Course of the Rogue River (Oregon)

The Rogue River is a river in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at Boundary Springs on the boundary between Klamath and Douglas counties, near the northern edge of Crater Lake National Park. The river flows generally west for approximately 215 miles (346 km), from the Cascade Range through the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest and the Klamath Mountains, before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach.

Communities along the Rogue River include Union Creek, Prospect, Trail, Shady Cove, Gold Hill, and Rogue River in Jackson County; Grants Pass and Galice in Josephine County; and Agness, Wedderburn, and Gold Beach in Curry County. Major tributaries include the South Fork Rogue River, Elk Creek, Bear Creek, the Applegate River, and the Illinois River.

The river originates at an elevation of approximately 5,320 feet (1,622 m) above sea level and loses more than 1 mile (1.6 km) in elevation before reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Approximately 124 miles (200 km), or 58 percent, of the Rogue River is designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. These designated sections include portions of the upper and lower Rogue River.

The Rogue is one of three major Oregon rivers that originate in or east of the Cascade Range and flow westward to the Pacific Ocean. The other two are the Umpqua and Klamath rivers. These three rivers drain portions of southern Oregon south of the Willamette Valley. The Willamette River, by contrast, drains the valley and surrounding areas to the north before joining the Columbia River, whose headwaters are in British Columbia.

Boundary Springs to Lost Creek Lake Flowing out of Klamath County and into Douglas County at the headwaters spring, the river runs north for about before leaving the national park and entering the national forest. Crossing under National Forest Development Road (NFD) 9281, also known as Old Diamond Lake Road, the river turns west parallel to the Upper Rogue River Trail, which is on the right. Parallel to the river and slightly north of the trail is Oregon Route 230, also known as the West Diamond Lake Highway. Shortly thereafter, the stream goes over a waterfall, receives Cascade Creek from the right and then Mazama Creek from the left at about river mile (RM) 211 or river kilometer (RK) 340. Two more waterfalls occur in the next before the stream turns to the south, passes under NFD 4901 just before receiving Minnehaha Creek from the left near Minnehaha Campground. The stream then meanders through Hamaker Meadows and receives Hamaker Creek from the left before passing Hamaker Campground, which is on the right. At this point, the Upper Rogue River Trail crosses the stream on a footbridge and continues parallel to the river along the left bank. Muir Creek enters from the right at Muir Campground, at RM 204 (RK 328). Soon the Rogue receives Hurryon Creek from the left, Meadow and Lost creeks from the right, and National Creek from the left. Shortly thereafter, NFD 6530 crosses the road and so does the Upper Rogue River Trail, which continues parallel to the river on the right bank. About later, the river leaves Douglas County and enters Jackson County near RM 198 (RK 319). The map quads collectively showing the entire river are Pumice Desert West, Hamaker Butte, Union Creek, Prospect North, Whetstone Point, Prospect South, Cascade Gorge, McLeod, Trail, Shady Cove, Eagle Point, Sams Valley, Gold Hill, Rogue River, Grants Pass, Wilderville, Merlin, Galice, Mount Reuben, Bunker Creek, Marial, Agness, Soldier Camp Mountain, Brushy Bald Mountain, Signal Buttes, and Gold Beach, all in Oregon. These maps include river mile (RM) markers from the mouth to RM 211 (RK 346), except for a stretch of between just above Hellgate Canyon to Dulog Riffle above Winkle Bar.

Soon the river receives Wizard and Copeland creeks from the left and passes under Oregon Route 230, which continues roughly parallel to the river along the left bank. Next, Foster and Prairie creeks enter from the left, Bridge, and Brown creeks from the right, and Bybee and Castle creeks from the left. NFD 6510 crosses the river between the latter two creeks, and Route 230 ends shortly thereafter where it meets Oregon Route 62, also known as the Crater Lake Highway. This highway continues roughly parallel to the river on its left bank. Turning southwest at Farewell Bend Campground, on the right at RM 188 (RK 303), the river enters Rogue River Gorge, receiving Union Creek from the left near the unincorporated community of Union Creek and the Union Creek Historic District and Flat Creek from the right shortly thereafter. Below Flat Creek, the Upper Rogue River Trail crosses the river on a footbridge at RM 185 (RK 298), just above Natural Bridge Campground and Natural Bridge. Passing over a waterfall about later, the river passes under Woodruff Bridge, which carries Abbot Creek Road, at the Woodruff Bridge Picnic Area, which lies to the left. The river receives Abbott Creek from the right shortly thereafter and turns south. The stream then flows through Takelma Gorge and passes River Bridge Campground, which is on the left. At this point, NFD 64 crosses the river. Between here and the unincorporated community of Prospect at about RM 172 (RK 277), the river receives Kiter, Latson, Deep, Lund, Graham, and Schoolma'am creeks, all from the right. At Prospect, the river enters a reservoir behind a diversion dam that receives water from a canal on the left and releases water via a canal on the right to hydroelectricity projects. Below the dam, Route 62 and, shortly after, Mill Creek Drive, cross the river and continue parallel to it along the right bank. The average stream gradient over the between the headwaters and Prospect is very high, about .Benke, p. 570–71

Just below Prospect, the Rogue, flowing southwest, passes Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint, which is on the left, and receives Mill and Barr creeks from the left, both as waterfalls. Thereafter, water from the lower end of the Prospect diversion-dam canal enters from the right, and the river passes a United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauge about from the mouth. Skookum Creek soon enters from the right and the South Fork Rogue River from the left. About downstream, the river receives Cold Spring Creek from the left and then Hole in the Ground Creek from the right. Soon the river enters Lost Creek Lake and passes under Route 62, which continues parallel to the lake on the left. At this point, Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area is also on the left. While part of the lake, the river receives Blue Gulch from the right, Lost and Rumley creeks from the left, and a second Lost Creek from the right before reaching the dam spillway at about RM 157 (RK 253).

Lost Creek Lake to the Applegate River

About later, the river passes under Route 62 again, receives Big Butte Creek from the left, and enters Casey State Recreation Site. Flowing west, about downstream, the river receives Elk Creek from the right. Over the next stretch, the Rogue River receives Bush Creek from the right, Brush Creek from the left, Lewis Creek from the right, passes the unincorporated community of Trail, receives Trail and Cricket creeks from the right, passes under Route 62 again and through the city of Shady Cove. Below the city, the river flows parallel to Route 62 on its left and Rogue River Drive on its right. The stream receives Indian Creek from the left, Branch Creek from the left, passes Takelma County Park, receives Langel Creek from the left and Dry Creek from the right before reaching the Dodge Bridge gauging station at about RM 139 (RK 224) and passing under Oregon Route 234, also known as Sams Valley Highway.

Over the next stretch, the river receives Hog Creek from the left, passes Rattlesnake Rapids at RM 136 (RK 219), receives Little Butte Creek from the left, flows through Denman Wildlife Area and by TouVelle State Recreation Site, which is on its left. As it leaves TouVelle, it passes under Table Rock Road. Over the next few miles, the river flows by several gravel pits on the left and right near the Agate Desert and Kelly Slough. Whetstone and Bear creeks enter from the left as the river approaches the site of the former Gold Ray Dam, which was removed in 2010, and a USGS gauge at about from the mouth. The river then passes Fishers Ferry Park, which is on the left, and receives Sams Creek and Water Gulch from the right. At this point, Route 234 runs along the right bank of the river. Flowing by the former Gold Hill Dam and then the Gold Nugget Recreation Area and the Gold Hill Regional Park, both to the river's right, the Rogue passes under Route 234 and Oregon Route 99. It turns west, flowing between the city of Gold Hill and Route 99 on the right and the Ben Hur Lampman State Scenic Corridor and Interstate 5 (I-5), both on the left, at about RM 119 (RK 192). The Rogue receives Galls Creek from the left and Sardine Creek from the right before passing under Route 99, which continues parallel to it on the left. Crossing under I-5, the river flows between it, now on the right, and Highway 99 along the edge of Valley of the Rogue State Park to about RM 110 (RK 180), where it receives Foots and Birdseye creeks from the left and passes the city of Rogue River, which is on the right bank. Further on, it receives Ward and Evans creeks from the right and Little Savage and Savage creeks from the left. It reaches the site of former Savage Rapids Dam at about RM 107.5 (RK 173), where it leaves Jackson County and enters Josephine County. Downstream, the river receives Rich Gulch from the right, passes Tom Pearce Park, receives Greens Creek from the left, Jones Creek from the right, Fruitdale Creek from the left, enters Grants Pass, and flows by a USGS gauge about from the river mouth. In the city, it passes under U.S. Route 199 and Route 99. Allen Creek enters from the left before the river flows by Schroeder Park, on the left, and Lathrop Boat Landing, on the right shortly thereafter. Sand Creek enters from the left, and Vannoy Creek from the right before the Applegate River enters from the left at about RM 95 (RK 153). The average stream gradient from the vicinity of Bear Creek to the Applegate River, is relatively low, .

Applegate River to Agness