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Location: North America
Geography: Mountains, City, Forest
Vacation Type: Family, Adventure
Popularity: Off-the-Beaten Path
Costs: Budget
Attractions: Skiing, Scenery, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Wineries, Rafting
Facts and Stats:
Population: 34,533
Land Area: 7.6 square miles
Elevation: 960 ft
Country Dialing Code: 1
Area Code: 541
Languages: English
Electricity: 110V
Currency: US Dollar
Time Zone: Pacific (PST) UTC-8/UTC-7 (Summer)
Note:
This travel guide also covers the following cities and communities:
- Cave Junction - 1,883
- Glendale - 874
- Merlin - 2,516
- Rogue River - 2,140
- Williams - 2,253
Introduction:
Grants Pass is a small city in Southern Oregon located on the banks of the stunning Rogue River. Due to the proximity to the Rogue, the city is known as the river rafting capital of Oregon, and people come from all over to enjoy this wild and beautiful River. Grants Pass alone has over 15 outfits to take you out rafting, fishing, camping and more. In addition to the Rogue, people come to see Southern Oregon's other natural wonders - Crater Lake and The Oregon Caves.
Although it is a small city, Grants Pass is close enough to all the outdoor activities, and also has good dining and lodging options. It also features wonderful shops and antique stores.
Geography:
Surrounded by the Siskiyou mountains, Grants Pass occupies about 7.7 square miles in Josephine County. It lies an hour north of the California/Oregon border, and about 4 hours south of Portland. It is located in the Rogue Valley, which has a mild climate with a long growing season, making it ideal for nuts, fruits and many grape varietals. Grants Pass sits on the banks of the legendary Rogue River, which starts at Crater Lake and runs for 215 miles through the Cascade, Siskiyou and Coastal Ranges before spilling into the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach.
Brief History:
Grants Pass was a small settlement for hunters and trappers in the 1880's. Early settlers and trappers often referred to the local Indian tribes as "The Rogues" because of their willingness to fight for their territory. Rogue became the eventual name of the valley and the river because of that nickname.
The Native Indians quickly became outnumbered when the railroad extended into the area, and the small settlement grew from pioneer homesteads to a thriving town serving all those who came seeking gold. It is estimated over 70 million in gold was mined from this area. After the gold rush died out, lumber became the main industry in the area.
The name Grants Pass was selected to honor General U.S. Grant's success at Vicksburg, although originally it was spelled Grant's Pass. Sometime after the turn of the century, the apostrophe was dropped. The post office was established in 1865, and the city of Grants Pass was incorporated in 1887, a year after it had become the county seat.
In the 1930's, The Rogue enjoyed the spotlight as it became a getaway place for famous glitterati like Ginger Rogers and Clark Gable, Zane Grey and Herbert Hoover. Today, the area is enjoying a foodie reputation due to the variety of artisan food and drink produced locally.
People & Culture:
The people of Grants Pass are friendly and laid back, and the area has a reputation for attracting outdoor enthusiasts. The Rogue River, The Siskiyou Forest, and The Cascades are all close by for fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, trail hiking, camping, biking, hunting, bird watching, skiing and snowboarding.
Downtown Grants Pass has been undergoing a slow revitalization over the years, and has been designated a National Historic District.
Food & Nightlife:
In Grants Pass, there is an emphasis on supporting products that are local, organic and sustainable. Southern Oregon has a reputation for producing a lot of amazing foods as many crops grow well here. Cheese, farmer's markets, wineries and breweries galore dot the entire Southern Oregon region. Grants Pass is also the birthplace of Dutch Bros Coffee, a chain of 172 stores in 7 states.
Grants Pass isn't exactly known for the nightlife, but there are some good watering holes around town. The drinking age is 21 and bars can stay open as late as 2:30am.
Money & Costs:
Grants Pass is an affordable destination. The lodging and dining are very reasonable, and so are the guided excursions. It is nice that so much to see and do in Southern Oregon is outdoors, because that is priceless, and priceless. There is no sales tax in Oregon. Tipping follows the U.S. standard of 15%-20%.
Getting There & Around:
The closest commercial aiport to Grants Pass is The Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport. It is about 30 minutes southeast from Grants Pass. You can get to Grants Pass from the airport via shuttle, rental car or taxi. Grants Pass also has a Greyhound Bus Station. See the services section of this guide for more information on transportation services.
Once you have arrived in Grants Pass, you can use the public bus system, or you can walk or bike around town. However, most people rent a car since there is so much to see outside of city limits.
The table below shows the distances to nearby cities:
| City |
Miles |
| Medford |
29 miles |
| Ashland |
42 miles |
| Roseburg |
68 miles |
| Crescent City, CA |
82 miles |
| Crater Lake |
96 miles |
| Brookings |
97 miles |
| Klamath Falls |
100 miles |
| Eugene |
139 miles |
| Redding, CA |
176 miles |
| Bend |
190 miles |
| Portland |
245 miles |
Weather:
Grants Pass is known for their city slogan, "It's the climate!". Grants Pass is located in the sunbelt of Southern Oregon, so it enjoys a mild, temperate climate that is appealing to many. The city enjoys warm (sometimes hot), dry summers and mild winters.
Below are the current conditions and weather forecast for Grants Pass, Oregon.
The table below shows the average high and low temperatures.
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Avg High |
47 |
54 |
61 |
68 |
75 |
82 |
90 |
90 |
84 |
70 |
54 |
47 |
| Avg Low |
32 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
43 |
48 |
52 |
51 |
45 |
40 |
36 |
34 |
| Precipitation |
5.5" |
4.0" |
3.4" |
1.9" |
1.4" |
0.7" |
0.3" |
0.3" |
0.8" |
2.4" |
4.5" |
5.8" |
Important Contacts:
- Emergency - 911
- Directory Assistance - 411
- Operator - 0
Tips & Additional Information:
- If you are visiting Grants Pass anytime between February and October, check out Ashland's Shakespeare Festival.
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