On the Rogue River - What to Expect

From put-in at Almeda Bar, the Rogue drops 532 feet in the next 38 miles to our take-out at Foster Bar. Along the way, we run dozens and dozens of wonderful rapids and visit numerous historic sites, some of which are noted on this page. Below is a description of a four-day trip featuring two nights camping and one evening at a lodge.

The initial three miles of the trip are mild. Our first significant rapid occurs just after we enter the wild, road-less section of the Rogue at Grave Creek. The site is named for Martha Leland Crowley, who was buried here in 1846.

Mile 4.8—Rainie Falls. This falls was named for old man Rainie, who lived in a small cabin below the falls and made his living by gaffing salmon. Guides run our boats down a narrow channel while everyone else walks around this thundering drop.

Mile 6— A quarter mile up Whiskey Creek is the Whiskey Creek cabin, a pioneer cabin recorded in the national register of historic places.

Mile 7.5—Tyee Bar campsite. We often camp here. The word "Tyee" means "chief" in the local Indian dialect.

DAY 2:

Mile 8—Wildcat Rapids—class III.

Mile 8.3—Russian Rapids—class II. The river narrows into a gorge with a long class II rapid.

Mile 11.5—Upper and Lower Black Bar falls. Class III On river left, just below lower Black Bar Falls is Black Bar Lodge, the first of several lodges along the Rogue. The lodge was built in 1932.

Mile 17—Battle Bar Campsite and historical site. We often camp here on night 2. A major battle during the 1850’s between the US Cavalry and a band of locals Indians was fought here. The Bob Fox cabin is visible on the left bank. The cabin was built in the 1920’s and partially destroyed in the 1964 flood.

Mile 18.2—Winkle Bar. This is the site of Zane Grey’s cabin. Grey purchased this mining claim from a gold prospector in 1926.

DAY 3:

Mile 19.5—Quail Creek. A fire of close to 3,000 acres burned here in 1970.

Mile 21.3—John’s Rapids. Class II. Named after Chief John, one of the leaders of the Indian tribes during the 1850’s war with the US Calvary.

Mile 22 Rogue River Ranch and Mule Creek. Site of a historic, restored ranch. We usually spend several hours here enjoying lunch, exploring the ranch and swimming at the swimming hole in Mule Creek.

Mile 23.2 Mule Creek Canyon Class IV A beautiful, narrow canyon formed as the river carves a path along a fault line.

Mile 25.7 Blossom Bar Rapids. The Rogue's most famous rapids, named after the wild azaleas that bloom here in the spring. River pioneer Glen Woolridge, blasted a passage through this rapids using dynamite sunk in a weighted burlap sack.

Mile 26.6 Paradise Lodge. Our home for night 3.

DAY 4:

Mile 27.7—Huggin’s Canyon. Named after pioneer settler, Andy Huggins.

Mile 31.4 Clay Hills Lodge. From our boats, we frequently see bear in this area.

Mile 32.5 Flora Dell Creek and Falls. Across from Fall Creek Falls, we often eat lunch here on day 4. A beautiful creek enters the river here on river right.

Mile 37 Foster Bar Creek and boat ramp. This is our take out point. Our shuttle van will meet us for the drive back to Galice.