Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon encompasses the Southern Cascades leading up to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake along the Umpqua and Rogue Rivers, meeting the Siskiyou Mountains at the California border. The Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway is home to 15 waterfalls, and the Siskiyous are heavily forested and dappled with small farms. Try Highways 138, 230, 234, 62, or 199 for an escape into this captivating corner of Oregon.

Southern Oregon Visitors Association

Highlights:

• Travel to the Klamath Basin (Highways 97, 66) to see endless aspen groves and the state’s largest body of water, Klamath Lake, which is a resting spot for some 7 million migratory waterfowl from the peculiar pelican to the snow goose.
• From the lower elevations on Hwy 140 beginning in the Rogue Valley head East on Hwy 140 to the Lake of the Woods and Rocky Point area. From the Lake of the Woods recreation area you can continue on Dead Indian Memorial Road & Clover Creek road to Keno. From  Keno you head west on the Keno access road or Hwy 66 & then back to the Rogue Valley. Numerous route options exist with short side trips to the Fort Klamath area or fold in a Crater lake loop connecting with hwy 62 and back through the park to the Union Creek area and Prospect then back to the Rogue Valley via Hwy 62. Expect vibrant fall colors from the Aspens & Oaks. almost the entire route is lined with beautiful scenery.

Popular Spots for Fall Foliage:

• Roseburg Fall Foliage
• Downtown Roseburg – 912 SE Washington Ave, Roseburg, OR, 97470 / (541) 673-3352
  Downtown Roseburg streets are lined with colorful leaves; many of them starting to fall yet others clinging on to limbs as the variety of colors dazzle in the sunlight.
• VA National Cemetery – 1770 Harvard Blvd, Roseburg, OR, 97470
• Stewart Parkway – 2770 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR, 97470
• Lithia Park – Ashland, OR, 97520
  Ashland’s 93-acre Lithia Park is the perfect place to experience fall color splendor. Located within walking distance of downtown Ashland, Lithia Park Woodland Trail is part of a 100-acre National Historic Site. The one-mile walking trail offers much to see or photograph in a beautiful wooded setting.
• Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway – (North end) I-5/OR 138 in Roseburg (South end) I-5/OR 234 in Gold Hill
  The scenic byway travels eastward (beginning in Roseburg). Near Glide, it begins to parallel the North Umpqua River. It continues roughly eastward until it meets Diamond Lake, where it turns southward along the east shore of the lake. Near the southern tip of the lake the scenic byway turns west and then southwest on OR 230. Here it follows the Rogue River, eventually merges with OR 62 near Union Creek. On its last leg the route meets up with OR 234 and passes near Upper and Lower Table Rock. The byway’s terminus is at Gold Hill. The entire scenic byway is 172 miles (277 km) long
• Myrtle Creek & Canyonville Tour Route – Exit 98 off I-5 Canyonville to Country Rt. 1, Canyonville OR, 97417 / (541) 863-3037
  This loop route begins and ends in Myrtle Creek. The southern part of the route is along the South Umpqua River and goes past historic homes and buildings, bountiful farms, then the middle part of the route is a forest road through stands of Douglas fir, and the northern portion goes through hills dotted with cattle, sheep and wild turkeys. The roadsides are painted with wildflowers in spring and colored leaves in fall.
• Cow Creek Tour Route – Exit 103, South of Roseburg, OR
  The Cow Creek Tour Route is a refreshing break from the steady highway pace; this 45-mile detour wanders with Cow Creek as it dips through the Coast mountain range. The route is spread with quaint farms and ranches, stately forests, massive rock outcroppings, and small waterfalls and run-offs.

Scenic Byways:

• Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway
• Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
• Myrtle Creek-Canyonville Tour Route
• Cow Creek Tour Route