Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon is in a region of Oregon south of the Willamette Valley, east of the Coast, but west of the arid Eastern Oregon region.

Other destinations

 * - family-focused opportunities to explore a marble cave, visit a National Historic Landmark (the Oregon Caves Chateau), hike trails through ancient forests, and earn a Junior Ranger Badge.
 * Rogue River, Umpqua, and Siskiyou National Forests make up a large part of southern Oregon's mountain wilderness, including many campgrounds, picnic areas, and trails.
 * is a popular destination in the mountains, about 90 minutes northeast of Medford. One of the deepest lakes in the world, Crater Lake is also host to a network of hiking and biking trails.



Understand
Southern Oregon is a modestly-sized and populated region of the state of Oregon, somewhat independent from the rest of the state, composed of Douglas, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, and Lake counties. The region is primarily composed of mountains and high desert, while the Rogue Valley, Grants Pass, and Klamath regions are home to agricultural, commercial, and industrial enterprises.

Southern Oregon has become a popular retirement community over the past few decades; what was once a lumber-oriented economy has gradually adapted to service- and tourism-based businesses. Like much of Oregon, the outdoors are one of the region's most valued assets, but more visible products include pears, wine, and timber products.

By train
Amtrak's Coastal Starlight line runs through southern Oregon, with stops in Klamath Falls and Chemult. While slow and inconvenient (access to the Rogue Valley and Grants Pass is provided only by bus), the train is an excellent way to visit while enjoying some of the region's best views.

By plane
While there are several small airports in the region, the primary airport for commercial travel is the Rogue Valley International Airport, in Medford.

By car
The most popular way to visit southern Oregon is by car. The I-5 freeway (Pacific Hwy) which bisects the region through Grants Pass and the Rogue Valley, with exits to Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, Central Point, Gold Hill, Rogue River, and Grants Pass. Travel times are approximately 4½ hours north to Portland, and 2½ hours south to Redding.

Get around
While mostly mountainous, southern Oregon has a well-maintained network of roads that connects most cities and towns. Biking is also an option, if you plan to be in the same area for a while. While in the Rogue Valley, for example, you can bike or walk along the Bear Creek Greenway, which connects the north and southern ends of the valley along the creek for which it is named.

Take note that Medford and Grants Pass are pretty strangely laid out towns. It can be slow to get in and out of parking lots during the tourist season.

More remote areas, including most mountain peaks and backwoods vistas, are accessible only by foot. Backpacking trails - including the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs north-south through the region's Cascade Mountains - are prevalent in most wilderness areas.

See

 * Hike to the top of Mt. McLoughlin or Mt. Thielsen, two of the prominent peaks in the Cascade Range. The two Table Rock mountains in the northern end of the Rogue Valley, and Pilot Rock in the southern end, are also popular (and highly visible) backpacking destinations.
 * Visit gold-rush era Jacksonville, a town preserved as a National Historical Landmark. Home to the popular Britt Music Festival and many historical buildings, as well as a high-quality dining scene and distinguished wineries.
 * The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater is named for the famous actress and former local resident. Located in Medford, it features musical and theatrical performances, both local and traveling.
 * Emigrant Lake is a reservoir and county park near the southern edge of the region, featuring several picnic areas, camping, a swimming area, and a small waterpark with several waterslides.
 * Check out the Harry and Davids facility in Medford, and sample pears and other goods at their local store. (Pear orchards still figure prominently in the region's landscape.)

Do

 * Visit a regional winery. The Rogue Valley, in particular, grows several varietals that are distinguished from the rest of the state by drier and warmer weather. Nearly all wineries have tasting rooms, and with the purchase of a bottle or two, tasting is commonly free.




 * Winter sports are featured at Mt. Ashland ($35), Crater Lake ($5-$10), and various cross-country skiing trails and sledding hills (free) that make use of snow-covered National Forest and BLM land and trails during the winter months.
 * See a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Several high-quality, nationally-renowned playhouses are surrounded by an excellent restaurant selection and a quaint college town. Tickets are $50 to $100, and most plays (not all of which are Shakespeare) run from March through October.
 * Hunting wild deer, hog, and elk is a popular activity in the mountains and high desert. Permits run $25-100, and guides are available for most trips and seasons, but prices vary greatly by game ($400 per day for turkey, $500-1200 per day for deer, and $500-700 per day for bear and elk).
 * The Rogue River is located in southwestern Oregon and flows 215 miles from Crater Lake to the Pacific Ocean. The 84-mile, Congressionally-designated "National Wild and Scenic" portion of the Rogue begins 7 miles west of Grants Pass and ends 11 miles east of Gold Beach.

The Rogue was one of the original eight rivers included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Rogue National Wild and Scenic River is surrounded by forested mountains and rugged boulder and rock-lined banks. Check out the Rogue River Float Guide (PDF) for more information on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River.

Steelhead and salmon fishery, challenging whitewater, and extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities have made the Rogue a national treasure. Black bear, river otter, black-tail deer, bald eagles, osprey, Chinook salmon, great blue heron, water ouzel, and Canada geese are common wildlife seen along the Rogue River. Popular activities include: whitewater rafting, fishing, jet boat tours, scenic driving, hiking, picnicking, and sunbathing.


 * Fish or raft a section of the Rogue River', known for its salmon and modest rapids. Guides are available ($250-500 per day), but fishing permits are required ($12, but included in most guide packages). Boats can be rented from most sizable river-side towns; one of the most popular departure points is Shady Cove, about 30 minutes north of Medford ($80-150 per day). Permits to raft the Wild and Scenic section of the river in northern Josephine County, which are featured in the film The River Wild, are very difficult to come by (distributed by yearly state lottery).

Drink
Popular regional wine and beer destinations include:

Stay safe
Southern Oregon is relatively crime-free. Certain parts of larger cities, such as Medford and Grants Pass, should be avoided during the very late hours of the day, however, as small-town drug and gang problems can arise. Unemployment, particularly from lumber mill closures, has caused minor problems near industrial areas.

Because southern Oregon is so sparse, one of the biggest dangers is getting stuck or lost while driving or hiking. Before you leave, make sure you have an up-to-date map, and that you are not using seasonal roads. Forest fires are also a danger during hot summer months, but these are easily avoided.

Bears and cougars are a rare danger, but it is always wise to carry bear spray when in the woods. Rattlesnakes are also occasionally encountered. If you find one, slowly walk away and you'll probably be fine.

Go next
Southern Oregon provides road access to several surrounding regions:
 * Go south into northern California along the I-5 freeway
 * Visit the scenic Oregon Coast, along Oregon Highway 42 or 38, or by way of northern California's Redwood Parks and the Smith River Gorge along U.S. Highway 199.
 * Go east, along into the Oregon high desert, stopping at Bend by veering north along U.S. Highway 97, or continuing to Idaho or Nevada along Oregon Highway 140.
 * Go north on the I-5 freeway to visit the Willamette Valley, Oregon's most populous region.