Rogue River Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Grave Creek Trailhead
- End point: Illahe Campground
- Trail log: Rogue River Hike/Log
- Distance: 39.5 miles
- Elevation gain: about 2000 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year round, very hot in summer
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Busy during the summer
Contents |
Hike Description
Under Construction.
This is a premier hike in Southern Oregon. The trail goes along the Rogue River, sometimes near the river and other times going a couple hundred feet above with great views down of the river. There is a 41 mile wild section with only one road access about in the middle.
You can do the full 41 mile hike, or you could just go from either end, as far as you wanted, and then back to where you began. To do the 41 miles, you can drive 2 cars to Illahe, then backtrack one car to where you left the Rogue, turn left, and go the last 7.5 miles to Grave Creek. Alternately, as you get near the trailhead, there are businesses and residences that have signs out front saying "shuttle". You can pay one of them to pick you up at the Illahe trailead at a specified time, and take yoy back to your car at Grave Creek.
The trail is fairly good. There are places where it is somewhat narrow with a steep drop on one side. There are places where it's somewhat rocky so you have to watch your step to avoid hurting your ankle. The trail crosses many streams - some have bridges, some you have to hop rocks to cross. In February 2008, at about mile 5 from the East end, there is a particularly difficult crossing - take about 2 steps into the gully, two steps rock hopping across the stream, and two steps up the other bank, helps to have a stick or someone's hand to grab.
The Rogue River is better known for boating. There are both floaters and motor boats. There are many chalenging rapids. There are many nice camping spots. A lottery system is used to limit the number of people, so it's fairly crowded during the season. November to April there aren't so many boaters. If you're into running rivers, this should definitely be on your list.
The river is also excellent fish habitat, both boaters and hikers. If you're into fishing this would be a good place to try.
The climate here is much drier and warmer than Portland. The trail stays below 900 feet elevation. When it's snowy in the gorge and on Mount Hood, it could be very nice here. Along the river the vegetation is fairly sparse with Madrona trees. On the ridges above, there are pine and fir trees. A frequent weather pattern is clear near the river, with fog on the ridges above that burns off in the afternoon. The trees get much of their water from fog.
Sometimes there's snow here, and when the snow is melting and/or there are heavy rains, the river can flood making the trail imapssable. About 1/2 mile from the Grave Creek trailhead is a sign above the trail showing the river level in a recent flood. Check out the weather reports for Grants Pass or Gold Beach to get an idea of the weather here.
In the summer, it can get very hot here, so it wouldn't be such a good hiking trail. There also more ticks and Poison Oak so maybe this should be considered a winter hike.
Watch for ticks, not so bad in the winter but terrible in the summer. There are more ticks on the Western half - there is grass along the trail with ticks on it, waiting to hop a ride on you. Wear long pants. Gaiters would be good. Use insect repellent such as DEET. After hiking carefully inspect to see if any ticks are on you and remove them. You can get Lyme disease from a tick bite, typically there is a target shaped circular red rash and flu like symptoms, go see a doctor, anti-biotics can treat it.
There are bears, especially on the Western 10 miles of the trail. Hang your food at least 10 feet avove ground and 5 feet away from trees. Use the provided Bear proof enclosures (electric fences, boxes, or cables/pullies) at the Western end at Camp Tacomoa, Tate Creek, Half Moon Bar, and Burns Creek.
Watch out for Poison Oak, especially as you go further West. Watch out for Rattle Snakes.
Detailed Description
The trail starts at the parking area below the North end of the bridge across the Rogue at Grave Creek. Beware the parking area occasionally gets flooded. During the boating season, stay out of the way of boaters launching boats. You might better park above neaxt to the bridge and walk down.
At mile 1.7 from the trailhead is a trail down to Rainie Falls. You can't see the falls from the main trail. There is a large area near the river where you could camp.
At mile 3.2 is Whiskey Creek. Just before is a campsite with an outhouse. This is probably the busiest campsite. If you want more privacy, go across Whiskey Creek and in the next 1/2 mile are many nice spots between the trail and the river. At mile 3.8 is Slide Creek camp that also has an outhouse.
On busy, good weather weekends, expect to see many other people on the hiker trail, including day hikers and fishermen. After about mile 3.5 or so, the crowds really thin out.
While you're in the area, on the other side of the bridge across Whiskey Creek, is the trail up to an old cabin. A sign indicates the trail.
Beyond here, there are campsites every couple miles or so. Check out the Rogue River Hike/Log or BLM map below. There are hiker only sites that tend to be small spots for one tent right next to the trail. About half the time, the trail is way above the river so you can't get down to the campsites for boaters. About half the time, the trail is close enough you can use the boater campsites, which may well be occupied during the season. If you camp at a boater site during the summer, be prepared to be harrassed by large parties of boaters that are un-happy that a hiker is taking a boater site.
Check out Zane Grey's cabin at mile 17.3. Zane Grey lived there. It is now open to visitors.
Check out the Rogue River Ranch, BLM owned, museum open May through October, water, bathroom, emergency radio,... There is road access to here down a difficult gravel road. There is also Marial lodge. Tucker Flat car campground is also here, it's not too busy because of the difficult road access.
Mule Creek Canyon is at mile 22.9. This is one of the more difficult sections of the Rogue with narrow channel and a lot of turbulence.
Check out Paradise Lodge at mile 27.4 from Grave Creek. You can get a shower, food, and a beer. It's onl;y accessible by boat, trail, or airplane. They're only open in the summer, but you might find someone there year-round.
The last major campsite is Camp Tacoma at mile 32.7. There are a lot of boaters here during the season. Nice sandy campsites right next to the river. You might prefer smaller campsites at Flora Dell Creek (hiker only) at mile 35 or Hick's Creek at mile 35.7. These are harder to find.
The Western trailhead is Big Bend at mile 39.5. Nearby is the Foster Bar boat ramp, the most popular boat take-out point. A little further is Illahe Campground, a good car camp.
For current info call:
Rogue River Eastern half - Grants Pass BLM 541-471-6500 Rogue River Western half - Gold Beach USFS 541-247-3600
Maps
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
More Links
Check out the float guide [1]. It has 60 pages of information about boating and also more general info applicable to hikers.
- See more information at Describe the link here
Contributors
- retiredjerry (creator)