Everything you need to know before your Rogue River rafting, fishing or hiking trip — from getting here to what to pack.
Our trips meet at Morrison's Rogue River Lodge (8500 Galice Rd, Merlin, OR 97532), at the start of the federally protected "National Wild & Scenic" section of the Rogue River — about 20 miles northwest of Grants Pass in Southwest Oregon.
By car: From I-5, take Exit 61 and travel west on the Merlin-Galice Road. Merlin is 3 miles west of I-5, and Morrison's Lodge is another 9–10 miles.
By air: The nearest commercial airport is Medford (MFR), 28 miles south of Grants Pass, served by United, Delta and Alaska Air (most connections through Portland, Salt Lake City and San Francisco). Shuttle service can be arranged from the airport to your accommodations — contact us for help.
Approximate driving distances to Grants Pass:
We meet at Morrison's Rogue River Lodge, 8500 Galice Rd, Merlin, OR 97532:
Hugh Hague, the owner, will help you pack your personal belongings into the dry bags we provide. Once your vehicle is secured, we'll transport you and your gear 6–8 miles downriver to the put-in.
We recommend arriving the afternoon before your trip. Morrison's Rogue River Lodge — our meeting point — is an excellent pre-trip option: (800) 826-1963.
Grants Pass: Motel 6 (800) 466-8356 · Shilo Inn (800) 222-2244 · Super 8 (800) 800-8000 · Grants Pass Inn (800) 553-7666 · Holiday Inn Express (800) 838-7666 · Riverside Inn (800) 525-9055
Medford: Rogue Regency (800) 535-5805 — mention Noah's for a discount · Motel 6 North & South (800) 466-8356 · Comfort Inn (800) 228-5150 · Shilo Inn (800) 222-2244
Campgrounds: KOA Gold Hill, I-5 Exit 40 (800) 562-7608 · Valley of the Rogue, I-5 Exit 45B (800) 452-5687 · Indian Mary and Almeda Campgrounds on the Merlin-Galice Rd (541) 474-5285. Summer reservations are a must.
A detailed pack list is emailed when you book, and you can also download the Rafting Pack List or Fishing Pack List.
All your clothing and personal items should fit in a soft-sided duffle about the size of airline carry-on luggage — no more than 25 pounds. We provide two dry bags: a larger one for camp or lodge, and a smaller day bag for things you want handy on the river (sunglasses, camera, sunscreen, medications, a long-sleeve shirt, windbreaker).
Fishermen — don't forget your fishing license!
Camp trips: Bring your favorite sleeping bag, or let us know on your guest questionnaire and we'll provide one. Skip the big pillow — a small pillow or a pillowcase stuffed with clothes works great. We provide cots, sleeping pads/air mattresses, tents, tables, chairs, tarps, lanterns and a complete kitchen.
Lodge trips: Every cabin and room has beds with fresh linens, a bathroom with shower, hot and cold running water, and towels. We're the only multi-day river trip in the lower 48 with access to off-the-grid lodges. Lodges run on generators that provide power until 10:00 p.m.
Wear fast-drying synthetics like nylon, fleece, capilene or microfiber. Cotton (jeans, sweatshirts) dries slowly and is a poor choice on the river, especially early in the season.
Sunburn on the river happens fast. Bring long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks you don't mind getting wet, and a broad-brimmed hat with a chin strap.
Weather in the canyon can vary day to day. Summer daytime temperatures typically reach the 80s and 90s, and the water is generally 60–70°F.
Early-season raft and hiking trips and fall fishing trips usually range from the 50s to 80s during the day, dipping into the 40s in the early morning and evening. Sunshine is the norm, but rain can happen any time — fishermen especially should bring rain gear.
We feed you from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last — and there's plenty of it. Some guests call it "a 5-pound trip!"
Lunches are a riverside, build-your-own deli spread with breads, meats, cheeses, salads, fruit, chips, dips and desserts. Breakfasts and dinners are full-course, all-you-can-eat meals, usually served family-style.
Vegetarian, gluten-free or other dietary needs? Note them on your guest questionnaire — the owners shop and pack every meal themselves. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Let us know and we'll make it special.
We provide sodas, sparkling water and bottled water. You're welcome to bring your own favorite beverages, including beer, wine and spirits. Beer and soda should be in cans or plastic; glass wine and liquor bottles are stored in padded bags. Every boat carries ice chests with extra ice.
For everyone's safety, we insist that alcohol be enjoyed in moderation.
In most cases, no. Just let us know before your trip about any medical or physical conditions, allergies (bee stings, hay fever, asthma), recent surgery, pregnancy, or special dietary needs.
If you take medications, bring two supplies in separate watertight containers. If you carry an EpiPen, keep it in your day bag. For unusual conditions or pregnancy, check with your doctor and let us know in advance.
With a few exceptions, you'll be unreachable while you're in the wilderness. Give Hugh's cell number — (541) 261-2677 — to whoever would need to reach you in an emergency.
We can't guarantee contact during the trip, but we'll use every resource we have — satellite texting, lodge radio and satellite phones — to get a message to you.
Please let us know as soon as possible. We make guaranteed commitments to lodges, guides, staff and transportation whether or not you attend. You're welcome to send a substitute, as long as we're notified and they sign the Assumption of Risk and Liability Release.
Refund policy: There are no refunds for cancellations or no-shows within 60 days of a raft trip (90 days for fishing trips) unless your spaces are resold at full price. Cancel before that window and all money received will be refunded. We regret we can't make exceptions for personal emergencies, so we strongly recommend trip insurance.
Rafting trips end around 2:00 p.m. at the Foster Bar boat landing — 6 miles upriver from Agness and 34 miles upriver from Gold Beach, Oregon.
Fishing trips end at Foster Bar around 3:00 p.m. (3-day trips) or at Quosatana Creek boat landing around 2:00 p.m. (13 miles upriver from Gold Beach).
Our shuttle back to Morrison's Lodge is included at no extra cost and typically arrives around 4:30–5:00 p.m.
Heading on to the coast or Highway 101 instead? We can arrange a vehicle shuttle so your car is waiting at the takeout. Let our office know in advance, arrive at Morrison's 15 minutes early on day one, and bring two sets of keys. Shuttles run about $135–$165 per vehicle depending on the takeout, paid by cash or check to the shuttle company that morning.
We're very proud of our guides — their hard work, river knowledge and attention to detail set them apart. If they went above and beyond, you can leave a gratuity with the head guide at the end of the trip, who shares it with the whole crew. A tip of 12–18% of the trip cost is common, and tipping the drivers is appreciated too.
