This 40-mile Rogue River adventure in southern Oregon includes three days of Class III whitewater rafting through scenic forests, meadows, and narrow gorges, two nights of comfortable camping on large sandy beaches, and gourmet wilderness cuisine including hand-crafted chocolate, and artisan goat cheese paired with craft-brewed lagers and ales. The river winds through the storied Siskiyou Mountains, explored for centuries by Indians, trappers and gold prospectors. This trip encompasses one of the most beautiful pine-forested canyons in North America, and in 1968 the Rogue became one of the first rivers to earn national “Wild & Scenic” wilderness designation.
Chocolatier Jeff Shepherd — The truffle wizard is Jeff Shepherd who encases his bubbling cayenne caramel mixture into signature organic dark chocolate and rolls out his smoky blue cheese truffle in chopped toasted almonds. Spending upwards of 15 hours a day in his factory kitchen and retail store, and even more on summer weekends gathering organic fruit from his harvest, this unique chocolate artisan, who began his career selling four flavors of hand-dipped truffles out of his Jeep trunk at Oregon Farmers’ markets, now creates more than 100 exclusive flavors of chocolates and truffles, caramels and bars.
His accolades include: Winner of the 2013 and 2012 Good Food Awards in San Francisco, being declared one of America’s Top 10 Chocolatiers in 2009, winning the 2008 Grand Prize Scovie Award for fiery cayenne caramels, voted “Best Caramels in the West” by Sunset Magazine, with an esteemed spot as Oprah’s “Must Have Christmas Gifts.”
“Whether beer is served with a chocolate dessert or the chocolate is brewed right into the beer, the two play incredibly well together,” notes Steve Markle, O.A.R.S. spokesperson. He added that the truffle chef may be up for demonstrating how to make fresh chocolate from roasted cocoa beans using a metate, a traditional stone grinding slab for making fresh Mexican-style drinking chocolate.
Other craft beer adventures with O.A.R.S. this season are May 14 for two days on the Tuolumne River, CA, with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company & July 4 for three days with 21st Amendment Brewery; June 29 for four days on the Rogue River with Southern Oregon Brewing Company; July 14 for four days on Idaho’s Lower Salmon River with Big Sky Brewing Company; and August 15 for five days on the Lower Salmon with Grand Teton Brewing Company.
For more information, availability, reservations and a copy of the 2013 O.A.R.S. Adventures catalog call 209-736-4677 or 800-346-6277, email info@oars.com, or visit: http://www.oars.com/.
Rafting on the Rogue River is the ideal start to an all encompassing Oregon adventure vacation. This 3, 4 or 5 day Rogue River whitewater rafting journey down the 40 miles of this scenic waterway in southwestern Oregon, takes you through the storied Siskiyou Mountains, explored for centuries by Indians, trappers and gold prospectors. What’s more, the warm, gently surging waters of the Rogue River combine with “one-of-a-kind” rapids, which provide just enough Oregon whitewater rafting excitement – without an “extreme” element. Rogue River rapids such as Blossom Bar and Rainey Falls are sure to inspire a generous dose of adrenaline interspersed with lots of calm float time in between them. For the more adventurous, our inflatable kayaks provide an up-close and personal encounter with the rapids of the Rogue.
Oregon’s Rogue River winds its way through one of the most beautiful pine-forested canyons in North America and gained federal “Wild & Scenic” wilderness designation in 1968. This O.A.R.S. rafting adventure vacation in Oregon shows off this river’s best features as it flows from its headwaters high in the Cascades near Crater Lake National Park towards the incomparable Oregon coast through the Rogue River National Forest. A great family rafting tour that works perfectly into trips to the state’s untouched ocean beaches and nearby national parks.
Rogue River Rafting – Itinerary at a Glance
- There will be a pre-trip meeting at 6:00 PM, the evening before the trip begins, at Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge
- In the morning, we’ll take a short shuttle drive to the Rogue River where we board rafts or inflatable kayaks for a few days of scenic adventure
- Warm up rapids lead to Rainey Falls and a bit further downriver a possible side hike to Whiskey Creek Cabin
- Camp on a sandy beach alongside the Rogue River and enjoy a tantalizing meal and some time for relaxation
- Inflatable kayaks are put to use as the most adventurous take control of their own crafts in exciting rapids like Tyee and Wildcat
- Hike to Kelsey Creek, go swimming or exploring or fish for trout in a deep clear pool
- Spot myriad wildlife, including turtles, deer, bear, otter, osprey, great blue heron and bald eagles while floating through the breathtaking scenery that surrounds the Rogue
- Hike up lush Dulog Creek and play under a refreshing double waterfall, visit historic Rogue River Ranch
- Raft through Mule Creek Canyon with steep basalt sides towering above and invigorating rapids such as the swirling Coffeepot
- Scout and run the notorious Blossom Bar Rapid
- A short float after lunch delivers us to our take-out point at Foster Bar for a scenic drive back to Galice and the conclusion of our trip