Places to stay before or after a Rogue River Rafting Trip.

Finding a great place to stay before and after a Rogue River rafting or hiking trip is crucial to ensuring that you have a great overall experience in Southern Oregon. With so many great hotels, inn's, and B&B's in this area of the state the perfect lodging experience for everyone is out there, you simply need to find it. .  I have highlighted a few of our favorites in each category to help you find exactly the experience you're looking for before or after a Rogue River adventure.

Grants Pass Area (including Merlin):  This is the closest place, so if you're not an early riser or just want to leave minimal travel from us to your lodging you will want to check out one of these places.

Redwood Motel -  888-535-8824

Located on the Main Drag of Grants Pass this is where economy meets quality in the Grants Pass area.  With room rates in the Summer from $70 to $395 they have something for everyone.  Enjoy a swim in the pool, soak in the hot tub, and grab breakfast from the breakfast bar on your way to the river. 









Weasku Inn  800.493.2758

If want something to add a little more than "just a place to stay" the Weasku located on over 10 acres, amid towering pines and ponds, 5 miles outside Grants Pass might be your place.  I warn you, if you make your reservation here, leaving will probably be your biggest challenge of the trip. 
The Weasku Inn sits right on the banks of the famous Rogue River.  Built in 1924 as a fishing lodge the Weasku offers guests a peak at life in an earlier era of the Pacific Northwest. As a vacation retreat to such legendary personalities as Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, Bing Crosby and Walt Disney, the walls of the lodge seem to still whisper age-old fishing tales from visitors past.   Rooms range from $199 for a luxurious lodge room to $329 for a jacuzzi suite.


Flery Manor (541) 476-3591 

Flery Manor is an award winning Bed and Breakfast just around the corner from Orange Torpedo Trips home base.  This is a great place to head after your trip is over and rest from your days on the Rogue River in one of their 5 elegant and unique rooms.  Stays here include opportunities to roam the garden, relax by the koi pond or enjoy a glass of wine in the library.  Most importantly, a stay here ends with the famous three course gourmet breakfast served on fine china and heirloom linens.






Jacksonville:
Historic Jacksonville is 30 minutes from our shop in Merlin.  Somewhat between us and the Medford Airport.  A walk down main street of this historic little town is like stepping back in time to the early mining days in Oregon history.  Roam for used books, see a show at Brit Festival outdoor amphitheater, or grab dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants. 

Bybee Historic Inn  (541) 899-0106

These are our favorite folks from Jacksonville.  A National Registered Historic 1857 Classic Revival Victorian home, the historic inn is situated on over 3½ acres of beatifully maintained grounds ready for you to roam and enjoy.  What a great place to pamper yourself after a rafting trip on the Rogue River.  Relax in one of the guest rooms decorated with antiques, fabric walls, fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs. Head out to one of the three porches or two patios offering majestic mountain views, city lights, bird watching or glimpses of a red fox, wild turkey, deer or elk.  All this before roaming to one of Jacksonville's famous restaurants for dinner.  Stays here end with a three-course breakfast sure to change your understanding of what breakfast should be.


This is just a few of the great Southern Oregon lodging options with many more unique and luxurious spots to be found in Medford, Ashland, Jacksonville, and Grants Pass.

Carvivor- Grants Pass radio contest

Last Friday we (Orange Torpedo Trips) hosted one of the events for the KLDR radio "Carvivior" competition. They chose 4 people who are living in this little Toyota and the last person to get fed up with the whole thing wins the car. They have to go for at least 21 days, they can get out for 15 minutes every 2 hours and have 1 competition per day sponsored by a local company. Friday was our day and we had a great competition. Good luck everyone! If you want to watch the live webcams of the 4 living in the car or follow the blog click here.
Here is the video

The Rogue River, jet boats, rafting, camping, and a parade.

We are in the heart of winter, but spring will arrive before you know it. Now is the time to start planning things to do this summer. Start thinking about original vacations, fun road trips, events you can attend that will give you stories to awe your friends. Boatnik weekend in Grants Pass Oregon is one of those fun and unique things everyone should swing by at least one time.

This event based around the Rogue River is at a great time to be in the Grants Pass area. Boatnik, founded in 1959 is always held on Memorial day weekend and includes a great small town parade, plenty of street vendors selling fun crafts and all the local produce and art you could want. The parade event is a really fun family event with something for everyone.

The highlight of the Boatnik festival weekend in Grants Pass Oregon is the jet boat races. With multiple types of boats and races there are plenty of places to watch the excitement from on the stretch of the Rogue River where the boats run. Here is a video we found showing just some of the action.


In all boatnik weekend is a great time to get out and enjoy the spring. The weather is nice and the river is just starting to get to that perfect for swimming temperature. I love running one day rafting trips or even the 3 day Lower Rogue River white water trip this time of year. Its not so hot that you want to be in the water all of the time, but still hot enough swimming feels great. Make it a complete weekend with camping at Indian Mary park, a day at the parade and watching the jet boats before you end it with a day white water rafting on the Rogue River.

Ideal family road trip #1: The Rogue River, bears, caves, redwoods, and surfing

Southern Oregon boasts perfect weather and ideal scenery for summertime family vacations. The area surrounding Grants Pass Oregon is filled with camping, hiking, floating, state parks, museums, culture, food, winery's and almost any other type of activity that makes a great vacation with family and friends. Below is the first of what will become more great southern Oregon itineraries. We will try to give you a list of the locals favorite spots and insider views of things to do and places to stay.

This Southern Oregon Itinerary is perfect for families with younger children looking to get outside and relax. Here are some great ideas for parents with kids 4 years old and up.

1. No trip to southern Oregon is complete without a day or two on the Rogue River. The Rogue is the heart of Southern Oregon and is the highlight of all summer travel through Grants Pas. Here at Orange Torpedo Trips we have created an ideal way to take in a few days rafting on the Rogue River while also taking in two of the Grants Pass area's best attractions. On our Rogue River near Galice 2 day rafting trip spend 2 days floating on a beginner section of the river where wild waves in the many class II rapids will break over the bow and keep the group cool. The days on the river are spent swimming and laughing in the pools and screaming and yelling with excitement in the rapids. This is perfect for your kids first days on the river.
This trip also includes a night at the famous riverside Morrison's Lodge. A must stay spot on a trip to the Grants Pass area, enjoy a spectacular 4 course meal on the deck overlooking the river. Our 2 day Rogue River rafting trip also includes a tour of Wildlife Images. You and your kids can get up close views and learn about some of Southern Oregon's most exciting wildlife. The stop here is always a favorite of the kids.

2. The Oregon Caves. Next on your Southern Oregon Itinerary drive a little over an hour south to the Oregon Caves. Kids love the the 90 minute walk through one of the west coasts largest marble caves. Follow your ranger through the many corridors and into multiple stalagtite filled rooms. Learn about the history of the area and the details of the caves discovery as well as information on how this unique caves system was created. The park hosts different children's programs for kids 3 and up including a Jr. Ranger program, but due to the "moderately strenuous and technical" nature of some sections of the trail through the cave children need to be 42 inches tall to do the cave tour, but there are plenty of above ground trails offering something for everyone.

3. Jedediah Smith State Park and the Redwoods. You and your kids will be awestruck by the size of these beautiful trees. Every time I drive through it never ceases to amaze me how enormous these trees are. Trips to Jedediah Smith can include hiking through the redwoods, camping, and swimming in crystal clear Smith River. This is a great family stop on your summer road trip. A stop everyone in the family will love. Check out this video for more info.

4. Cresent City: beaches, good food, great beginner surfing. End your family road trip at the coast. Relax on the beach, fly a kite, or rent a surfboard and wetsuit to try your hand at surfing. With multiple surf shops you will definetly find the right wetsuit and board for riding the Northern California waves.



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The Grants Pass area hosts plenty of exciting river based jetboat and rafting trips to accompany camping or staying at beautiful lodges. Keep checking back or sign-up for our automatic blog updates to learn about more of the great things Southern Oregon has to offer.