About Us

Rogue River Journeys is a small, owner-operated whitewater rafting outfitter based out of Southern Oregon. We run trips on the Lower Rogue Canyon on a stretch of river with remarkable beauty, whitewater, and history. Our trips make great vacations for families, friends, and large groups.

When it comes to service, Rogue River Journeys does it best. We have enjoyed an enviable reputation for outstanding customer service. From the moment you first contact us to when we're pulling boats out of the water at the end of the trip, we will impress upon you a level of caring and professionalism unmatched in the industry.

Meet Jim Ritter, Owner and Guide

I started working on river trips as a "swamper," or "pot boy" when I was 9 years old. Basically that meant that I got to go on trips to wash dishes and do other dirty work that the guides didn't want to do. After hundreds of river miles as a boy, I guided my first trip on the Stanislaus River when I was 13 years old. As you can imagine, not many guests were interested in riding in my boat at that age, but I was pretty good and learned quickly.

Jim Ritter, bottom left, with a group of outfitters on the Tuolumne River, California.

I guided every weekend in the spring each year, and full time during summers through high school. When I turned 18, I went to Idaho to guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and Main Salmon Rivers.

In addition to guiding on outfitted trips, I was very involved in starting programs to help low income and "at-risk" youth have the opportunity to raft and enjoy the outdoors.

I stared as General Manager of Outdoor Adventures (now Rogue River Journeys) in 1986, and have acquired ownership in the business over the years. Most importantly, I've had the privilege of raising my own kids (Anya is 19 and Hawken is 16) on rivers throughout the west.

Pamela, Anya, Hawken, and Jim Ritter on the Rogue River.