In mid April, Matt, Kelly, Scott and our new friends Ben and Aaron floated the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River in inflatable kayaks (IKs) and rafts. The Rogue River originates near Crater Lake in southern Oregon and flows westward about 215 miles into the Pacific Ocean. Our trip covered 37.9 miles, including all 34 miles of the pristine and rugged Wild and Scenic section. We all enjoyed the trip immensely, but it almost didn't happen.
The Rogue had been running high all spring due to cool and wet weather and a tough decision about whether or not to do this float in high water had to be made. Luckily, Matt was contacted by Ben and Aaron through mountainbuzz.com about meeting up for a group trip. After a few emails and phone calls, Ben and Aaron graciously offered to haul the majority of the gear on their rafts. With raft support in place, everything was set to go.
Almeda Bar to Wildcat Campsite - 8.8 miles
River Highlights: Grave Creek Falls (Class III),
Rainey Falls (Class IV+), Tyee Rapids (Class III+)
Swims: Grave Creek Falls (Matt)
Here is a graph of the water flow at Agness during our float. We were on the river April 14-17 (Blue line = actual flow rate, Triangles = historical average)
Matt and Kelly surveying the river from the Rogue River Trail prior to our launch. Grave Creek Rapid at ~6500 CFS is seen below.
Ben, Scott and Aaron discussing the trip at the Almeda boat launch ramp. (photo by Matt)
Aaron approaching the fish ladder around Rainey Falls (class IV+). In the 1950s Glen "Boom Boom" Wooldridge blasted the fish ladder as a way for drift boats to portage around Rainey Falls. Everyone in our group took the fish ladder. (photo by Matt)
Matt at Rainey Falls. Aaron and his raft can be seen exiting the fish ladder on the far side of the river.
Scott and Kelly, Rainey Falls at ~6500 CFS
Scott and Matt
Matt and Kelly
We stopped at Whiskey Creek for lunch. Matt and Scott hiked up to the Wiskey Creek Cabin to take a look around. The cabin was built as a prospectors home in the 1880s and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Whiskey Creek from the bridge leading up to the cabin.
Whiskey Creek Cabin
Ben on the water below Whiskey Creek. (photo by Matt)
We spent our first night at the Wildcat Campsite overlooking Russian Rapid. This was a great campsite with a nice sandy beach and lots of open space.
Matt trying to explain why he ran into Aaron's raft in Lower Grave Creek Rapid...Aaron not buying it!
Wildcat Campsite
Wildcat Campsite to Mule Creek Campsite - 14.4 miles
Rapid Highlights: Slim Pickens Rapid (Class III), Upper and Lower Black Bar Falls (Class III+), Horseshoe Bend Rapids (Class III)
Swims: Lower Black Bar Falls (Scott)
Scott relaxing in a quiet stretch of the river after taking a swim in Lower Black Bar Falls. The diagonal standing waive in the Lower Black Bar knocked him clean out of the boat. Luckily it was a short swim. (photo by Matt)
Shore lunch just above Horseshoe Bend Rapids. We combined our food to make the best sandwich tortilla wraps!
Aaron and Ben in their rafts
One of the hundreds of streams that flow into the Rogue in the Wild and Scenic Section.
Zane Grey's cabin at Winkle Bar. Zane Grey (1872-1939) was a popular writer who wrote many novels about the American West. After a Rogue River trip in 1925, Grey purchased land and Winkle Bar, built a cabin and wrote the novel Rogue River Fued.
Zane Grey's Cabin at Winkle Bar.
One of Zane Grey's original drift boats.
Inside an old storage shed near Zane Grey's Cabin.
"Confluence" The confluence of Mule Creek and the Rogue River. Our campsite on the second night was close to this area.
Saturday, April 16th
Mule Creek to Tate Creek - 8.8 miles
Rapid Highlights: Mule Creek Canyon (Class IV), Blossom Bar Rapid (Class IV), Devils Staircase Rapid (Class III)
Swims: Upper Mule Creek Canyon (Matt), Blossom Bar Rapid!!! (Matt), Devils Staircase Rapid (Matt)
Scott got up early to photograph the fog near Mule Creek Canyon. It had rained off an on all night, but by morning the clouds were breaking up and the sunlight shining through the fog was beautiful.
The view from outside our tents. Pretty nice place to wake up!
"Five Drops" Spring leaves surround five water droplets.
"Rogue Mystery" The fog and mist add depth and a sense of mystery to the scene. Who knows what's hiding up in those hills.
"Rogue Mystery 2"
"Mule Creek Spring" Spring greens along Mule Creek.
"Waiting for Spring" Spring flowers waiting for warmer temperatures along Mule Creek near Marial.
Our campsite at Mule Creek.
Scott at Stair Creek Falls in Mule Creek Canyon (photo by Matt). Mule Creek Canyon was a very intense stretch of the river where the canyon walls narrow down to ~15 feet apart in places. With almost 10,000 CFS of water flowing through, the water was very turbulent with lots of boils, whirlpools and water seemingly defying the laws of physics.
Aaron near Sports Illustrated Rock (photo by Matt)
Blossom Bar Rapid at ~9500 CFS. Blossom Bar Rapid is the most technical rapid on the Rogue and demands the most respect. A perfect approach and perfect strokes are required to successfully navigate the rapid. The group stopped at Blossom Bar to scout the rapid from the north side of the river. After significant contemplation, Scott decided to ride with Ben and Aaron on the rafts and Matt and Kelly went down in the IKs. Kelly (the expert IKer) made it through without issue, but Matt lost it at the very top of the rapid and ended up swimming almost the whole thing. The high water was actually a good thing here, since the dangerous "picket fence" was submerged. Matt was in good spirits after the swim, but then promptly swam the next rapid (Devils Staircase) due to fatigue. After Devils Staircase he was completely exhausted and hitched a ride on Aaron's raft down to Paradise Lodge.
Close up of Blossom Bar Rapid. The photograph does not convey the raw energy of this area. The rumble coming from this rapid was both impressive and intimidating.
High water marks at Paradise Lodge. This sign is nearly 40 feet above the river. In January 1997 the Rogue was at 39.60 feet at the Agness gauge. By comparison, the river was at about 11-15 feet on the Agness gauge during our trip.
In December 1964 the Rogue was at 68.03 feet at the Agness gauge!!! These river levels are beyond comprehension and would be amazing to see.
Sunday, April 17th
Tate Creek to Foster Bar - 5.9 miles
Rapid Highlights: Clay Hill Rapid (Class III)
Swims: None
"Tate Creek Falls" This was a stunning waterfall near our campsite on the third night.
"Tate Creek Waterfalls"
Matt showing off his new IK.
Matt and Kelly paddling on the last river day.
Kelly, Scott and Aaron (photo by Matt)
The view from Scott's IK.
Matt unloading gear at Foster Bar.
Scott, Kelly, Aaron, Matt and Ben at Foster Bar.
A special thanks goes out to Kelly for suggesting the Rogue trip and letting Scott borrow the IK. Thanks to Matt for taking care of the logistics of the trip. Matt, Scott and Kelly would also like to thank Ben and Aaron for hauling our gear and agreeing to float with us. We hope to meet up with you guys again soon.
Rogue River Fued by Zane Grey
The Rogue, Portrait of a River by Roger Dorband
Tall Tales from Rogue River, The Yarns of Hathaway Jones by Stephen Dow Beckham
Rogue River - A Comprehensive Guide from Prospect to Gold Beach by Matt Leidecker
Floating and Fishing Oregon's Wilderness River Canyons by Melinda Allan
Worth a Click Websites
