Hellgate Canyon on the Rogue River
  
The Rogue River, located in Southern Oregon runs through many towns in the area and down to the Pacific Ocean (Gold Beach). Hellgate Canyon which is a major attraction is located on Galice Hwy, near Merlin, 10 miles from Grants Pass, Oregon. Hellgate Canyon is where the famous "Jump" sequence of the movie "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" (starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford) and many other Westerns were filmed. Above Merlin area is Grave Creek, the starting point for the 32 mile "wild" section of the Rogue River.

Hellgate Excursions is located in Grants Pass, along the Rogue River. They provide scenic jet boat trips of all kinds from Grants Pass to the Galice area through Hellgate Canyon. The little hamlet of Merlin/Galice is located northwest of Grants Pass and is the home base for many outfitters and fishing guides. This and the fact that Merlin is close to the 84-mile segment of the Rogue River set aside by Congress under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, is why Merlin is known as the "Gateway To The Wild & Scenic Rogue River".

Great Fishing and rafting on the white waters are but some of the activities available in the Merlin area. One of the best hiking trails around is the famous Rogue River Wild and Scenic Trail which starts at Grave Creek above Merlin and runs downstream 40 miles through the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River to Foster Bar. A permit, available by lottery, is required in the summer for floating some sections of the river; contact US Forest Service, River Permits, 14335 Galice Rd., Merlin, OR 97532.

Nearby Lodging areas Grants Pass, Oregon

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