SPOTLIGHT
The little
hamlet of Merlin is located northeast 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."
Also
located nearby is the famous Hellgate Canyon (on Galice Hwy.)
where the famous "Jump" segment of the movie "Butch
Cassidy & the Sundance Kid" (starring Paul Newman
and Robert Redford) and many other Westerns were filmed.
Above Merlin is Grave Creek, the starting point for the 32
mile "wild" section of the 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
Oregon 97532.
