| From Ashland, Medford or Roseburg, embark on a 172-mile scenic route that
takes you to the edge of the indigo-blue waters of Crater Lake, past Diamond Lake, along
the wild Umpqua and Rogue rivers, and to waterfalls, parks and campgrounds. Save a day to
follow the National Byway signs along this beautiful Southern Oregon drive.
|
Gold
Hill to the Mountain Lakes Region: The signed Scenic Byway begins in Gold Hill,
where you can watch gravity play strange tricks at The Oregon Vortex. Head east along Hwy.
234 to Shady Cove where you can access wilderness areas and countless hiking trails.
Following the Rogue River, Hwy. 234 joins Hwy. 62 to take you past several beautiful State
Parks, up to the town of Prospect and on the historic Union Creek. Be sure to visit the
Natural Bridge and Rogue Gorge interpretive sites. Continue on Hwy. 62 to approach the
visual feast of Crater Lake National Park.
Crater
Lake: A 33-mile rim drive takes in the famous sights and leads to hiking trails
and park interpretive services at Crater Lake National Park. Seasonal two-hour boatrides
around the shoreline and to Wizard Island and Phantom Ship Rock are available.
(Approaching from the north, Hwy. 138 leads to the park as well. However, during winter
months, access is via the south entrance only.)
Mt.
Thielsen, Diamond Lake and the Wilderness Areas: The Crater Lake Drive connects
with Hwy. 138 north of the Park and rejoins Hwy. 230 near the entrance to Diamond Lake. In
addition to boasting the largest campground in Oregon and Washington, and a long list of
year-round recreation, diamond Lake is the popular base area for exploring the eight
wilderness areas that surround the region. If you have to choose just a few sights to take
in, be sure to put Lemolo Lake and Mt. Thielsen on the list. In the winter, add snowcat
skiing on Mt. Bailey.
Following the North Umpqua River: It's hard to imagine a more beautiful stretch
of road than the shady, riverside drive through the Umpqua National Forest and BLM land
along Hwy. 138. The route passes Toketee Reservoir, Boulder Creek Wilderness, legendary
fishing sites, class 3 and 4 whitewater challenges and countless parks, campgrounds and
hiking trailheads. Trails to scenic waterfalls are well marked along the route.
The resort area of Steamboat offers a nice stopping point, as do Idleyld Park and Glide. Here, the North Umpqua and Little River meet at a point known as Colliding Rivers. Nearby, The Narrows is an historic and modern-day fishing site, popular for its salmon and steelhead runs.
Roseburg: Roseburg is located along the famous Applegate Trail. Whether you make
it the beginning or end of your Scenic Byway drive, save time for the city's many historic
attractions, like Douglas County Museum. Visit nearby wineries. And take in the wonders of
Wildlife Safari, Oregon's only drive-through wildlife park, in neighboring Winston.
The Southern Oregon Visitors Association offers a free vacation guide with complete regional information, including routes for a dozen signed scenic tours. Write or call SOVA, P.O. Box 1645, Medford, OR 97501-0731. 1-800/448-4856
Return to Oregon: Discovering Our Routes!
