Grave Creek to Big Slide

Get ready for one of the most rewarding hikes in southern Oregon, following the wild and scenic Rogue River for 40 miles. This trail is a serious undertaking, typically done as a 4-5 day backpacking trip, but you can also tackle shorter sections for an amazing day hike. You'll be treated to incredible canyon views, cascading waterfalls, and the chance to spot wildlife as the trail hugs steep cliffs and dips into lush forests. Be prepared for a rugged path with some serious drop-offs; it's a challenging but unforgettable journey into the heart of the canyon.

If you're not quite ready to tackle the entire trail, there are several good points to turnaround and tailor the distance to your liking. A favorite hike of mine is starting at the Grave Creek trailhead and turning around at Big Slide. This gives you an out-and-back hike of around 7.5 miles. Perfect for basking in the wild river views. After just a few minutes on trail, you'll start to feel like an explorer just discovering this beautiful landscape for the first time.

While the Rogue River Trail spends most of the time towering above the river below, for a shorter hike that gets you up close and personal with the river, Raine Falls Trail is just across the bridge from where you parked. This path follows the Rogue River straight to the falls in roughly 2 miles. A quick hike to add another beautiful Oregon waterfall to your collection.

Attached is a link to the Bureau of Land Management's Rogue River Trail map which includes mileage from Grave Creek trailhead. Use this to better plan out your own hike based on how far you'd like to go. One note, the lower portion of the Rogue River Trail suffered damage from the Moon Complex Wildfire late in 2025. Early estimates projected December 2026 as the reopening date. However, check back occasionally on progress as it is possible the trail could open sooner.