The Rogue River is famous the world over for rafting and for its Steelhead runs, possessing a dramatic undeveloped canyon untouched by road and man, and being one of the Original 7 Wild & Scenic Rivers designed by Congress.

And not only is it fantastic for rafting but entire sections are perfect for paddleboarding and the Mermaid Riffle, tucked away in the mountains in the town of Agness, is just that. Bring your own or pick one up from a local outfitter.

Essentially a light bend in the river with a large sand/rockbank perfect for camping and chilling, the Riffle is a great place to put in, paddle down stream, and then easily hike back up to camp (or leave another vehicle down stream).

And just up the hill is the Cougar Lane Lodge, the only restaurant and bar for mile.

To get there take Jerry's Flat Road ~30 miles from Gold Beach. The access road down to the river is just past Cougar Lane Lodge. There is no meaningful access from the east though it is possible to arrive from the north via Highway 42 and National Forest Road 33.

As always, practice the principles of Leave No Trace.