Island Rapids is a Class II rapid on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River in Curry County, Oregon, where the river divides around an island in the roadless Wild Section between Grave Creek and Foster Bar. It lies upstream of Mule Creek, Marial and Blossom Bar.
The falls
Island Rapids is rated Class II, with channels dividing around an island and shallow, rocky side channels. Mileage figures differ: American Whitewater puts it at mile 18.1 of the run, while the Wild & Scenic Rogue guide places it at mile 20.2 from Grave Creek, next to the Ellis Beach camp and just above Johns Riffle.
Getting there
Island Rapids is reached by boat on the Wild Section float. The Grave Creek to Foster Bar trip is 33.8 miles, with the whole reach rated Class II to III and some Class IV. From May 15 to October 15, noncommercial boaters need a BLM permit allocated through a Recreation.gov lottery, at $10 per person per trip; outside that season a self-issued permit is required. The Wild Rogue is managed jointly by the BLM and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
When to go
Flow ranges from 1,200 to 30,000 cfs for the run on the Rogue River near Agness gauge: 1,200 to 2,500 cfs is low, 2,500 to 10,000 medium and 10,000 to 30,000 high. The BLM warns that the Moon Complex fire affected the Wild Section; check with the Smullin Visitor Center before launching.
On site
Boaters should choose a channel early to stay out of the shallow side routes. Downstream, Mule Creek lies at mile 22.1, Marial Lodge at mile 22.7 and Blossom Bar Rapids, a Class IV rapid, at mile 24.8.
Nearby
Johns Riffle and Big Boulder Rapids are each about 0.2 mile away, with Long Gulch Riffle about 0.6 mile and Maggies Riffle about 0.7 mile.
Distances are straight-line.