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Rogue River, OR
Rogue River Full-Day Thrill Seeker
Full day
Nugget Falls, then kayaks
Day Trips
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
OVERVIEW
Nugget Falls, then kayaks
Nugget Falls in a paddle raft in the morning, your own inflatable kayak in the afternoon.
Full day
Duration
12
+
Min Age
Day Trips
Trip Style
DATES
Upcoming Dates
Mon
23
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Wed
25
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Fri
27
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Highlights
Best Parts of The Trip
- Nugget and Powerhouse Falls The morning runs both Class IV falls on the Nugget stretch in the paddle raft.
- Your own inflatable kayak After lunch you take an Orange Torpedo kayak about 7 miles from Hog Creek to Galice.
- Two sections in one day The Nugget stretch runs colder and shallower, and Hog Creek to Galice is warmer and better for swimming.
- Intense AM, all fun PM Cold, fast and intense before lunch, then warm, splashy and all fun after it.
- Ages 8 and up The afternoon kayaks are for ages 12 and up, and kids 8 to 11 stay in the raft all day.
INSIDER TIP
From Our Guides
Be prepared to get wet. If it is your first time in an inflatable kayak, paddle hard. Paddling hard is going to be your best friend. A ball cap fits under your helmet, and the shop sells croakies if you want to keep your sunglasses.
Your boat
Boats on This Trip
ITINERARY
Day by day
Day 1
The morning is 4.8 miles on the Nugget Falls stretch in the paddle raft, Nugget Falls and Powerhouse Falls included. You are back at the shop around 12:30 for a deli lunch on the back patio. Around 1:30 PM we shuttle to Hog Creek and you take an Orange Torpedo kayak roughly 7 miles to Galice, three to three and a half hours depending on flow and the group. Back at the shop around 5:30 PM.
Miles covered
11.8 (4.8 AM + 7 PM)
miles
rogue-river-full-day-thrill-seeker
1
Inclusions
What's Included
Guides and gear
- Guides and all gear
- Orange Torpedo IK (12 and up)
- Paddle raft and helmet
Meals
- Deli lunch at the shop
Getting there
- All shuttles
Bring or rent
- A water bottle
- Sunscreen and a sun shirt
- A ball cap that fits under the helmet
- Croakies for your sunglasses (the shop sells them)
From $169
BOOK NOWACCOMMODATIONS
Day Trips
Nights are a mix of historic lodge rooms and guided riverside camps, depending on the launch.
Rogue River
Lucas Lodge
Sadie Lucas built this lodge around 1912 on a ranch where the Illinois River meets the Rogue, and her family has welcomed guests for seven generations since. Your last night on the river ends here with a prime rib dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Owyhee River
Owyhee Camps
Desert canyon camps on the Owyhee, set below rimrock and red rock spires that light up at sunset.
See the full stay
Lower Salmon River
Lower Salmon Camps
Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole, and your tent is up before you arrive.
See the full stayMain Salmon, River of No Return
Main Salmon Camps
Big sandy beach camps under the pines. When you pull in, your tent is already set up, your sleeping pad is in it and your dry bags are stacked and waiting.
See the full stay
Snake River in Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Camps
Riverside camps below the walls of Hells Canyon. Your tent is up before you arrive, and evenings start with a cold drink under the shade tarps.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Rogue River Camps
Riverside beach camps on the Rogue. Your gear boater runs ahead so camp is ready when you pull in, with tents up and dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Paradise Lodge
Paradise has the big deck where we do movie night, with lodge cooking and a real bed. Every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Black Bar Lodge
Black Bar sits right on the water. You pull in at the end of Day 1 to a home-cooked dinner and a real bed, and every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Food & Drink
What To Expect During Meal Time
Deli lunch on the back patio at the shop between the two halves of the day.
Meeting Logistics
Where & When To Meet
Meet at the shop at 8:30 AM PT and plan to be back around 5:30 PM PT. Our vans shuttle both halves of the day, so figure on an hour to an hour and three quarters of total shuttle time.
TRAVEL
Getting there
Most guests fly into Medford or drive to Grants Pass the day before. Stay locally — launch mornings start early.
Meeting point
Orange Torpedo shop
210 Merlin Rd, Merlin, OR. I-5 exit 61, 3.2 miles west. Gated parking. Check-in from 8:30 AM. Back around 5:30 PM.
How to get there
Fly into Medford (MFR)
About 40 minutes by car. Rentals are at the airport.
Drive I-5 to exit 61
Overnight parking is available in the shop lot, including RVs.
Stay in Grants Pass
We can pick up and drop off at Grants Pass hotels.
Airport transfer
Hotel pickup in Grants Pass is free when arranged.
Skip the rental car: Whitewater Cowboys runs a van between the Medford airport and Grants Pass hotels or the Merlin shop, $149 for up to 12 people.
PACKING
What to Bring
A water bottle, sunscreen and a sun shirt. A ball cap fits under the helmet, and the shop sells croakies for your sunglasses.
REVIEWS
What guests say
POLICIES
Cancellation timeline
90+ days out
Full refund of the trip payment
Minus any non-refundable permit fees.
30–89 days out
50% refund
Date changes may be available if space remains.
Under 30 days
No refund
Weather holds are reviewed case by case.
Refunds depend on how far out you cancel. Weather holds are handled case by case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my group have a raft to ourselves?
Rafts hold a maximum of 8. A group of 8 gets its own raft; smaller groups will likely share. We cannot guarantee you will be alone in the raft with just your family.
Who takes the photos?
On the Rogue lodge trips our guides shoot photos and video and email you the raw files about three days after the trip.
At Nugget Falls, Jeff Wishard Photography shoots the falls, and you can buy your shots directly from his site. A second photographer, Capturing Carnage, is sometimes set up at Powerhouse Falls.
Do I have to wear a PFD and helmet in Oregon?
Your life jacket stays on any time you are on the water, and the only exception is sunscreen time. Helmets are required on Nugget Falls and for every guest on the North Umpqua.
Do I have to paddle an IK if I get scared?
No. There is a guide right there who will come get you no matter what, and you can hop into a raft any time. We would love for you to try the torpedo, but it is never required.
How hard is paddling an inflatable kayak?
It can be difficult at first, but the guides are there to help you, and they will make sure you are in the right position to succeed. Paddle hard. Paddling hard is going to be your best friend.
What do I do with my car keys?
Hand them to your guide and they ride in a dry bag, or leave them at the shop if you met there. On the Golden Hour float the shop is locked by 8:30, so keep your keys or give them to your guide. On the North Umpqua they stay with the guide or in the van.
Where do I park in Oregon?
For single-day trips, use the dirt lot across the street from the shop, or the front lot if there is space. For multi-day trips, park inside the lot. On the North Umpqua, the Gravel Bin is the easiest spot since it is also the takeout.
MORE TRIPS
Our Most Booked Trips
|
4 days
|
Class
Hike the Rogue River Trail with a daypack, sleep in the lodges, and let the raft carry everything else.
|
3 days
|
Class
Run the Rogue River Trail lodge to lodge with a light vest while the raft carries your bags.
