Rogue

Rogue National Wild and Scenic River Permits

Rogue River Permit Office

Smullin Visitor Center at Rand
14335 Galice Road
Merlin, Oregon 97532
Phone: 541-479-3735
Fax: 541-479-0535
E-mail

Hours of Operation

  • May 5th through October 15th, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm - seven days a week
  • Phone Access Hours - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

The Rogue is a popular whitewater river located in southwestern Oregon. From the headwaters near Crater Lake National Park, the Rogue flows 215 miles to the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach, Oregon. The eighty-four (84) miles of the lower Rogue, beginning 7 miles west of Grants Pass and ending 11 miles east of Gold Beach was one of the original eight rivers included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. It is also designated as an Oregon State Scenic Waterway. This portion of the river is managed cooperatively by the Medford District BLM and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

The Rogue is well known for its challenging whitewater, steelhead and salmon fishery, and extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities. It is surrounded by forested mountains and rugged boulder and rock-lined banks.

The river and surrounding areas provide a wide variety of recreational experiences. Visitors may enjoy car camping or driving along the river, hiking the 40 mile Rogue River National Recreation Trail, rafting through wild rapids, or enjoying a trip down calmer water. Visitors may experience the river as a private, self-guided group or as passengers of a fully outfitted commercially guided trip.

Unique among boating experiences, groups may float from lodge to lodge in sections of the Rogue or camp along the banks for the full wilderness experience. For the wild section, the most remote and challenging whitewater, competitively allocated float permits are required from May 15 - October 15.

Check out the Rogue River Boater's Guide (PDF) and Oregon River Levels for more information. See also the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area page.

Watch the Wild Rogue River Permit Guidelines Video

All Wild section Rogue River Party Leaders and Commercial guides are required to watch the Wild Rogue River Permit Guidelines Video (short or detailed version) once per year prior to their float trip. It is encouraged that all river users watch the video.

Rogue River Permit Office

Smullin Visitor Center at Rand
14335 Galice Road
Merlin, Oregon 97532
Phone: 541-479-3735
Fax: 541-479-0535
Year round contact us by email: BLM_OR_MD_Rogue_River_Mail@blm.gov

Hours of Operation

  • May 5th through October 15th
    7:00 am to 3:00 pm - seven days a week
  • Phone Access Hours - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

For Commercial Outfitters ONLY:

How to Get a Noncommercial Boating Permit

The Wild section of the Rogue River, Grave Creek to Watson Creek, is a "regulated use" section of river. From May 15th - October 15th the BLM and the USFS permit 120 people per day to launch into this section. The average time frame to float the 33.8 mile Wild section from Grave Creek to Foster Bar is three to four days.

Commercial boating permits are required year round. Noncommercial boating permits are required from May 15 - October 15, and cost $10.00 per person, per trip. There are three methods to get a Noncommercial Permit to float the Wild section during the "regulated use" season. These methods are: 1) to apply to the Noncommercial Lottery, 2) to call-in to pick-up openings or 3) to show-up at the Smullin Visitor Center at Rand, ready to run a trip, and pick-up last minute openings for that day.

Competitive Call-In: First check the "Float Space Openings" section on this web page for dates the number of spaces available. The time to check for openings is daily, May 5 – October 15.  During this time BLM updates, on a daily basis, the dates and the corresponding number of spaces available. If you see a date that works for your party, call the Smullin Visitor Center at Rand and try to pick-up the spaces. This is a competitive call-in process for a popular section of river, and the phone is often busy. Calls are processed on a first-call, first-served basis.

Day Of Launch/ Waiting list: Permits may be obtained on the “Day of Launch” by showing up at the Smullin Visitor Center at Rand ready to run a trip, and pick up available spaces for that day. A permit may be issued if open spaces are or become available on first-come, first-serve basis or by waiting list.

Noncommercial Off-Season permits: Required for Noncommercial boaters October 16 - May 14. They are self-issuing, available in front of the Smullin Visitor Center at Rand and at the north end of the Grave Creek Bridge.

2025 Wild Section Lottery

2025 Wild Section Rogue River Noncommercial Permit LOTTERY:

OPEN December 01, 2024 - January 31, 2025:

ONLINE APPLICATIONS ONLY @ Rogue River Wild Section Lottery

LOTTERY RESULTS: All 2024 Rogue River Lottery applicants will receive a notification via email by Feb. 15, 2024 that states whether they were successful or unsuccessful in the lottery.

All payments for successful lottery reservations are processed by the BLM Rogue River Permits Office [Smullin Visitor Center at Rand].

How to Pay for a Lottery Reservation

2024 Wild Section Lottery Winners:

Payment of $10/ person is required no later than 10 days prior to your launch date. If payment is not received by the BLM Rogue River Permits Office at Rand by the deadline, your lottery reservation will be cancelled and the spaces will be released.

Plan Your Trip

Plan and Prepare for your trip:

Float Space Openings

Click here to view current float space openings.