The Master’s Program: Rogue River Trip

What should I know before I go?

Check out this quick video to learn what you’ll need for your trip. 

How healthy do I need to be to go on a trip?

Your MRWA Rafting/hiking trips on the Rogue River can be physically strenuous and require active participation from each trip participant. Essential eligibility requirements for all participants on any MRWA river trip are as follows:

• Ability to independently board and disembark a boat four to ten times each day. This may require stepping into the boat, and then maneuvering your body over and across tubes and fixed objects into a seated position.
• Ability to remain seated and balanced while in a whitewater craft while holding on with at least one hand.
• Ability to independently navigate shoreline terrain, including maneuvering around and across boulders, rocks, slippery or sandy, uneven surfaces, under low branches, and around vegetation. This includes the ability to independently maintain your balance near precipitous ledges or cliffs.
• Ability to follow both verbal and non-verbal instructions given by guides in all situations, including during stressful or dangerous situations, and to effectively communicate with guides and other guests. Wear a Type V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device provided. Where required, properly wear a helmet.

Are guide gratuities included?

Guide gratuities are additional and based on 10-15% of your base trip cost, not including BLM and USFS fees (if applicable). For payment, we accept cash or check (made out to your guide). We cannot add gratuities to your credit card. If you have any questions about our trips, please call our offices 7 days a week at 1-800-336-1647. Our friendly office staff is glad to answer any questions about our trips or visiting the great state of Oregon.

What kind of food do you serve?

We provide a picnic style lunch that includes healthy light meals ideal for river trips. On our multiple day trips, the lodges will provide dinner and breakfast for the lodge trips, and our guides will turn into gourmet cooks for the camp trips. They will cook anything from bbq chicken to fajitas to stir-fry, salmon, and steak. They follow it up with desserts such as chocolate cake, vanilla pudding cake, or our famous bacon peanut butter chocolate crumble. If you have any kind of dietary specifications, please let us know so we can accommodate your needs. 

Do you serve alcohol on the trips?

We do not provide alcohol. You are welcome to bring alcohol with you on the trips. On multiple day trips, we provide a cooler for you to store any extra drinks that you would like to bring. Additionally, Paradise Lodge offers a wide selection of alcoholic beverages to purchase at a ‘wilderness’ price.

What do I wear?

Dressing safely and comfortably (not to mention fashionable) for river trips is a challenging task. It is very important and should not be taken lightly. For much of the season, you will need two sets of clothing: one for on the river and one for camp or the lodge.

During the day, shorts, swimsuit, water sandals, hat, and sunglasses are best. Sun protection is always a priority. There is no shade on the river. Please plan on wearing shoes that attach to your feet. No flip flops!

In the evening, you will need a dry pair of shoes or sandals, a warm pair of pants, and a sweatshirt or jacket. In the heat of the summer, you may just need dry shorts and a t-shirt for the evenings, but the mornings are always chilly, so be prepared with a warm top.

It is always a good idea to bring a rain jacket and pants. Oregon is known for erratic weather.

For more specifics on what to pack, reference the itinerary provided with your trip confirmation email.

What happens if I need to go to the bathroom?

On the Wild and Scenic Section, the lodges have bathrooms and many of the places we camp have outhouses. If an outhouse isn’t available, we carry a riverside toilet system. We make sure you have a bathroom available at all stops.

How high are the rapids ranked?

Rapids are classed on a scale from 1 to 6. The Wild and Scenic Rogue River includes rapids ranging from Class 1, 2, and 3, with two Class 4 rapids that you can easily navigate or walk around if preferred. However, the classes of rapids you will encounter will vary depending on your trip. The following explains each classification:

Class I (easy) – Moving water with small waves that can tug a boat. This is the calmest class, with minimal maneuvering required.

Class II (novice) – Easy rapids, with waves up to 3 ft tall that are easily seen, and wide channels. Some maneuvering required.

Class III (intermediate) – Offer plenty of excitement with waves up to 4 ft and narrow passages that send the boat shimmying and water gushing over its sides.

Class IV (advanced) – Long, difficult rapids, with turbulent water that requires precise maneuvering. Guaranteed to get your heart racing! There may be dangerous rocks or boiling eddies. Precise maneuvering required, and you should be accompanied by an experienced guide.

Class V (expert) – A constant adrenaline rush. Long and violent rapids that follow each other almost without interruption. Paddlers should have Class IV or better whitewater experience, and go with experienced guides who know the river.

Class VI (extreme) – Not commercially raftable. Considered “un-runnable” and have rarely been attempted due to their difficulty, unpredictability, and danger. This is the most dangerous class and should only be attempted by a team of experts.