Meeting Place: Galice Resort & General Store, Galice,
OR
Meeting Time: 9:00 AM on your trip start date
ECHO provides the following as part of your trip:
- Transportation from Galice to the river
- Transportation from the river back to Galice
- 3, 4, or 5 days of rafting on the Rogue River
- All on-river meals
- Camp chair
- Tent (by request)
- Freshly laundered sleeping bag and pad (by request)
- Waterproof bags for your personal gear
- ECHO cup, utensils and plate
You are responsible for:
- Meals and lodging before and after your trip
- Personal clothing and other miscellaneous items
- Guide gratuities (see below)
When to Travel
Plan to arrive in Galice by the 9 AM meeting time. You'll be back to the meeting place in Galice by late afternoon on the last day of your trip.
How to Get There
If You Fly The closest commercial airport is Medford, Oregon. It is serviced by United Airlines, America West, and Horizon Air. Please plan your flight to arrive the day before your river trip.
We recommend you plan to stay in the Galice area to simplify the shuttle logistics before and after your trip. You'll need to arrange transportation from the airport to your motel and back. Shuttle service from the Medford airport is available through Galice Resort (541) 476-3818 and the Medford Airport is an hour from Galice.
The Portland airport is 3 1/2 to 4 hours from Galice, but is usually cheaper to fly to. The drive is pretty, and many of our guests take an extra day or more to visit other places in Oregon. Crater Lake is between Portland and Galice, and the beautiful Oregon coast is about 25 miles from our take-out. While our trip price includes van transportation back to Galice, You can have your car delivered to take-out, and drive from there to the coast.
Call and make arrangements in advance. The cost of the round trip shuttle to and from Galice is based on a sliding scale.
If You Drive Take Interstate 5 towards Grants Pass. About 3 miles north of Grants Pass, take the Merlin exit (#61). Follow this road (the Merlin-Galice Road) west 15 miles through Merlin to Galice. The Galice Resort & General Store is on the right of the road. Galice is about a 35-minute drive from Grants Pass. There is a secure parking area in which to leave your car while you are on the river. If your travel plans make it preferable for your car to end up at take-out, near the coast, you may make arrangements directly with Galice Resort (541) 476-3818 the morning of your trip. Cost for a car shuttle is between $85 to $110 depending on the route.
Where to Stay
Make reservations well in advance. ECHO does not make reservations or cover the cost of your room. If you are flying to Medford, we recommend that you stay in Galice to simplify your shuttle arrangements. If you drive, we recommend staying in either Galice or Grants Pass. Wherever you stay, please mention that you are on an ECHO trip.
Prices are based on double occupancy / ask about AAA & senior or youth rates
In Galice
- Galice Resort (541) 476-3818 ($85-$150)
- Morrison's Lodge (800) 826-1963 (about $140 per adult includes meals)
- Rogue Forest B&B (541) 472-1052 (about $175)
- Buckhorn Mountain Lodge (541) 471-9515
In Merlin
- Pine Meadow Inn (800) 554-0806 ($85-$120)
- Flery Manor B&B (541) 476-3591 ($90 - $200)
In Grants Pass
- Holiday Inn Express 541 471-6144 ($120-$160)
- Riverside Inn (541) 476-6873 ($120)
- The Lodge at Riverside (541) 955-0600 ($175)
- Redwood Motel (888) 535-8824 ($100)
Campgrounds
- Indian Mary, Griffin Park, Whitehorse Park, and Lake Selmac Park all take reservations. Contact Josephine County Parks as (541) 474-5285 for more information.
For additional motels or bed & breakfasts contact the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, (541) 476-7717.
Trip Outline
On the three, four, and five day trips, we cover 38 miles with time for hiking and exploring. Five day trips usually have a layover day.
The
Morning of your Trip At 9 AM your head guide will meet you in
front of the Galice Resort. Look for him or her (wearing an ECHO hat or
T shirt) in the parking lot or inside the store. Come to the meeting point
dressed in your river clothes. A shuttle van will take you on a five minute
ride to the Almeda Bar put-in. Final preparations (loading your waterproof
bags onto boats and a safety talk) will take about an hour. Be sure
to eat a hearty breakfast before your trip. There is a restaurant
and small store at the Galice Resort (7 AM to 9 PM).
On the River The pace of your river trip is very dependent on the water level! You will usually spend four to five hours a day on the river. Breakfast is served about 8 AM and you are on the water by about 10 AM. There will be a stop mid-day for lunch and maybe some short hikes. We set up camp in the late afternoon, allowing time to hike and relax before we serve dinner. If you are new to camping the guides will be happy to help you.
After the Trip The trip ends at Foster Bar in the early afternoon. At this time you say good-bye to your guides (except your head guide) and board a charter van, which will return you and your gear to Galice (unless you have arranged a car shuttle). The van trip takes about two to three hours, arriving back in Galice late afternoon (around 4 to 5 PM). It's a beautiful but windy drive: those prone to carsickness may want to be prepared with Dramamine.
Your Personal Responsibility
We handle trip logistics, provide the food and rafting equipment, and make sure that you have knowledgeable and well-trained guides. We see to it that you are comfortable and safe, and that you see the Rogue's special places. However, we do have some expectations of you:
1. We expect that you will bring adequate clothing,
based on the information we have provided (What to
Bring), and that your sleeping bag, pad, and personal gear will fit
the size requirements of our waterproof bags (17" diameter by 32"
tall).
2. We ask that you approach your trip with an open mind for adventure and discovery.
Additional Information
Fishing Fishing on the Rogue River is not great in the spring or summer and regulations do not allow fishing from our boats. If you do wish to try your luck, Oregon fishing licenses may be purchased at Oregon sporting good stores and the Galice Resort. We recommend collapsible poles for ease in packing.
Guides Our guides have a deep appreciation for the rivers we run and want you to enjoy your trip with them. They are happy to help you if you are an inexperienced camper or have questions about the river. ECHO guides are accomplished in outdoor skills, and extensively trained in first aid and CPR. In addition, the guides are mature, interesting people we think you'll enjoy.
Gratuities We are often asked if tipping is appropriate. Tips are certainly appreciated by our guides. Tips normally range from 5% to 10% of the trip cost. Whether and how much you tip should depend on your satisfaction with the trip, your feelings about tipping, and your financial means. At the end of the trip guests usually give their tip to the head guide, who will split it equally among the crew.
Equipment ECHO provides boats, life jackets, waterproof bags, and a limited number of waterproof boxes (7" x 11" x 5.5") for cameras and binoculars. We recommend you bring a ziplock plastic bag as a liner for your camera and purchase camera insurance, or better yet, a disposable waterproof camera. ECHO also provides cups, plates, eating utensils, and camp chairs.
Meals
and Alcohol ECHO provides all meals from lunch on the first day
to lunch on the last day. We specialize in creative and delicious meals,
and excellent Dutch oven cookery. Guides will prepare your meals using
a variety of fresh foods. Vegetarian and medically restricted diets will
gladly be accommodated with advance notice. Fruit juice and water are
available with every meal, wine is often served with dinner, and coffee,
tea, and cocoa are available at breakfast and dinner.
In camp, beer and sodas are provided (up to two cans per person per day). Additional beverages may be brought but must be in unbreakable containers. For your safety, drinking of alcoholic beverages on the river during the day is not allowed.
Environmental Concerns Depending on where the group camps, we will be using port-a-potties or outhouses. While not like the comforts of home, when setting up toilet facilities, we are conscious of privacy needs as well as environmental impact. To protect the river, we carry out all trash and use no soap in the river. The guides will instruct you in simple procedures that minimize the impact of our group on the canyon, and we ask for your cooperation.
Cancellations and Travel Insurance We strictly adhere to our cancellation policies as explained on your (or your group organizer's) reservation form. Trip capacity is strictly regulated by law and your reservation may mean we cannot sell space to others. Because of this, Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. It will reimburse you if you make a late cancellation because of illness or an illness in the family. Otherwise you are welcome to find a friend to replace you. Call if you did not receive a Travel Insurance form or a copy of ECHO's cancellation policy and would like one.
Registration Form & Health Information Rafting trips are not strenuous, but you should be in good health. If there are any medical considerations (such as allergies, heart conditions, etc.) or dietary restrictions we should know about, please put them on the registration form or call us. We ask that you return the form to our office well in advance of your trip.
Area Attractions Once in Oregon you may wish to visit Crater Lake National Park or the Oregon Caves National Monument. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is also nearby in Ashland. Performances often sell out, call (541) 482-4331 for more information. Also popular is the Peter Britt Festival featuring music and dance (541) 779-0847. You can also contact the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, (541) 476-7717 for specific Oregon area brochures.
Anything Else? Please contact our office if you have any questions about your trip. Once you are on the river, our guides will be happy to answer questions or assist you. We welcome any suggestions you have and want you to enjoy your river trip.
What Next?
- Call us at (800) 652-3246. We love to talk about our trips!
- Email This Page to friends and family.

