Women's Rafting on the Rogue River, Oregon

The Trip

We put our favorite activities and places into one great week, and want to share them with other like-minded women! Experience one of the West's finest rivers suitable for river novices and experienced rafters.  We combine the stunning beauty, friendly whitewater rafting with wildlife viewing opportunities, sunny Oregon weather, staying at lodges instead of camping, and a few side trips in this majestic area. We may also stop to swim, to explore historic sites, to scout rapids, or to hike up scenic side streams. We usually arrive at the evening’s accommodations by mid to late afternoon, and there will be time to hike, swim, fish, read, or nap. This is a perfect trip for moms and grown daughters, friends you haven't seen in years, or a "girls' week out" with new friends!

The Rogue River flows through the forested Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon to the Pacific Ocean. The rafting portion of our trip takes place along the 40-mile, federally designated Wild and Scenic section, which is home to abundant wildlife, including black bears, river otters, deer, osprey, blue herons, and bald eagles. We'll stop to visit fern grottos, splash in waterfalls, and enjoy sandy beaches.

And no visit to this part of Oregon would be complete without seeing Crater Lake National Park. This lake is unique in that there are no inlets or outlets to this lake. It is filled with rain and melted snow that fell within the caldera basin. The clarity and deep blue of this lake is exceptional. This is the deepest lake in the United States, and the seventh deepest in the world. We'll stop at the Crater Lake Lodge and Visitors Center, and learn the history of this park's founding in 1902. The headwaters of the Rogue River are Boundary Springs, just inside Crater Lake National Park. Several spots along the Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway provide viewing points for the upper Rogue. We will have a day to spend at Crater Lake. 

Have you wanted a relaxing vacation to enjoy nature and the Oregon area? A trip to share with other women and not have to camp and cook?  This may be the trip for you!

Day 1: Our trip will begin in Medford, Oregon. This will be a central location for our adventures in this area. Please arrive by 3:00 p.m. Those arriving early will have a chance to enjoy the Medford area. We will have an orientation meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the hotel lobby, and enjoy a dinner nearby. This will allow us to get to know each other. 

Day 2: Today after breakfast, we venture to Grants Pass. There, we will enjoy the Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center. Wildlife Images release rate is near 50 percent – far above the national average of 33 percent. Animals with permanently disabling injuries (unable to live in the wild) are integrated into one of Wildlife Images educational programs. After our tour there, we go to Ashland for the afternoon. We can explore Lithia Park, check out the downtown area, and see the “Green Show” – a free entertainment venue on the lawn.  It is too early to know what this show will be at this time. Unfortunately, because the plays start at 8 p.m., we will not have time to see a play. 

Day 3: This morning we are off to see the famous Crater Lake, formed from a collapsed volcano. This lake is unique in that no water sources flow to or from this lake. It filled with rain/snow water over the years. It contains some of the purest water on Earth. Prior to getting there, we will be able to do a nice hike along a creek. After arriving at the lake, we will drive to a lookout and do a hike to a higher viewpoint – the Watchman’s Tower. We will get to see the beautiful lodge there and enjoy eating at the lodge. Perhaps time will allow us to listen to one of the ranger talks on the balcony lined with rocking chairs. After enjoying the day there, we head back to our hotel in Medford, where we will pack for our rafting adventure starting the next morning. 

Day 4: After breakfast, we get picked up by a van and travel to our put-in (about an hour drive). Once we arrive in Galice, we will get our gear situated and start our rafting adventure.  We board oar-powered rafts that are guided by knowledgeable and skilled boatmen. If there is enough interest, a paddle raft and inflatable kayaks can also be available. We will determine this closer to launch. 

Our first day on the river begins with mild rapids which are ideal for a warm up, especially for those paddling an inflatable kayak. Once past Grave Creek boat ramp we encounter our first major rapids, Grave Creek rapids and Grave Creek falls. Not long after we come to the biggest rapid on the river: Rainie Falls (class V). No one will raft the falls themselves, and most people will walk around the rapids altogether. But water levels permitting we may invite members of the group to challenge a class III+ side channel, the “Fish Ladder”. While at Rainie we’ll keep an eye out for Salmon, jumping the falls: a spectacular sight.

Later in the afternoon, we will be at a lodge along the river for all the comforts of home – hot showers and a wonderful dinner. 

Day 5: Following a hearty breakfast in the morning, we re-board our rafts. We will experience more whitewater as we run the rapids of Horseshoe Bend, Dulog, China, Kelsey Creek and others. By now, many of you will be asking to try the inflatable kayaks. We'll eat lunch in a pretty spot along the river (not hard to find around here!) and continue our floating exploration of this wonderful Wild and Scenic river. As our second river day ends, we will be at another lodge to relax and enjoy those comforts.  After dark, the Milky Way shines brightly, and it is easy to fall asleep to the sounds of the river rushing by after another great dinner.

Day 6: Today's highlights will include a short hike to the historic Rogue River Ranch, and an exciting rafting-run through the deep and narrow Mule Creek Canyon section of the river. We will also scout the Blossom Bar rapid before running it. Later, enjoy dinner, evening conversations, and our final night in a lodge along the beautiful Rogue River.

Day 7: Our last day on the river will keep us on the lookout for the bald eagles that inhabit this section of the river canyon. After lunch, we'll continue on to the take-out at Foster Bar, where we can help de-rig the rafts. We typically arrive at Foster Bar, our take-out point, between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. Once we’ve unpacked, we board a van for the scenic ride back to Medford on Bear Camp Road through the Siskiyou National Forest. This may be a late evening for us. We return to Medford and enjoy a farewell dinner. 

Day 8: After breakfast at the hotel, it will be sad to say goodbye to our newly found friends that we shared so much fun and adventure, laughter and joking. We will leave having been immersed in nature and with a better appreciation for this beautiful area of Oregon.

Note: Gratuities are not included in the price of the trip. They are entirely voluntary and solely at your discretion, but they are customary. The crewmembers work hard, day and night, to make this trip as memorable and fulfilling for you as possible. I know you will be very pleased with the level of service they deliver. If you agree they worked hard and contributed significantly to the success and enjoyment of your outing, then you may want to express your appreciation with a tip. The amount is up to you, but tips between 8% and 15% of trip cost are customary. Gratuities are customarily presented to the lead guide, and will be shared equally among all guides on your trip. You may wish to consider offering a tip to lodge staff as well, just as one might do at a bed and breakfast in town.

Your Sierra Club Leader is an unpaid volunteer and is not included in the tip. They also not allowed to accept any gratuities. Your presence is all the presents your Sierra Club Leader expects and can accept!

Getting There

Our trip begins and ends in Medford, Oregon. Medford is bisected by Interstate 5, approximately 30 miles north of the California/Oregon border. If you are driving, a quick check at a site such as Mapquest can give you exact driving directions and estimated time.

By Air: There is a regional airport in Medford (MFR). It is serviced by Horizon, United, United Express, and Delta Connection. The leader can assist you in finding air and ground transportation.

By Amtrak: Medford is served by the Amtrak motor coach network that connects the San Joaquin train route from Stockton and Sacramento. Alternatively, it is possible to travel by train into Klamath Falls, and transportation can be arranged from there

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

All meals, from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the last day, will be provided. Please indicate any dietary requirements on the personal questionnaire; it is usually possible to accommodate special dietary requests, but the leaders need to know in advance.

While rafting, beverages will include water, juice, cocoa, tea, and coffee. You may wish to bring your own sodas or other favorite beverages in plastic bottles, cans, or wine boxes. No glass is allowed on the river and no alcohol is allowed while on rafting on the river. This is for your safety and the safety and enjoyment of others.

Trip Difficulty

It is a great trip for first-time river runners and experienced paddlers alike. The Rogue River has some very fine rapids to keep the trip interesting and everyone alert, but you should not be intimidated if you've never done a rafting trip before.

You are expected to assist in loading and unloading dry bags and other equipment on and off the rafts, and in carrying bags to and from the lodges. The pace of the trip will be leisurely, allowing plenty of time for swimming, hiking, bird watching, photo taking, and exploring. Daytime temperatures are usually between 65-95 degrees, with low humidity. Nighttime lows are typically in the 50s-60s. Rain is possible, though late summer is typically dry. Our day-to-day itinerary on the river is flexible and will depend on water levels, weather conditions, and the inclinations of participants.

Water safety is a priority. Life jackets will be provided for everyone. 

Equipment and Clothing

No special equipment is required for this trip. Rafting waterproof river bags and life jackets (PFDs) are included in the trip price. Binoculars are recommended for bird watching, and cameras are always welcome. A list of appropriate clothing and personal gear will be sent to all participants after acceptance on the trip. Registered participants will receive a detailed packing list for the trip. You'll also need both cool-weather gear and raingear (just in case!). 

References

An overview of this area's natural and human history will enhance your experience. The following sources are recommended:

• Atwood, Kay, Illahe: The Story of Settlement in the Rogue River Canyon.
• Arman, Florence and Glen Wooldridge, The Rogue: A River to Run.
• Jackman and Bernstein, Hip Pocket Naturalist: A Guide to Oregon’s Rogue River Basin, (Magnifica Press, 1989). About natural history of the area.
• Beckham, Stephen Dow, Requiem for a People: The Rogue Indians and the Frontiersmen.
• Leidecker, Matt, The Rogue River - A Comprehensive Guide.
• Quinn, James M., J. W. King, and J.G. King, Handbook to the Rogue River Canyon.
• James, Cheewa, Modoc: The Tribe that Wouldn't Die. 2008.
• Miller, Char, Water in the 21st Century West: A High Country News Reader. 2009.
• Wallace, David Raines, The Klamath Knot: Explorations of Myth and Evolution, Twentieth Anniversary Edition. 2003.

Conservation

This trip takes place on one of the first rivers to receive the federal designation of Wild and Scenic. We'll take time on the river to discuss the importance of this designation and the challenges we face in protecting this important part of our natural heritage. We may also discuss issues such as the proposed wilderness designation for the Klamath-Siskiyou Forest, the role of fire in the ecosystem, dam removal, and the protection of coastal fisheries.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies. This trip is operated by Oregon River Expeditions, permitted by the BLM.