Choose Your Pace: Hiking Lodge to Lodge Along the Rogue River

Activity note: Program includes both river rafting and raft-supported hiking. 1) Rafts will carry most of your personal gear, as well as food and group supplies. You’ll need to bring a day pack, but you will need to carry only those few items you’ll need along the trail during the day. 2) Location of the lodges would result in long hikes on certain days. To avoid this we transport hikers by raft around certain sections of trail. Sections of river rafted are mild (class II whitewater and below).

Dinner: Meal prepared by program staff at Galice Lodge.

Evening: After dinner, a brief orientation and get-acquainted session will be held.

Activity note: You will have two hiking options. The total 9.6 mile hike which includes a stop for lunch set up by the raft guides. The other option would be to hike up to 4.8 miles, have lunch and then complete the day on a raft ride to Black Bar Lodge. Highlights include views of Rainie Falls and optional side hike to historic Whiskey Creek cabin. The Rogue River canyon is rich in history with numerous historic sites remaining from the trapping and mining days. This is the most difficult day of hiking.

Breakfast: Meal prepared by program staff at Galice Lodge.

Morning: We check out of the lodge and depart for the trail at approximately 9:00 AM. 3.3 or 5 mile hike this morning, to either Whiskey Creek or Tyee campsite for our lunch stop. In general the elevations encountered today (and on subsequent days) are low - starting with 689 feet at the trailhead - but the trail climbs and descends multiple times. In addition, though the trail is of moderate difficulty overall, participants may find certain sections of the trail more challenging. Hikers should be prepared for conditions such as including rocky slopes, lose gravel, washouts, and down trees. Hikers should also be aware that poison oak grows along the trail (for this reason we recommend that you consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants).

Lunch: Meal prepared by program staff at riverside.

Afternoon: 4.6 mile or 6.3 mile hike from lunch site to Black Bar Lodge.

Dinner: Meal prepared by lodge staff at Black Bar Lodge.

Evening: Evening hours each day include free time and may also include instructional presentations on a variety of topics concerning the region’s cultural or natural history.

Activity note: We'll start the day with a short river float from the lodge to Meadow Creek Camp a distance of 3.8 miles. The first hiking section will be 4.1 miles to Winkle Bar and lunch. The next hiking section will be 6.3 miles of little elevation gain or loss. You have the option to hike or ride the raft on any of the hiking sections. The Rogue canyon through which we hike and raft is an enchanting blend of lush forests, fern grottoes, abundant wildlife, sparkling side streams and clear swimming holes.

Breakfast: Meal prepared by lodge staff at Black Bar Lodge.

Morning: 3.1 mile float in the rafts from Black Bar Lodge to Meadow camp, followed by 4.1 mile hike to Winkle Bar. (Option to hike the first 3.1 miles rather than float may be available but is not guaranteed.) View writer Zane Grey's cabin at Winkle Bar and take a break here for lunch before continuing onward.

Lunch: Meal prepared by program staff at riverside.

Afternoon: Hike 6.5 miles from Winkle Bar to Marial Lodge. (Option to raft rather than hike available for those who would prefer to float rather than walk this section.)

Dinner: Meal prepared by lodge staff at Marial Lodge.

Activity note: Today's hike will be a total distance of 4.2 miles through the most spectacular section of the river canyon. We follow the river as in flows through Mule Creek Canyon and spend time at Inspiration Point. We will cheer on the raft guides as they run the difficult and demanding Blossom Bar Rapid. Ending the day of hiking at Paradise Lodge for lunch and an afternoon of exploring. Due to the nature of the river, everyone will be required to hike this section.

Breakfast: Meal prepared by lodge staff at Marial Lodge.

Morning: Optional hike from Marial Lodge to the Rogue River Ranch, or take the morning for R&R.

Lunch: Meal prepared by program staff at Marial Lodge.

Afternoon: 4.2 mile hike from Marial Lodge to Paradise Lodge, along perhaps the most spectacular section of the Rogue River. Optional hike from Paradise Lodge to canyon overlook.

Dinner: Meal prepared by lodge staff at Paradise Lodge.

Activity note: There are a number of hiking options today. The first section is 4.6 miles to Tate Creek. The next section is 2.3 miles to Flora Dell falls. At this point everyone will be loaded onto the rafts for the final 3.7 mile section to the end of the rafting hiking trip. We will there shuttle back to Galice Lodge for the final night. The return to Galice will take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending upon return route based on road conditions in the mountains.

Breakfast: Meal prepared by lodge staff at Paradise Lodge.

Morning: 6.9 mile hike from Paradise Lodge to Flora Dell Creek. Lunch at Flora Dell.

Lunch: Meal prepared by program staff at riverside.

Afternoon: Board boats after lunch for a 4.5 mile float out of the wilderness to the boat ramp and trail's end. (Option to hike final segment of trail – rather that rafting – may be available but is not guaranteed.) We typically arrive at trail's end and the boat ramp between 2 and 3 PM. We’ll then board a van for the ride back to Galice. Van travel back to Galice Resort is a 2 hour trip on a mixed surface road – mostly paved but with some gravel stretches. Route is a winding road, so if you’re particularly susceptible to motion sickness you may want to bring appropriate medication.

Dinner: Meal prepared by program staff at Galice Lodge.

Activity note: The last morning will conclude with breakfast prepared by the guides at the Galice resort. The van is set to leave for the airport at 10:30am.

Breakfast: Meal prepared by program staff at Galice Lodge.

Morning: Program ends after breakfast.