Middle Fork Rogue River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middle Fork Rogue River |
|
|---|---|
 Location of the mouth of the Middle Fork Rogue River in Oregon
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Klamath, Jackson |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ranger Spring Cascade Range, Klamath County 5,740 ft (1,750 m) 42°41′04″N 122°10′56″W / 42.68444°N 122.18222°W |
| River mouth | South Fork Rogue River south of Prospect, Jackson County 2,185 ft (666 m) 42°43′11″N 122°28′22″W / 42.71972°N 122.47278°W |
The Middle Fork Rogue River is a cool river in Oregon, a state in the United States. It is a smaller river that flows into the South Fork Rogue River. This river starts high up in the Cascade Range mountains. It begins in the Sky Lakes Wilderness area of Klamath County.
The Middle Fork then flows mostly northwest through the beautiful Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. Finally, it joins the South Fork just south of a town called Prospect. The Middle Fork meets the South Fork about 4 miles (6.4 km) before the South Fork joins the main Rogue River.
Contents
Fun Things to Do at the River
Hiking and Horseback Riding
There is a special path called the Middle Fork Trail. It follows the river for about 6 miles (9.7 km). This trail goes through a canyon that was carved by glaciers long ago.
Sadly, a forest fire caused many trees to fall. Because of this, the trail is currently closed. Before the fire, people loved to use the trail for hiking and riding horses. The United States Forest Service takes care of this trail. They used to say it was a "more to most difficult" trail. This means it was quite challenging!
Fishing for Wild Trout
If you like fishing, the Middle Fork is known as a "fair wild trout stream." This means it's a pretty good place to catch trout that live naturally in the river. You can find two types of trout here: wild cutthroat trout and brook trout.
Kayaking for Experts
Some very skilled whitewater kayakers have paddled parts of the Middle Fork. There's a section about 6 miles (9.7 km) long that is rated Class 5. This is on the International Scale of River Difficulty. A Class 5 rating means the rapids are extremely tough and long. They are only for expert kayakers.
A guide called Soggy Sneakers warns kayakers about this section. It says you need to check out the route carefully before you go. It also says that you cannot carry your kayak around the Middle Fork Gorge. Rescues are also very difficult here. The river is too shallow to paddle when the water is low.
Smaller Rivers and Water Use
Tributaries Joining the Middle Fork
Many smaller streams flow into the Middle Fork Rogue River. These are called tributaries. From where the Middle Fork starts to where it ends, these streams include Honeymoon, Halifax, Bessie, Twentynine, Svinth, Daniel, and Red Blanket Creeks.
Using River Water for Power
Some water from the Middle Fork is used to make electricity. This water is sent to a dam and a reservoir (a large artificial lake) on the Rogue River near Prospect. This system collects water from the Rogue River and other nearby streams. It then sends the water to power plants to create electricity.
A company called PacifiCorp runs this system. It is known as The Prospect Nos. 1, 2, and 4 Hydroelectric Project. This project was built over many years, from 1911 to 1944. It includes special dams on the Middle Fork Rogue River and Red Blanket Creek. It also has a 9.25-mile (14.9 km) system of canals, flumes (open channels), pipes, and penstocks (large pipes that carry water to turbines). All these parts work together to move the water and make power.
