Wild Lands of the West | The BLM, National Geographic Magazine: Rogue River Paddler

Poised for acrobatic moves, a kayaker works the “Mine Wave” on Oregon’s Rogue River, one of 36 Wild and Scenic Rivers managed by Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The Rogue River is known for water recreation that include kayaks, rafts, dory boats, and jet boats. The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service coordinate to administer the Wild and Scenic River section as well as Hellgate Canyon.

Tourists put in at Graves Creek and the first major rapid is Rainey Falls, which has three ways of going through, one being a Class V rapid. Nearly 14,000 floaters visit the wild section each spring through fall and over 100,000 people use the services of recreational commercial vendors.