Pacific Northwest Hiking Tours

	Rogue River Wilderness	Columbia River Gorge
		Olympic National Park
		Sun Valley/Sawtooths of Idaho
		Alaska: The Kenai
		Mt. Rainier National Park NEW

Dates:
(6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri)
May 9-14
Sept. 26-Oct. 1

Assembly Point:
Medford, OR
(airline service to Medford; Timberline van transfers to and from airport)

Tour Cost: $2,095
(includes all lodging, all meals, park entrance fees, transfers, leaders, luggage transport, tour maps & narratives)

Itinerary

    The Rogue River, with its source in the high snow-laden Cascades near Crater Lake, certainly ranks among the most legendary rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The river’s dramatic drop in elevation over a relatively short distance combined with the enormous seasonal snowfall at its headwaters accounts for the astounding power of the river. The Rogue is one of only three rivers in the northwest with sufficient force to carve a course through the coastal mountain barrier on its way to the Pacific. The result—an incredibly spectacular 4,000-foot-deep gorge with countless Class IV rapids and waterfalls that cradles the Rogue through the Klamath Mountains.

    The federal government, in recognition of the river’s unique and extraordinary nature, included the Rogue among the eight rivers originally designated for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.

    For the most part, the Rogue River Canyon is inaccessible other than by boat or on foot along the 42-mile Rogue River National Recreation Trail that follows the river’s north bank from Graves Creek at the canyon’s eastern entrance to Foster Bar at the western portal. This trail, embraced within the heart of the Wild Rogue Wilderness, will be the focus of our Rogue River Wilderness adventure in the season ahead.

    We’ll hike the entire 42-mile length of the Rogue Trail from Graves Creek to Foster Bar in four days, and we’ll do so carrying only daypacks—our remaining baggage will be transported from lodge to lodge by boat. And, yes, we did say “lodge”, because we’ll spend our three nights along the river trail in a series of backcountry lodges also accessible only by boat and foot.

    Our two planned itineraries vary slightly for seasonal reasons. For each date, we’ll hike the Rogue Trail over the final four days. In May, we’ll explore the fascinating stalagmite and stalactites of Oregon Caves National Monument in the Siskiyou foothills to the south of Medford during the first two days of that program. Our overnight at Oregon Caves deserves special mention; we’ll spend this evening and enjoy dinner at the historic Oregon Caves Chateau at the park’s entrance, one of the grand lodges so characteristic of our national parks.

    In late-September, we’re headed for magnificent Crater Lake National Park in the Cascades to the east of the Rogue Canyon. In the course of our visit at Crater Lake, we’ll climb to the summit of Mt Scott, the highest peak in the park, and spend our first night at Crater Lake Lodge on the rim of the caldera overlooking the beautiful lake. On our way to Crater Lake on Day 1, we’ll hike along the Boundary Springs Trail into the park to the source of the Rogue, where the river actually emerges from the ground and begins its plunge to the Pacific.

    The actual Rogue experience begins late afternoon of Day 2 upon our arrival at the Riverside Lodge in Grant’s Pass, on the banks of the Rogue. Early morning of Day 3, we’ll shuttle to Graves Creek and begin our trek into the Rogue Wilderness. For the most part, the trail is situated well above the river offering outstanding unobstructed views of the canyon below. Each day is a continuum of waterfalls, cascades, swirling rapids, intriguing rock formations and a rich and diverse collection of wildlife. Expect to see deer and elk grazing along the river’s banks, beaver, otter, and, though less likely, black bear, mountain lion, and bobcat. The area is also renowned among birdwatchers, with frequent sightings of osprey and bald eagles.

    We’ll hike to Black Bar Lodge on Day 3 (9.5 miles), Marial Lodge (14 miles) on Day 4, and spend our final overnight at Clay Hill (10 miles). Early morning of our final day, we’ll hike to Foster Bar (7 miles), and then shuttle back to Medford.

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