Trip Details
Rogue River Hiking Trips
Price: $1745/person (double occupancy)
Meet Time: 8:00 a.m. at Galice Resort
Trip Dates: September 20 and September 30
Highlights: Trail hosts courtesy of SWS Mountain Guides, abundant wildlife, outstanding food, and one night at Paradise Lodge.
Fall is magic on the Rogue River Trail. With the changing of seasons comes a beautiful contrast of colors. The busier summer season yields to a slower pace of travelers and you’ll discover the river and trail mostly to yourself. Cooler temperatures are refreshing in the evening and the crisp water feels like a renewal of sorts for both you and the river.
Our four-day Rogue River Hiking Trips with SWS Mountain Guides provides the best of both worlds – explore the trail under the guidance of an experienced SWS Mountain Guide and leave the work of carrying gear, food, and camping equipment in the capable hands of Indigo Creek’s river guides.
Each day features delicious meals that are staged in convenient locations adjacent to the trail. Our comfortable camps are set-up prior to your arrival and are a welcome home-away-from-home nestled against the beauty of the Wild Rogue River. While the trail offers inspiring views and perspectives, our rafts are always nearby if you want to kick back and relax for any portion of the journey.
Your final night and morning is spent at Paradise Lodge which is only accessible by boat or trail.
Guest Information
Inevitably you may have some questions about your Rogue River hiking trip. Our office is available to answer any questions you might have and to also be a resource for planning your visit to the Rogue River. We are based in Phoenix, Oregon and have lots of local tips to make your visit to Southern Oregon not only a wonderful vacation but also as easy as possible. We are available via phone at 541-282-4535, email (info@indigocreekoutfitters.com), or you can stop by and say “hello” at our Rafting Center located in Phoenix, Oregon. Below are some important details about your trip. We’ve also tried to address the most common questions we get regarding our multi-day trips.
Guest Information Directory
- Trip meeting location: Galice Resort
- Places to stay before your trip
- Flying to Medford International Airport (MFR)
- Packing for your Rogue River trip
- Dietary requests and food allergies
- What is typical weather like on the Rogue River?
- Can I bring my favorite beverages on my trip?
- How much room is there for my personal belongings?
- What kind of sleeping pads do you provide?
- What are the toilets like?
- Spiders, snakes, and bears – oh my!
- Can I bring a musical instrument?
Trip Meeting Location: Galice Resort
Galice Resort: 11744 Galice Rd, Merlin, OR 97532
Our Rogue River hiking trips meet at the Galice Resort at 8:00 a.m. the morning of your trip. Galice has lodging available and is a convenient place to stay the night prior to your trip. If you are driving:
North on Interstate 5 (Medford, Ashland)
1. Take exit 61.
2. Turn left at the end of the ramp.
3. Go straight through the stoplight and continue for exactly 15 miles. This road turns into the “Merlin Galice Road.”
4. The Galice Resort will be on your right.
South on Interstate 5 (Portland, Seattle)
1. Take exit 61.
2. Turn left at the stop light towards Merlin.
3. Continue for exactly 15 miles. This road turns into the “Merlin Galice Road.”
4. The Galice Resort will be on your right.
Places to stay before your trip
If you are traveling from out of the area you will probably want to stay somewhere nearby our meeting location at Galice Resort. You can stay at Galice, however there are many other options nearby.
Nearby Lodging Options (within half an hour of our meeting location)
Name | Phone | Location |
---|---|---|
Double C Dog Ranch | 1-541-890-4120 | Ashland |
Canine Club | 1-800-826-1963 | Grants Pass |
R&R Pet Resort | 1-541-535-1900 | Grants Pass |
Lodging options in Medford, Oregon (1 hour away)
Name | Phone | Cell Service? | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Margaritaville | 1-541-646-9700 | ✅ | Medford |
Rogue Regency Inn | 1-541-770-1234 | ✅ | Medford |
Homewood Suites | 1-541-779-9800 | ✅ | Medford |
Courtyard Medford Airport | 1-541-772-5656 | ✅ | Medford |
Lodging options in Ashland, Oregon (1 hour and fifteen minutes away)
Name | Phone | Cell Service? | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Bard's Inn | 1-800-533-9627 | ✅ | Ashland |
Ashland Springs Hotel | 1-541-488-1700 | ✅ | Ashland |
Stratford Inn | 1-541-488-2151 | ✅ | Ashland |
Lithia Springs Resort | 1-800-482-7128 | ✅ | Ashland |
Windsor Inn | 1-541-488-2330 | ✅ | Ashland |
Ashland Hills | 1-541-482-8310 | ✅ | Ashland |
Galice Resort | 1-541-476-3818 | No | Galice |
The Lodge at Riverside | 1-541-955‐0600 | ✅ | Grants Pass |
Shilo Inn | 1-541-479‐8391 | ✅ | Grants Pass |
La Quinta | 541-472‐1808 | ✅ | Grants Pass |
Holiday Inn Express | 1-541-471‐6144 | ✅ | Grants Pass |
Margaritaville | 1-541-646-9700 | ✅ | Medford |
Courtyard Medford Airport | 1-541-772-5656 | ✅ | Medford |
Rogue Regency Inn | 1-541-770-1234 | ✅ | Medford |
Homewood Suites | 1-541-779-9800 | ✅ | Medford |
Morrison's Lodge | 1-800-826-1963 | No | Merlin |
Flying to Medford International Airport (MFR)
Medford International Airport is serviced by United Airlines, Delta, Allegiant and Horizon Air. Flights inbound to Medford start from San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Please plan your flight to arrive the day before your river trip. For your return flight, please do not plan to fly out on the same day as your trip gets off the river.
Packing for your Rogue River trip
During our pre-trip meeting (8:00 a.m. at Galice Resort on the day of your trip) we will provide you with a large dry bag (“camp bag”) and a small dry bag (“day bag”). These waterproof bags will carry your belongings for the duration of our time on the river. The large dry bag measures 16″ in diameter and 25″ tall when closure is rolled to maximum volume.
Professional Guide Tips and Tricks
“Pack your clothing into a soft duffel bag or laundry bag so that it is easily fits in the dry bag next to other items. Use small ziplock bags to organize medicine and toiletries. My ‘must have’ is a pillow. Bring one and you’ll sleep like a king (or queen).”
– Nick Pabst, Indigo Creek Outfitters
Dietary Requests and Food Allergies
With advance notice we are happy to accommodate most dietary requests. At the time of your reservation we try to collect as much information as possible to make your trip perfect for you. This includes food preferences, requests, and allergies. If you have any questions, concerns, or simply want to update your roster information, please call our office at 541-282-4535 or email info@indigocreekoutfitters.com.
What is the typical weather like on the Rogue River?
In Southern Oregon we like to say that “if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.” In other words, weather can change really quickly and you should be prepared for sun, rain, hot, and cold weather throughout your trip. Mornings can be cool (down to 50 degrees) and afternoons can be hot (100 degrees), so having a variety of clothing will help you be comfortable.
Average Highs / Lows in fahrenheit
April: 64 / 40
May: 72 / 45
June: 80 / 50
July: 89 / 55
August: 89 / 54
September: 82 / 47
October: 69 / 41
Can I bring my favorite beverages on my trip?
Yes, absolutely. Cans are best but we can also take glass bottles. We have safe storage space in dry boxes and coolers. For obvious safety reasons, we do not provide access to alcoholic beverages while on the river.
Professional Guide Tips and Tricks
“Don’t put your bottle of wine in your dry bag. It will break and your clothes and sleeping bag will smell like white wine for the rest of the trip. Give it to a guide and we’ll put it in a cooler for you.”
– Thorn Lyons, Indigo Creek Outfitters
How much room is there for my personal belongings?
The large dry bag measures 16″ in diameter and 25″ tall when closure is rolled to maximum volume. We also provide a smaller dry bag that you have access to throughout the day. Please limit your personal items to these bags. If you have additional items we can probably accommodate them, but please contact our office so we know ahead of time. Call us at 541-282-4535 or info@indigocreekoutfitters.com.
What kind of sleeping pads do you provide?
We are proud to offer the best sleeping pads made for river trips to our guests. These are “Jack’s Plastic Super Paco Sleeping Pads” that are ultra-comfortable, thick, and extremely durable. They are, without question, the most comfortable sleeping pad offered by any outfitter on the Rogue River.
Professional Guide Tips and Tricks
“Since Paco Pads are waterproof and inflatable, try floating on yours in an eddy next to camp when the afternoon heat peaks.”
– Emily Berlant, Indigo Creek Outfitters
What are the toilets like?
Depending on where we camp, there will either be an outhouse or porta-potty set-up near camp. If we have a porta-potty, we always will have it set-up in a private location that is easily accessed from camp. We use an indicator (normally a paddle) to show whether the “bathroom” is in use.
Professional Guide Tips and Tricks
“At some point before the sun goes down, scout out the path to the bathroom. When it’s the middle of the night you’ll appreciate the foresight in knowing exactly where it’s located, rather than looking for it in the dark.”
– Kacy Carlson, Indigo Creek Outfitters
Spiders, snakes, and Bears – Oh my!
We’ll be traveling through a wilderness area that is home to many creatures. It is very common over the course of our trips to see bear, deer, bald eagles, and other wildlife. For the most part, these animals are harmless and not interested in what we are doing. We do take precautions to keep human and wildlife interactions to a minimum and these will be discussed by our guides before your trip and at camp.
Can I bring a musical instrument?
Yes, absolutely. We’ve had guitars, harmonicas, banjos, and even a bagpipe on the river. Let our office know ahead of time if you will need a special waterproof bag for your instrument.
Trip Itinerary
Ready, set, go!
This is a sample trip itinerary; please note your specific trip itinerary may be slightly different than is outlined below. This itinerary is meant to be an idea of what to expect from daily hiking mileage. For specific questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Day 1: Grave Creek to Horseshoe Bend
We will meet at the Galice Resort at 8:00AM to meet and greet everyone. Your guides will provide you with a drybag to put your overnight gear in, and a small personal drybag to keep some personal items you don’t want to get wet in your backpack if any weather moves in while hiking.
After meeting everyone and getting personal items sorted, we’ll transport everyone to the Graves Creek Boat Ramp. Your raft guides will set out on the river with your overnight gear from here, and you’ll begin hiking with your hiking guides.
We’ll stop along the trail to look at some of the various rapids (such as Rainie Falls), and other historical areas like the Whisky Creek Cabin.
We’ll meet up with one of our raft guides for a riverside lunch. After lunch, if you’d like, you’ll have the opportunity to hop in the raft with them for part of the afternoon. We will continue along the trail until we reach our camp location for the evening. Arriving at camp, you’ll be greeted by our other raft guides and a fully set up camp. You’ll have plenty of time to relax, kick back, and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Total Miles Covered: 11 miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,709 / -1,869 (Net Loss -160FT)
Day 2: Horseshoe Bend to Quail Creek
After a freshly prepared breakfast, and plenty of time for a second cup of coffee/tea, we’ll begin our hike for the day. We will hike downriver and pass by the historic cabin of Zane Grey, as we get further into the canyon wildlife begins to appear more frequently and becomes more diverse.
We will once again meet with our raft guides for lunch, and hike into a fully set up camp for our second evening on the river.
Total Miles Covered: 11 miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,131 / -1,215 (Net Loss -84FT)
Day 3: Quail Creek to Paradise Lodge
We awake to enjoy breakfast and make our way to the comforts of our evening at Paradise Lodge. We will have a shorter hiking day, and cover some of the most well-known parts of the canyon. We’ll stop at the historic Rogue River Ranch for some sightseeing and lunch in the area. After enjoying lunch, we’ll will next hike past Mule Creek Canyon. This area is known for its turbulent waters and steep canyon walls. We will then continue down river towards Paradise Lodge, passing the famous Blossom Bar rapid. We may even have the opportunity to view one of our guides making their way through it. Arriving at Paradise River Lodge, we can get settled in, take a shower, and sit on the deck overlooking the river. This is a favorite place for many people who travel down the river! That evening, you’ll have dinner and be able to fully relax with your guides before heading to bed.
Total Miles Covered: 8.5 Miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,081 / -1,147 (Net Loss -66FT)
Day 4: Paradise Lodge to Foster Bar
Our day begins with a sit-down breakfast enjoyed at the lodge. Our raft guides will get an early start after breakfast to make their way down the canyon towards our lunch location and the end of the trail. We’ll likely see the most wildlife today, and the most river activity. Bald Eagles frequent the lower section of the river due to the still waters and great fishing. After meeting one of our guides for lunch, we then continue on the trail towards Foster Bar where we’ll rejoin with our raft guides and be transported by private vehicle back to Galice.
Total Miles Covered: 11.5
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,064 / – 2,189 (Net Loss -125FT)
The Indigo Creek Experience
Experience speaks volumes – and we have lots of it. Founded in 2011, Indigo Creek stems from decades of work in the whitewater and adventure tourism industry. We are lucky to work in a fun and exciting industry, but we are most fortunate to have the best customers on Earth who make the work we do a true pleasure. Read our story, learn about our crew, and read about the Indigo difference.