Obtaining a permit for the Rogue River in Oregon is a challenge—it's one of the hardest to secure in the U.S. My buddy was fortunate enough to snag one and invited me along with ten others for a three-day whitewater adventure down the “Wild and Scenic” section of the Rogue. The name truly reflects the experience. With Class III and IV rapids, we were in for an exhilarating ride.
I brought my fly rod, hoping to catch a few steelhead (which I did), but I ended up handling the oars for most of the trip. This was a great opportunity to refine my rowing skills and test out our Convoy Collection gear. Having great waterproof bags and waterproof duffels is essential when on the river. I packed a Convoy Hauler for my camping gear and a Convoy Duffel for my clothes. Both of these were strapped into the rafts, and throughout the trip, my gear stayed dry and accessible. Given Oregon's reputation for moisture, keeping everything dry for three days was crucial. As we navigated massive waves, tight canyons, and technical rapids, our gear inevitably faced a good amount of water, but the Hauler and Duffel performed exceptionally well.
Now, let's talk about the river. Coming from Colorado's rivers, this section was a new experience for me. Right from the start, I could tell this place was special—low boat traffic, abundant wildlife, and just the right amount of whitewater for an adrenaline rush. The scenery was stunning and distinctly different from the Rocky Mountains, featuring lush riverbanks and volcanic rock formations. It quickly became clear why permits for this section are so hard to come by.
After getting my bearings on the first day and tackling some challenging sections, I was eager to fish, having never caught a steelhead before. I did some research and tied up stonefly variants that were supposed to be effective on the Rogue. Once we set up camp on the first night, I noticed stoneflies everywhere. The following day, I convinced a friend to row in calmer sections while I fished. It didn’t take long before I hooked my first steelhead. It wasn’t a trophy fish, but it fought hard for its size. Unfortunately, that was my only fishing opportunity for the day as I needed to take over the oars before entering the notorious Class IV section known as “Coffee Pot.”
The last day was the calmest of the three, giving me a chance to fish a bit more. I managed to land one more steelhead before our trip came to an end.
What made the last day even more enjoyable was helping friends get comfortable with rowing. It's a skill that feels counterintuitive, and practice is essential. I spent a good portion of the day assisting a buddy in my boat, helping him get a feel for the oars and navigate some technical sections. He had rowed a bit the day before, but it all finally "clicked" on the last day, boosting his confidence as we approached a few challenging sections.
By the end of day three we were all pretty ragged and the smell of our van on the way home may or may not have made a few people get nauseous, but those adventurous trips on the river with good friends, good food, and a cold beer or two at the end of the day are great to get away, unplug and be in nature.
I highly recommend anyone interested in whitewater rafting to try for a permit on the “Wild and Scenic” section of the Rogue River in Oregon. You won’t be disappointed!
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