The early evening hours are a special time to float the Rogue River. The crowds have disappeared and the pace of the canyon just seems to slow. Wildlife begins to re-emerge from the shade, the wind begins to subside, and the light in the river canyon is indescribable. It’s a special time of the day that almost feels like a secret held by only the truest of river lovers. Come out and join us as we share this beautiful treasure on the Rogue River with you.
We load the group into a raft in the early evening and begin floating towards the setting sun. Through Hellgate Canyon the group watches the light begin to change as the sun nears the ridges in the distance. Then as we approach the spectacular Taylor Creek Gorge the sky transforms into varied shades as the sun sets on the distant ridge. The group stops to take in this transition from comfortable chairs while enjoying a glass of local southern Oregon wine and a light meal to compliment. As you take in the fresh air, the sounds of birds and the meandering river, thoughts of the outside world fade away while you settle into your peaceful surroundings. As the first stars begin to appear in the eastern sky the group loads back into the boats to enjoy floating down canyon in the darkening sky and our nearby takeout. Come out and enjoy this hidden secret of the Rogue River only known to the truest of locals. Join us for the Gold Hours on the Rogue River.
Trip at a glance
If you like great sunsets and relaxing floats to unwind from the day this trip is for you!
Dates / Rates
Rogue River Golden Hour Evening Float
Price:
Thursday - Sunday Starts (other days available for groups of 6 or more) - $119
Trip Start Dates:
May - September
The exact start time of this trip varies throughout the season based on when sunset is. Upon meeting we head to the river. Float for a few hours and then we will return you to your vehicle at our shop at the conclusion of the trip.
Detailed Itinerary for the Rogue River Gold Hour Trip
Meet at our shop in Merlin Oregon at a variety of times based on the month of the year:
June: 5:30 PM, July 5:00 PM, August, 4:45 PM
After meeting at our shop and being fitted for PFD’s it’s a quick 5 minute van ride to the river. When we arrive at the river the group will load into a raft and begin the journey towards the distant setting sun in the west. Based on river flows this trip has a variety of launch points but sometime in the early part of the trip the group will float into Hellgate Canyon. This bedrock gorge is spectacular to see from the bottom and never fails to take the breath from even the most seasoned guide. Here you will see the shadows already beginning to climb the canyon walls as the sun fades lower into the sky.
Below Hellgate are the two main rapids of the trip, Dunn Riffle and Rooster Tail. As it’s later in the day and most people are looking to stay dry we take the fun, but hopefully not soaking wet, line through the rapids. After these two bigger rapids, smaller riffles still fill the float, but the big stuff is mostly behind us. Relaxing in the early evening the group floats past Indian Mary park. Now a beautiful campground this was once the United States smallest native american reservation.
Around a couple more bends and the group comes to the top of Taylor Creek gorge. This beautiful canyon runs east/west and makes an ideal spot to relax with a glass of wine and watch the sunset. While your sit back and relax our guide will prepare a light meal for you to enjoy with your beverage as you relax and watch sun fade away.
After the sun has set and the first twinkles are starting to appear in the east the group loads back in to utilize the final light of day and float down to our takeout and the van ride back to our shop. This is a great way to see the Rogue River so sign up today and float into the evening on one of America’s most famous rivers.
Where to Meet Orange Torpedo Trips
Meet in our shop in Merlin. We are located at 210 Merlin Rd. Merlin, Oregon. Exit Interstate 5 at exit 61 and drive 3.2 miles west. We are on the right hand side of the road.
Accommodations
Grants Pass and the surrounding area have a number of wonderful places to stay, these just happen to be a few of our favorites.
- Redwood Motel Grants Pass Oregon 888-535-8824 (recommended)
- Holiday Inn Express Grants Pass Oregon 541-471-6144
- Bybee Historic Inn Jacksonville Oregon 877-292-3374 (tell them you are with OTT for a discount)
- Flery Manor Grants Pass Oregon 541-476-3591 (Award Winning)
- Shiloh Inn Grants Pass Oregon 541-479-8391
- La Quinta Inn Grants Pass Oregon 541-472-1808
Camping
If you plan to camp while you’re here, we recommend Indian Mary Park (541-474-5285). The nearest RV Park is Beaver Creek RV on Merlin Rd., although Indian Mary Park also provides full RV hook-ups. We have a parking lot that will accommodate RVs while you are on your trip.
Flying In
The closest commercial airport is in Medford, Oregon (airport code MFR), 34 miles southeast of our shop in Merlin. In the Medford Airport there are four car rental companies (Budget, Avis, National, Enterprise, and Hertz). At this time we do not offer transportation to or from the airport, but we can pickup and drop off at any Grants Pass Hotel the morning of a trip and at the conclusion of a trip. If you plan to not rent a car, you can call Double D Shuttles at 541-476-7773 and hire them to transport you from the Medford Airport to a Grants Pass Hotel. Please note: Our trips return too late in the day for us to ensure you will make a flight out of Medford same day. We suggest making reservations for the next day after the trip concludes.
Typical Weather
Southern Oregon is known for its great summer weather. Evenings on the river tend to get chilly. While what is listed below are average Highs and Lows the early evenings tend to start warm and then quickly cool down. It’s nice to start the trips in shorts and short sleeved shirts, but make sure you have a jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt for later on.
Averages are:
- May · High (F) 73 Low (F) 41Avg. Rainfall 1.21 in.
- June · High (F) 81 Low (F)45 Avg. Rainfall .53 in.
- July · High (F) 89 Low (F)49 Avg. Rainfall .37 in.
- August · High (F) 89 Low (F)49 Avg. Rainfall .45 in.
This is a quick trip and you don’t need much, but having certain items will make you more comfortable.
What to pack
- Wear shorts and short sleeved shirt for most days
- Some type of water shoe or sandal that can get wet
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Sweatshirt, light jacket, or sweater
- 1 liter Water Bottle
- Camera
FAQs
Please find all reservation and cancellation policies here: https://www.orangetorpedo.com/reservation-policies/
We strongly encourage all customers to purchase travel insurance through travel guard to help protect your travel investment against the things that come up in life. It’s a small additional price for the comfort to know that if something comes up (illness, work change, etc) you will have the ability to recover your significant travel investment. Get a Travel Guard Quote Here.
Yes. On this trip you are required to sign a “release of liability” form.
As on most of our trips we offer a variety of river craft to choose from. On this trip most people choose the oared raft, but a paddle raft is also available.
Paddle Raft
A more traditional type of rafting, paddle rafts are a great way to go if you still want to do some work, but think the torpedo is just a little to much. Work with a team of your friends paddling the big boat through the rapids as the guide sits in the back to help navigate.
Oared Raft
Hop on an oared raft and ride in luxury. This is the relaxed way to travel. If taking in the scenery and letting the guide do the work is how you vacation then hop on board.
The meal we serve on this trip could be considered a dinner. It varies slightly be expect a variety of appetizers, local cheeses, and some type of a salad along with a variety of local wine and beer or soda and water. If you are a big eater it won’t feel like a full dinner, but it nicely compliments the surroundings and feels appropriate for the activity.
Gratuity is certainly appreciated but by no means required. At the conclusion of a trip please just give any gratuity to the head guide who will divide it evenly among the crew.
While we cannot accommodate all food requests we happily provide, vegitarian, vegan, glutten free, and peanut free meals upon request. Just let us know and we will work
Trips booked within 30 days of the trip launch require the full trip payment at the time of reservation. Trips booked 30+ days of the trip launch require a 30% deposit.