Rock Point

Oregon's ghost towns are timber camps and high-desert gold strikes, preserved by dry air and long distances.

Rock Point is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. Rock Point lies just north of an I-5 and Oregon Route 99 interchange along the Rogue River between the cities of Rogue River and Gold Hill. The community's name derives from the geologic formations at this location. Writers have sometime referred to the location as Point of Rocks, and early settlers called it Dardanelles. A Dardanelles post office opened near here on October 19, 1852, with William G. T'Vault as postmaster. The T'Vault property was on the south side of the river east of Rock Point.

The on-the-ground condition of Rock Point is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Rock Point is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Rock Point is roughly 42.4319, -123.0989 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.