Hellgate Jetboats Ride the Rogue
Drivers narrate tours of the historic Hellgate Canyon with bits of history and geology as they navigate through the soaring cliffs. Passengers have front row seats for viewing the wildlife along the river — deer, river otter, osprey, bald eagles and other creatures. And when your driver puts the throttle down to hit the white water, spin a 360 or dunk the bow — hold onto your hat!
Hellgate Jetboats owner Robert Hamlyn says what makes the tours special is that they travel on the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River that is otherwise only accessible by way of a multi-day raft trip.
“For people who don’t have the knowhow to raft or the money it takes to hire a guide, it is really more economical,” he says. Hamlyn says the trips are appropriate for all ages. “It is really suited to families, to grandparents, to anyone who wants to go, and I think that’s the beauty of the trip.”
Hellgate Jetboat Excursions has trips to suit every group. If you are short on time, the “Quick and Scenic” trip takes just two hours and runs 36 miles round-trip from the town of Grants Pass. The highlight is a stop at the spot where John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn filmed “Rooster Cogburn.” The “Whitewater” trip is a high-adrenaline journey from Grants Pass to Grave Creek. In five hours and 75 miles you’ll get high-speed action and white-water rapids as well as a stop at Morrison’s Lodge. Hellgate also offers brunch, lunch and dinner trips that run between three and four hours with hearty Western-inspired meals served at the rustic and scenic OK Corral, an old homestead perched high above the river that can only be accessed by boat. “It feels very exclusive. It is a nice spot to stop,” Hamlyn says. The cost of meals is included in the tour price. Hellgate Jetboat Excursions are great for family trips and reunions, and many people find themselves returning year after year. (Children under the age of three always ride free.) The tour company is conveniently located in downtown Grants Pass, and its sprawling retail shop is worth a visit in its own right.
