Rafting the Rogue with Dogs

 

By Ana Carda

Rogue River Facts

According to rivers.gov the Rogue River is over 200 miles long. The river runs from southwest Oregon to the Pacific Ocean.  In addition to river rafting many people fish for steelhead and other salmon. If you’re lucky you can catch a glimpse of other animals (bears, deer, otter) in the area.

 

Planning Where to Stay

There are a lot of places to stay. I recommend the Edgewater Inn in Shady Cove Oregon. Location is key with this place. This motel is clean and comfortable. Some rooms come with kitchenettes. Because we travel with dogs whenever possible we need a pet friendly place. The pet friendly rooms are on the first floor and those south facing rooms are river adjacent. They also have a barbeque area if your room doesn’t have a kitchenette but love to cook outdoors. 

View of the BBQ area at the Edgewater Inn

If you are traveling by RV, I recommend you check out the Rogue River RV Park. It has a prime location on the river and is connected to the Edgewater Inn by a walking path next to the river. There are no tent sites here and spaces a bit tight but you can’t beat the location. 

View from the room at night

Another nice RV resort on the river is the Fly Casters RV Park located right across the river from the Edgewater Inn. There are plenty of spaces, some lucky spots on the river and there is a grassy area to relax on and watch the river rafters float by. The spaces here a bit larger than the latter resort. The perk to staying at Fly Casters is you can have Miguel’s deliver to your site. I recommend the arroz con pollo. It is magical and the margaritas are refreshing. They have an outside patio overlooking the river.

Tent Camping on the Rogue?

Quick note, if you are planning on staying in a tent, there are several campgrounds along the Rogue River that accommodate tents and RVs. The road to look for is Crater Lake Highway aka highway 62. Yes, this road will take you to Crater Lake. We’ll save that one for another day. It's a beautiful road.

 

Safety Before Fun, Not in Place of

A few ground rules. There are some parts of the river that are calm and you can relax. But there are parts where the river is rapid flowing. Take it from me, stay in the raft unless you are a very strong swimmer. It will likely take at least one or two people to pull you back in the raft. It’s not easy getting back in the raft.

The Rogue River is classified as a category II to III. Beginner level people can enjoy this river. Remember to be safe. While it may be a category II, the current is still strong and if you panic and fight the current you can tire out very quickly. I know this from experience. I recommend the following items to be safe:

Life Vests, Dogs Should Wear Life Vests Too

You are provided a life vest when you rent a raft from a local charter company. Many people do not wear them but I did and I’m glad about it. I brought my own $20 vest from Bass Pro Shop. A small investment with a huge payout. Be safe and dogs are allowed on the rafts. The charter company did not offer dog life vests because come on, it’s not realistic. Our dogs have some because they are always in the water but aren’t specifically ‘water dogs.’

Our puppy jumped out of the raft in an attempt to follow his brother onto the shore. In order to save him from drifting off, I had to jump in after him. Luckily, he was somewhat buoyant with his life vest. I passed him to my husband who was in the raft at the time trying bank the raft. It was deeper than thought and the current was strong.

Rafting safety with vests

Helmets, Or No Helmets?

I didn’t wear a helmet, for this type of river I don’t think it is necessary, but I can understand why someone would wear one. Things can go very wrong, very fast.

Grappling Hook or Rope

Rope or grappling hooks can come in handy in case you have to pull the raft to shore. But the thing about these items is that they should be easily accessible. Seconds count in an emergency. My husband brought rope with a hook but when I went overboard my husband didn’t have time to grab the rope and help me back on the raft at the same time and I was taking in a lot of water.

Rope ladder

This one is my favorite. We did not have rope ladder and thinking about it afterwards. I plan on purchasing one for our next rafting trip back to the Rogue. When you’re in the water you realize how high the edge of the raft is. The current is pushing you and even with a life vest, you only float so much. I recommend a rope ladder in case you find a calm spot in the water and need to pee or in more flowing areas, a rope ladder can help you get in and out quickly.

Where I was outside the raft, the water level was deep. I couldn’t push off of anything so I wish I would have brought a rope ladder.

It’s much easier to have a good time when you know you have safety equipment and someone who knows how and when to use them.

Most Important Have Fun

The charter company’s offer cooler rental and ice. Rafting tours can be anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. Depending on where you get dropped off. Remember that planning ahead and having the proper safety equipment, even if you don’t use them will lead to having a more enjoyable time. The views are spectacular and for the most part you can just float down thew river. Don’t forget the sunscreen and a hat.  Pack some splash proof snacks and have a great time!

 

How to Pack for a Weekend Camping Trip with Dogs

 

Last Minute Camping Trip Anxiety

Have you ever decided on a last-minute camp trip? Yes, then you understand why I feel rushed and anxious but excited all at the same time. Not only do I have to pack my own clothes, but I also have two dogs I have to make sure are packed up and ready to go too.

On the last trip, I had two weeks' notice, I forgot to pack the blanket! My husband and I had to fight over the throw blanket. Sometime during the night when I woke up freezing, I realized that he won.  

Luckily, I was able to find a loose bed sheet under the dinette seat. 
This time of the year I won't risk freezing to death. But I still need a blanket, even if just to cover my behind. 

First, I Pack the Dogs

The worst thing that could happen is I forget their toys or food or glow necklaces and we're blah number of miles away from town. No, my babies are first.

• Dog Food x's number of days out
• Toys
• Harnesses 
• Dog Beds
• Blankets
• Portable Water bowl 
• Poop Bags 
• Glow Collar
• Tethering system
• Dog fence
• Floor mat 6x4 or 5x7
• Shade system  
• Battery powered fan with misting capability

Then, We Pack our Stuff

It's the end of the summer. The days are hot, and the nights are cool. We're staying in San Diego so it will chill down nicely by evening. No need for a jacket. I'll be fine with a light sweater or hoodie. My UGGs for the evening and some comfortable walking shoes for the day. We're staying at a Thousand Trails (more on that next post). 

The RV has heat and air conditioning so if it gets too uncomfortable, we can always run inside. But we prefer hangin' outside as much as possible. 

A Little Something Extra 

I like to take a lot of pictures; I bring my tripod with me otherwise I would never be in the picture. It comes with a remote and can accommodate a large phone and for the price, this thing can't be beat. 

It's lasted for years, and I use it for the holidays as well! I ended up buying a photo backdrop and some soft boxy lights because it sounded like fun and everyone loves it! It makes for great pictures at party's and holidays.

Home away from home

Bicycles, because the campground is large and while it's nice to take walk it's also nice to get somewhere fast when you need to. 

Last is my misting fans. The mist is so fine that it doesn't get all over the place. It does a good job as long you're realistic and keep it close to you. Check out the link above.

It might seem like a lot to some people, but it works me and my little family. I try to pack in as much family as possible, even if we're only going away for a couple days. 

Make every day count! 

Evening dinner table 

Did I miss something, let me know what you bring with you on a glamping weekend or holiday.

Huntington Dog Beach Survival Guide - A List of Items to Bring with You

 

The following is a basic list of items that I have found make Dog Beach even more enjoyable as if that was even possible. 

Dog Beach, it’s the most popular place to go on a hot day in sunny southern California with a dog.

 Dog Beach at Huntington Beach is a wildly popular place to hang out with your fur babies on a hot summer day. Dog Beach spans 1.5 miles across just from Goldenwest and Seapoint Street off PCH. Parking is $2.00 per hour and there are pay boxes at different point of the parking lot. Patience is required here, there is usually a line of cars out to the street.

 I have two boys, a 4-year-old terrier mix and one year old cattle dog/papillon mix. They love the water, fetching their toys and swimming. If you are travelling through town with your dog, make time to stop here. If you visit during the week, it is less busy, but you will likely see other dogs around.

 You don’t have to own a dog to go here, but remember, most dogs don’t have boundaries. They are super friendly and want to make friends with everyone and everything they see. The vibe here is so chill and relaxed. 

When making plans, I recommend you eat before you go, don’t bring it with you! I’ve seen some dogs raid people’s blankets and bags while the humans were in the water. It really happens.

Don’t forget to bring water and a bowl. There is no water from the parking lot to the water.

Below is a short list of items I like to bring with to make us all a little more comfortable. I do most of my shopping on Amazon so I am referring you the items I purchase and recommend. I scour the reviews and product specifications to death before I purchase pretty much everything.

1. Sunshade – whether you bring an umbrella or one of those tiny half dome cabana’s during prime sun time, it’s always nice to hide from the beaming sun. It tends to get blown out in the afternoon. My cabana has seen its last summer, I think it’s time for a new one. Mine is large enough for two beach chairs with plenty of room around us.

 2. Cooler – nobody likes warm water on a hot day. Bring a small to medium cooler and pack plenty of water for your furry friend and maybe some fruit for you. i always like a product that packs down after use. After a full day of fun in the sun, the less weight you carry back the better!

 3. Chairs or blanket – warning, if bringing a blanket, it will get dirty. I always bring an outdoor blanket and it always gets dirty.  Plan B, I have two low beach chairs that we take with us. It’s better for my back and less of a mess.

 4. Water & pet bowl – as mentioned above, if your dog plays with any type of ball, it will get sandy. Wet sand sticks to everything. Bring water to rinse of the toys and water to drink. Again, sand gets everywhere, including the water bowl.

 5. Towel – Obvious. Which dog doesn’t like a nice toweling. I bring one for me and one for my dog.

6. Wagon – this is the bonus item. 

If you don’t; have the chairs that strap to your back and all your pet’s beach toys don’t fit in the beach bag, you need a wagon. Luckily, the distance from the sand to the water isn’t as long as that at Huntington Beach State Park. The bigger the wheels the easier to navigate through the sand. 

To sum it up, dog beach is fun, being prepared makes it more fun. If you have any other ideas for items you can’t live without, please let me know! I would love to do an updated post including any great ideas or items.

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