Explore Rogue River, Oregon, in an RVshare RV Rental
Rogue River is a community of about 2,100 people in Jackson County. Originally, the area was home to the Modoc, Shasta, Rogue River, and Umpqua Native Americans, with the Deschutes Native Americans often raiding the area. The first explorers in this area were the French, and they named the area Rogue Valley because of their feelings toward the Native Americans, who were often hostile toward outsiders. The California Gold Rush of the 1850s changed this region because people were looking for a faster way to get to Northern California. Early visitors had to float down the Columbia River, which could be slow and costly. In June 1846, 13 people led by Jesse and Lindsay Applegate laid out a trail allowing people to travel mostly by land to the Willamette Valley.
The first settlement where present-day Rogue River is located was called Talihol because when the water was high, people wanting to use the trail would convince a horse to swim across the river while holding onto its tail. Gold was discovered nearby in December 1851 by James Cluggage and James R. Poole. While these men continued to California, the area soon became popular for mining, with 5,438 mining locations being staked from October 1856 to June 1880. Most of the miners in the area were of Chinese descent. There were 16 copper, 124 cinnabar, one tin, and a number of gold and silver mines.
The community's name was changed to Woodville in 1876 when John Wood established the first post office and stagecoach stop. It was changed to Rogue River in 1912. You can learn more about this community's history by visiting the Medford Historical Society, about 21 miles away. The area became popular with traders. J.W. Osbourne constructed a bridge across Evans Creek, and it was replaced in 1927 by a bridge constructed by Jason Hartman. That bridge lasted until 2003 and was rebuilt as the Wimer Covered Bridge, which you can visit today. Stop at the Wimer Market for a picnic before wading in the creek. This can be a great place to pick blackberries in August and September.
Discover Nearby Towns and Cities
Medford – If you love live theater, take in a show at the Craterian Theater. You can also go for a hike in the many gorgeous areas surrounding this city of about 81,000.
20+ Restaurants
20+ Gas Stations
6 Campgrounds
1 Nearby State Park
10 Nearby Dump Stations
Grants Pass – This city of about 34,000 has many excellent museums to visit, including the Grants Pass Museum of Art and the Bear Hotel Artworks Museum.
20+ Restaurants
20+ Gas Stations
17 Campgrounds
1 Nearby State Park
20+ Nearby Dump Stations
White City– This community of about 8,000 people offers great outdoor recreational opportunities. Spend some time exploring the TouVelle State recreation site and the volcanic plateaus at Upper and Lower Table Rock.
14 Restaurants
8 Gas Stations
1 Nearby Dump Station
Events Near Rogue River, Oregon
Rogue River Rooster Crow – Join the fun of a classic car show, parade, and family-friendly events at this Rogue River festival in June.
Whites Country Farm Harvest – Head to Medford during October for fun harvest-themed events, including a maze and pumpkin picking, at this fall event.
Art Along the Rogue – This fall event in Grants Pass provides an excellent opportunity to shop with Oregon artists and get new tattoos.
Hanley Farm Scarecrow Festival – Join the Southern Oregon Historical Society for this fun Halloween festival where you can build a scarecrow and participate in old-fashioned games.