Southern Oregon

Home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland’s cultural scene includes theater, music, museums and art galleries. For outdoor enthusiasts, Ashland has easy access to the Rogue and Upper Klamath Rivers, the Mt. Ashland Ski Area, mountain biking on the Cascade Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway and hiking on the epic Pacific Crest Trail. When you get hungry, mouth-watering restaurants and local wineries abound.

One of Southern Oregon’s biggest attractions is Crater Lake and its namesake national park. The water in the USA’s deepest lake is produced entirely by snow and rain, resulting in an ultra-clean, ultra-clear and extremely photogenic lake. Drive, bike or take a trolley tour (seasonal) around the perimeter and snap photos of the volcanic rock formations jutting out of the water. There’s hiking and trail running in the summer, or skiing and ranger-led snowshoeing in the winter.

The city’s motto, “It’s the Climate!” is well deserved. Grants Pass boasts a pleasant climate year round, with dry summers and moderate winters. Its charming historic district is full of amenities – shopping, galleries, local wineries and restaurants – making Grants Pass an ideal basecamp for accessing nearby activities like rafting and fishing the Rogue River, or exploring Crater Lake and Oregon Caves National Monument.

Oregon’s “City of Sunshine” is great for families and outdoor lovers. Paddle the Upper Klamath Canoe Trail, go fishing in the Klamath River, grab binoculars for excellent birding and enjoy hiking, biking and running in Moore Park or the rails-to-trail OC&E Woods Line State Trail. The Running Y Ranch Resort boasts an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course and the longest zipline in Oregon. In town, there are shops, restaurants and the Ross Ragland Theater.

Located in Fremont-Winema National Forest, one of Southern Oregon’s most popular recreation areas, Lake of the Woods Resort is ideal for boating, fishing, water skiing and hiking in the warm months, and snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing when the cold weather hits. Add to that cabin lodging, RV camping and an on-site restaurant, and Lake of the Woods Resort makes for an awesome, family-friendly retreat.

This sunny town is one of the region’s culture-rich cities. Satisfy your appetite at farm-fresh restaurants, pick up souvenirs in downtown shops and sample local beer and wine. Of note is DANCIN Vineyards, voted Oregon’s Winery of the Year for 2017. Other can’t-miss attractions include the Natural Bridge Loop trail, a natural land bridge formed by an underground lava tube, and the Harry & David flagship store, where the gourmet gift company leads factory tours.

From February to early November, the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) presents 11 theater performances in three different venues throughout Ashland. There are also educational discussions, lectures and demonstrations to enhance the theater experience.

The designated Wild and Scenic Rogue River is one of Southern Oregon’s most famous and popular natural attractions – even celebrities like Clark Gable and Bing Crosby have vacationed here. Fantastic salmon and steelhead fishing, Class I-V rapids and the 64-kilometer Rogue River hiking trail through spectacular scenery promise something for every fitness level. Stay in Grants Pass or Medford for easy access.

The town of Roseburg was built on the lumber industry, earning it the nickname “The Timber Capital of the Nation.” Today, Roseburg specializes in charming shops, restaurants and wineries. The appeal of Roseburg is its central location to adventures on the Umpqua River that flows right through town, and the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway “Highway of Waterfalls,” a 275-kilometer drive into the Cascade Mountains dotted with beautiful waterfalls.

Southern Oregon was a major thoroughfare during the railroad boom, providing passage for emigrants to the west coast and transportation of lumber and other goods. Ashland, Grants Pass and Medford flourished with the growth of the railroad industry. It’s no wonder, then, that you’ll find the world’s longest miniature railroad and the world’s largest collection of cabooses at Train Mountain in the tiny town of Chiloquin.