Rafting Oregon’s Notorious Rogue River
August 7, 2008
Oregon’s Rogue River is a National Wild and Scenic River, designated by our U.S. Government. It is also a river that has been garnering quite a reputation for killing rafters and kayakers this summer. Thus far, four people have drowned after trying to navigate some of the rapids towards the Lower Rogue River. Many people think this is due to the river running unusually high this time of year, others think it is just part of the cycle.
“I think we should continue to have fun. I think we’ve done these rapids and this river for years with no problems and to have a few bizarre incidents happen in a short period of time is very rare and it’s really unfortunate.”
This quote is coming from an article on Oregon’s NBC News affiliate, KOBI Channel 5 website.
The problem seems to be that the river is flowing at a higher level, hiding some of the rocks that rafters and kayakers are use to navigating around. Four people have died in the exact same spot in an area known as “The Devil’s Staircase.” The name is quite menacing.
Luckily, we have the great Backpacker Magazine to show us a different side of the Rogue. For those of us that don’t live in Oregon and have not ventured out that way, this can open our eyes to other possibilities. Backpacker Magazine has done a fantastic job of mapping out the Rogue River. This 40 mile waterway runs majestically through the middle of the Wild Rogue Wilderness and the Siskiyou National Forest. It is sort of a breaking point before entering one or the other.
The article and trail view talks a little bit about the river and the scenery, but then it is all river from there. If you have never ventured into or around the Rogue River, perhaps you should put that newspaper down, quit relying on freak accidents, and take a closer look at one of our Nation’s truly wild and natural waterways.
Backpacker Magazine gives you everything you need to plan a fun and successful venture down the Rogue River. There are maps, river guides, guiding companies that will actually set everything up and adventure with you, and even an outline of every single point on the trail. You can either raft it, kayak it, or hike the trails around it if “The Devil’s Staircase” isn’t your cup of Joe.
Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,
