied cultural and scenic attractions weren't enough, your excursion with O.A.R.S. is the perfect opportunity to spend a few days smelling the roses, so to speak. Here are a few reasons why the Rogue River is one of the premier river trips in the country.

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Itinerary / Highlights

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and always flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water and the occasional effects of the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:

Day 1
• Meet your trip leader at 8:30 AM on the front roadside porch of the Galice Resort. He or she will provide you waterproof bags in which to pack your gear, then we’re off to the river! You’ll meet the rest of your guides at the boat ramp and listen to a thorough safety talk on trip procedures. The anticipation builds as you board the rafts and push off from the shore and head downstream. The canyon walls rise up around you, heightening the sense of isolation from the outside world. After a few small rapids, you’ll probably notice that appetites on river trips are larger than those at home; lunch barely comes soon enough. The afternoon brings us to exciting Rainie Falls – the first real test of our whitewater skills. Below Rainie, it won’t be long till we set up camp on a sandy beach. While the guides prepare dinner, you’ll have time to have a short hike, explore the wooded terrain, read a good book or just relax.

Day 2 – 5 (Depending on trip length)
• For the early risers in the group, hot coffee, tea and cocoa will be ready around 7:00 AM. A wake-up call comes about 7:30 AM, and breakfast is served around 8:00 AM. After you pack up your belongings, you’ll have some time to relax while camp is broken down and the boats are loaded. The inflatable kayaks are put to use as the most adventurous take control of their own crafts. These boats are a kick, even in the smallest rapids. Your guides will give you pointers on navigation and soon river lingo like “eddy,” “ferry angle” and “river right” will be part of your vocabulary. This day has the greatest quantity of rapids with lots of action through many class II and III rapids. We’ll try for a short hike up a lush side canyon. All in all, it’s a great day and we’ll get to camp sometime before 4:00 PM.


• Wake-up call, breakfast and departure follow roughly the same schedule as the day before. This is the day we will generally stop at the Historic Rogue River Ranch. This BLM maintained museum of human history is a few minutes walk from the river, offering insights into the canyon’s past in a pastoral setting. Next, we raft Mule Creek Canyon with its sheer rock walls and deep rolling currents. Next on the agenda is the scouting and running of Blossom Bar, the Rogue’s most challenging rapid. The afternoon then mellows out with a float through tranquil Huggin’s Canyon.


• This is a possible layover day for a 5-day trip. This morning your guides might let you sleep in, but everybody knows the dawning hours are the best in which to catch a fish, take a brisk hike or paint the sunrise. Your guides will offer activities for the day, which may include voluntary swimming, hiking up a side creek, experiencing the natural water slide at Tate Creek, or visiting the enchanted Brushy Bar Forest. Those who choose to stay at camp may like to take out books, diaries or sketchbooks and spend some peaceful "alone-time.” Others may try their luck with their fly rod.


• Breakfast is just as hearty today as it was on the first morning. Leaving camp is bittersweet—we’re not quite ready for civilization again, but a hot shower sounds pretty nice. A few of the guests may be practicing their newfound rowing skills, while the guides keep their eyes peeled for the elusive bald eagles that inhabit this section of the river canyon. After lunch we have a short float to our take-out point at Foster Bar arriving at around 2:00 PM. We’ll pack up the vans and then relax for the scenic, mountain drive back to Galice Resort. You should arrive before 6:00 PM.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Reservations and Deposits
A $250/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds
If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation fee after you’ve made your deposit can range up to the entire trip cost, based upon the number of days prior to your trip that we receive your cancellation notice. We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge you to investigate trip insurance (see Insurance).

Cancellations 60 days or more prior to your trip earn a full refund less a $100/person fee. Cancellations 59 days or less prior to your trip are not refundable.

If you transfer from one trip to another, there is a $50/person charge up until 60 days before the trip. Transfers made after this time will be treated as cancellations.

Medical
Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying an O.A.R.S. trip. People with medical conditions, including pregnancy, should have a physician’s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.

Insurance
Although every effort is made to insure a safe trip for all, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler’s policy. A trip cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury. Trip participants should realize that in the event of illness or injury on an adventure travel trip, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and O.A.R.S. accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen property.

Liability Waiver
Everyone is required to sign a standard release before the trip, acknowledging awareness that some risks are associated with the trip. Safety is of the utmost concern on our trips. However, due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with O.A.R.S. cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

3-Day Lodge Trip: May 21
3-Day Trips: May 28 (Wine Trip); June 18, 25
4 Days:
May 24, 30, June 5 (NEW! Craft Beer Tasting), 9 (Wine Trip), 18; July 4; September 1 (Wilderness Gourmet), 8, 18
5 Days:
June 21, 26, 28 ; July 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30; August 2 (Wilderness Gourmet), 6, 9, 16 (Additional dates may be available upon request)

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