Frequently Asked Questions

We will meet you at 8:30 a.m. at Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge located at 8500 Galice Rd. Merlin, OR 97532. At this point your host (The owner Hugh Hague) will assist you with packing your personal belongings into dry bags provided by Noah’s.  After parking and securing your vehicle for the duration of the trip, we will transport you and your dry bags a short distance (4-6 miles) down river to the beginning point of your trip.

The beginning point of the federally protected “National Wild & Scenic” section of Rogue River is located in Southwest Oregon, approximately 20 miles northwest of the city of Grants Pass.  Grants Pass is 61 miles north of the Oregon/California border on the I-5 freeway.

Approx. driving Distance to Grants Pass:

Seattle – 421 miles (7.5 hrs.)

Portland – 244 miles (4.0 hrs.)

Medford – 28 miles (35 min.)

Redding – 183 miles (3.5 hrs.)

Sacramento – 350 miles (6.5 hrs.)

San Francisco – 395 miles (7.0 hrs)

Los Angeles – 743 miles (12.5 hr.)

Reno – 335 miles (7 hr.)

Las Vegas – 917 miles (16.5 hr.)

Boise – 679 miles (12 hr.) 

If you are arriving by air:

The nearest commercial airport is Medford, Oregon, which is 28 miles south of Grants Pass.  United, Horizon and Alaska Air service this airport which is most commonly connected from Portland and San Francisco.  Shuttle service can be arranged from the airport to your accommodations in Medford, Grants Pass or Morrison’s Lodge.   For assistance with shuttle service, please contact us.

Whether driving or flying, we encourage you to arrive in the area the night before your trip.  Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge is a great option for the night before your scheduled trip.

The closer you are to the Galice/Merlin area, the more convenient to you on the morning of your trips departure.

Merlin:

Morrison Lodge (800) 826-1963 (8500 Galice Rd. Merlin, OR 97532)

(Morrison’s Lodge is our rendezvous site – 8:30 a.m.)

Grants Pass:

Motel 6 (800) 466-8356

Shilo Inn (800) 222-2244

Super 8 (800) 800-8000

Grants Pass Inn (800) 553-7666

Holiday Express (800) 838-7666

Riverside Inn (800) 525-9055

Medford:

Motel 6 – South (800) 466-8356

Motel 6 – North (800) 466-8356

Rogue Regency (800) 535-5805(mention Noah’s for discount)

Comfort Inn (800) 228-5150

Pony Soldier Inn (800) 634-7669X32

Shilo Inn (800) 222-2244

Campgrounds:

KOA – Gold Hill, I-5 @ Exit 40  (800) 562-7608

Valley of the Rogue, I-5 @ Exit 45B  (800) 452-5687

Indian Mary Campground, 10 miles west on the Merlin/Galice Road

from the I-5 freeway @ exit 61 (541) 474-5285

Almeda Campground, 14 miles west on the Merlin/Galice Rd.

from the I-5 freeway @ exit 61 (541) 474-5285

Reservations are needed during the summertime.

Specific personal pack lists are e-mailed to you upon reservation. If you do not have the pack list, contact Hugh at 5412612677 or hugh@noahsrafting.com and he will get it to you via email.

All of your clothing and personal items should fit into a travel bag about the size of a backpack, no more than 25 pounds.  A good rule of thumb is to use a bag the size of what you would carry onto an airplane.  When you meet us on the morning of your trip, we will provide you with two dry bags.  One that you can put your travel bag into or transfer your clothing and personal gear into.  The first, larger bag is generally only available when at the lodge or camp.  The second dry bag, a smaller day bag is always readily available with your personal items (sunglasses, camera,  sunscreen, medication, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker, etc.).

If you are on one of our camp or camp/lodge combo trips, Please feel free to bring your favorite sleeping bag. If you do not have your own bag, please indicate on your questionnaire that you would like Noah’s to provide a bag for you.  Please, no pillows – instead bring just a pillowcase, which you can fill with some clothing to create a pillow.  We supply everything else including cots, sleeping pads/air mattresses, tents, tables and chairs, camp tarp if needed, camp lanterns and complete kitchen and tableware.

If you are on our lodge trip, all cabins and rooms have beds with fresh linens, bathroom with shower and sink, hot and cold running water, bath and hand towel and wash cloths.  Some lodging accommodations have a shared bath to two bedrooms.

Clothing choices: For rafting/kayaking river attire, clothing should be fast drying.  Cotton materials, such as jeans and sweatshirts are poor choices for wearing on the river, especially in cool or wet weather.  When they get wet, they may take a long time to dry.  Synthetic materials such as nylon dry quickly and are also cool on hot days.  For early season raft/kayak trips and fishing trips, modern day fabrics such as capilene, fleece, polortec, microfiber materials etc. are recommended for added comfort and warmth.

If you are sensitive to the sun, for added protection, be sure to bring long sleeved shirts, long pants and socks that you don’t mind getting wet plus a broad brim hat with retainer or chin strap.  Sunburn on the river happens fast and can be severe.

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible.  We have fixed costs and guaranteed commitments to the lodges, our guides, support personnel and transportation for these trips, whether or not you show up for your trip.  You may send a substitute in your place, provided we are notified and the individual(s) sign an Assumption of Risk and Liability Release.

There are NO REFUNDS for cancellation or no show within the 60 day period prior to your scheduled raft trip (90 days for fishing trips) unless that/those space(s) are resold at full price.   If you cancel prior to the 60-day rule all monies received will be refunded, less a $50 per person service and processing fee.  We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies.

We strongly urge you to invest in trip insurance. (www.tripinsurance.com)

Basically, with a few exceptions, you will be unreachable while on the river in the wilderness area.  However, give Hugh’s cell phone number (541-261-2677) to the individual(s) who would be responsible for notifying you in case of an emergency.  While we cannot guarantee we will be able to contact you while on your trip, we will use all of our resources (cell, lodge radio, satellite phones and relayed messages, etc.) to reach you.

In most cases no.  If you have a medical or physical condition, allergic reaction (bee sting, hay fever, asthmatic, etc.), recent surgery, pregnancy or special dietary needs, please inform our staff prior to the beginning of the trip.  If you use medications, bring two supplies packed in separate, watertight containers.  If you carry an Epi-Pin, be certain to bring it in your daypack.  If you have special or unusual medical or physical conditions or pregnancy, check with your doctor, act accordingly and please inform us in a timely manner.

You won’t have to worry about going hungry on our trips.  We feed you from lunch the first day through lunch the last day.  The food is fantastic (even if we do say so ourselves), and there is plenty of it.  Some of our guest refer to our adventures as a 5-pound trip!  Our lunches are prepared riverside by your guides in a deli-style, build-your-own, all-you-can-eat format including choices of breads, meats, cheeses, condiments along with chips, crackers and dips, salads, fruits and deserts.  Breakfasts and dinners are full course, all-you-can-eat meals and are commonly served family style.

Throughout the trip Noah’s provides soda’s, ice tea, lemonade and bottled water.  You are encouraged to bring your favorite soda, beer, wine, alcohol, mix, and/or other refreshments.  Any and all glass bottles should be individually wrapped.  We ask that your beer and sodas be aluminum or plastic containers.  We provide containers to pack and transport your personal beverage.

Important notice: For your safety, the safety and consideration of others on the trip, insurance, liability and our trip operating requirements: we insist that the consumption of alcohol be in moderation.  Thank you.

If you are a vegetarian, don’t worry!  Our menus have the vegetarians in mind and include plenty of food items that work for the majority of you.  If you have specific dietary restriction or considerations, please call or e.mail us so that we can do everything in our power to accommodate your wishes.

If you have a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) and would like some type of special recognition at dinner, breakfast or lunch, let us know.  We would be happy to help you celebrate or bring special recognition to this occasion.

Your raft trip concludes at the Foster Bar U.S. Forest Service boat landing, approximately 2:30 p.m.  This site is 6 miles up river from Agness, Oregon and 34 miles up river from Gold Beach, Oregon.

The fishing trips conclude at the Quosatana Creek U.S. Forest Service boat landing 2:00 p.m.  This site is 14 miles upriver from Gold Beach, Oregon.

Weather in any river canyon can vary widely day to day.  However, the Rogue canyon’s typical daytime summer temperatures can climb into the 80’s and 90’s.  The water temperature is generally in the 60-70 degree range.  Early season raft trips and fall fishing trips have temperatures ranging from the 50’s to the 80’s during the day while early morning/late evening temperatures may dip into the 40’s.  While blue skies, scattered clouds and sunshine are predominant, rain can happen any time, so specifically, you fisherman, don’t forget your rain gear!

If you plan on returning to Morrison’s Lodge in our shuttle vehicle (no additional cost) your arrival time will be approximately 4:30-5:00 p.m.

If you plan on continuing onto the coast/Gold Beach/Hwy. 101 north or south, then we schedule your vehicle to be shuttled. Please let our office know in advance.  Plan on arriving 15 minutes early at Morrison’s Lodge.  Also, be sure to bring two sets of keys for your vehicle (one for you and one for the shuttle service provider).  Your cost varies from $95 to $115 per vehicle based on the take out location.

We are very proud of our guides.  Their hard work, dedication, river knowledge, historical knowledge and attention to detail truly set them apart from the majority.

If you feel your guides have gone above and beyond the call of duty in providing you with a very special experience, a gratuity may be left at the end of the trip with the head guide.  He/she can be counted on to share the tip with all the trip guides and support personnel.  A tip ranging between 10-12% of the cost of your trip is common.  The crew greatly appreciates your acknowledgment for a job well done, whether you verbalize it to them and/or management, give a tip or both.  Thanks for asking 😉