Regarded as one of the best RV getaway destinations in southern Oregon, Valley of the Rogue State Park is a fantastic place to visit no matter what time of the year you are traveling. Located around halfway between Medford and Grants Pass, the park lies the banks of the Rouge River and is full of towering old maple, oak, and cedar trees. The area has had several major booms in history. It has been famous for gold mining, fruit, and timber.
The main attraction to the park is being so close to the river. It is wide and slow, often carving right into giant sections of ancient bedrock with potholes and eddies to provide endless honey holes for fishermen. If you want to do some thrill-seeking, you can also head out and do some whitewater rafting closeby or go for a relaxing paddle on some of the calmer areas of the river. Across the road from the park is a great mountain biking area, so if you love to ride remember to pack your bike.
The campground is open year-round and features 150 RV-friendly sites, including 96 with full hookups. Don't have an RV? You can also stay in a tent or one of the eight yurts within the campground. It usually only sees snow a few days each winter, it gets half the rain of Eugene to the north, and they see entire months of highs around 100 degrees. The dry weather also means very few mosquitoes, so it's very easy to enjoy your time outside.
Driving to and from Valley of the Rogue State Park is super easy for even beginner drivers since it is located right off the I-5, which is a major freeway. The roads in the area are kept in fantastic condition and will be pleasant for you to drive on during your visit to the area. Since the campground in the park is suitable for larger rigs you won't have any issues navigating to your chosen campsite.
Need to pick up some last-minute supplies before your visit? There are several places to do so near the park thanks to its handy location. The town of Gold Hill is only a few miles away where you can find stores. You will also be around a 20-minute drive from Grants Pass and 24 minutes from Medford if you need to visit somewhere with more amenities.
During the winter months, there are several small passes on I-5 coming from Eugene which have just enough elevation to touch the snowline in freezing weather. Siskiyou Summit on I-5 south of Ashland is much higher at 4310ft and gets snowy enough to shut down during major storms. The park itself has wide roads, roomy parking spaces, and no issues for large fifth-wheels and RVs.
Valley of the Rogue State Park has one RV-friendly campground that is the perfect place to stay during your visit. The campground is incredibly scenic and is filled with a variety of large mature trees. It is also one of the best-equipped campgrounds in the Oregon state park system with plenty of great site options for you to choose from.
There are a total of 150 sites suitable for RVs, some of which can accommodate rigs up to 100 feet in length. Out of these 150, 95 offer full hookups while the remaining 55 have power and water hookups available. The sites are extra large and were designed with small group camping in mind. Within the campground, there are modern restrooms and showers, a dump station, and firewood sales during select times of the year. Pets are also allowed, and you should be able to get cell phone service on all of the major networks.
Reservations are recommended for the Valley of the Rogue State Park Campground, especially if you are visiting during the peak season. The campground is available to use all year round, but in the winter expect some services, such as running water, to not be available.
Traveling to Valley of the Rogue State Park and wanting to do some tent camping? The campground is the perfect place to pitch a tent with all the sites suitable for tents all year round. The park is also home to six tent-only sites within the A-loop next to the yurts. These shady sites are perfect for campers wanting a little more peace and quiet away from the main camping loops. All of the tent-only sites are pet-friendly and also have enough room for you to park your vehicle next to your site of choice.
Just across the road from the campground is one of the best mountain biking opportunities in the area. Mountain of the Rogue is a seven-mile network of trails on BLM land which are helpfully organized by difficulty level. You climb up the mountain three miles and then choose a variety of different paths for the descent. The park was built for mountain bikers in 2015, so expect some great facilities. The climb to the top is about 1,300 feet. It is all single-track and fun for all levels of experience. There is a small parking lot and porta-potty at the bottom for your convenience.
Southern Oregon enjoys large waves of king salmon and steelhead on the Rogue River. There are a variety of regulations in different parts of the year, but this is the place for trophies, however, you decide to fish. There are nearly 20 public places to launch a boat on the Rogue River around Gold Hill, including within the park. Don't have a boat? Don't stress, because there are also plenty of places for you to fish from the shoreline of the park. There are no fishing gear rentals available, so make sure you bring your own.
Located around four miles away from the park is a fourth-generation vineyard that can trace their history back to 1850. Featuring a newly remodeled tasting room that is open every day, doing some wine tasting during your visit to the area is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the local culture. The tastings occur in one of the oldest buildings in southern Oregon, and tours of the vineyard are available on weekends with a reservation. During your visit, you will get a taste of at least ten different wines produced on-site, so get ready for a flavor sensation.
None of the sites within the Valley of the Rogue State Park are specifically available on a first-come, first-served basis, but that doesn't mean you can't camp without a reservation. If you arrive at the campground and some of the sites are not being used, they are available for you to set up on and enjoy. You are more likely to be able to camp on a first-come, first-served basis during the wintertime, so if you are planning on visiting during the peak season, it is recommended that you make a reservation prior to your arrival.
Located within the A-loop are eight yurts that are perfect for visitors seeking some alternate camping. The yurts are suitable for up to eight people at a time and are a great way to get back to nature if you aren't traveling with an RV or tent. Four of the yurts are pet-friendly, and all of them contain bunk beds and a double bed so there is plenty of room for the whole family!
The yurts have electric lights but no restroom, kitchen, or shower facilities, but you are welcome to use the restroom facilities that are in the campground loop where the yurts are located. All of the yurts can be reserved in advance, and they are available for you to enjoy all year round.
Visiting the park with a large group? Although there are no RV group camping areas you will have the chance to make use of one of three tent group camping areas that are located near the A-loop next to the Rouge River. These sites are suitable for up to 25 people to use at any given time with plenty of room to park your vehicles. There are no major amenities available within the group camp area, but you are just a short walk away from the restrooms and boat ramp. Group campsites should be reserved prior to your arrival since they are available on a limited basis.
Valley of the Rogue State Park is right in the heart of river adventure. Several private whitewater rafting companies are located in the nearby town of Gold Hill and thousands of people brave the class IV Nugget Falls and other whitewater areas on the Rogue River throughout the year. These trips are about four hours, including shuttle time. There are many choices for those with more time, including multi-day river camping trips deep into the Hellgate Recreation Area and scenic evening floats designed just to enjoy the sights. If you've ever wanted to give whitewater rafting ago, this is the perfect time to do so during your visit to the area.
Since Valley of the Rogue State Park is on the smaller side, you may want to look outside of the park boundaries to get your adrenaline fix during your visit to the area. The longest zip line in the Pacific Northwest is only seven miles from the park. There are five zip lines on the property and they are high on the hillside with views of Mount McLoughlin and even the Crater Lake Rim. Tours of the area take three hours, and there are also small cameras available to rent nearby if you want to record all the fun.
Looking to have some fun outside of the park and become rich while you're at it? Millions of dollars in gold have been recovered from the rivers of Southern Oregon in this area and large nuggets are still being found wedged in the bedrock. Most places are restricted from mining because of private property or active claims. The Gold Nugget Wayside has been preserved for the public, and anyone can try their luck at panning gold from this near mile-long section of the Rogue River. Check with the BLM for current regulations.
