Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway
Waterfalls and Scenic Drives Along the Rogue Umpqua.
| Departure: | Roseburg, Oregon |
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| Destination: | Gold Hill, Oregon |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Along this byway are rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls and natural wonders.
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Start: Roseburg
Serving as the northern portal to the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway at Interstate-5, Roseburg is a full-service community and the largest town along the route.
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Stop 2: Glide
Directions from previous place: Drive south on NE Lincoln St., turn right onto NE Jackson St., then left onto NE Diamond Lake Blvd. Follow the road for 16.1 miles, then turn left onto Glide Loop Dr. Turn right onto Alexander Lane to end in Glide, home to Colliding Rivers and many other attractions.
Distance from Previous Site: 16.7 miles / 26.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 27 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 15 minutes Located near the junction of Little River and the North Umpqua River, this community sports several businesses, a visitors information center, and the North Umpqua Ranger Station.
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Stop 3: Idleyld Park
Directions from previous place: Drive southeast on Alexander Lane, turn left onto N. Umpqua Hwy and continue for 4.3 miles before ending at Idleyld Park.
Distance from Previous Site: 4.62 miles / 7.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 8 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes This small river community is centered around fishing and tourism and is situated along a very beautiful stretch of the North Umpqua River. Spend part of the day here shopping for mementos of your trip.
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Stop 4: Soda Springs
Directions from previous place: Drive east on N. Umpqua for 34 miles before turning left onto NF-4775. After 1.1 miles, turn left at end at Soda Springs.
Distance from Previous Site: 35.8 miles / 57.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 51 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes This area provides visitors hiking access to the North Umpqua Trail and the Boulder Creek Wilderness, a hydropower dam, a Chinook salmon holding facility and a wonderful view for photographing a lichen-covered cliff comprised of rock basalt columns.
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Stop 5: Toketee
Directions from previous place: Drive east for .5 miles before turning right onto NF-4775. Drive for 1.1 miles, turn left onto OR-138 and continue for another 1.9 miles before turning left onto Toketee School Road to end at Toketee Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 4.38 miles / 7.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 9 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes See for yourself how Chinook word for 'pretty' or 'graceful' describes this area. Take a day to walk around the area and take in the cascading waters of the Tokette Falls, or stop by the Umpqua Hot Springs.
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Stop 6: Watson Falls
Directions from previous place: Drive south on Tokette School Rd and turn left onto OR-138. After 4.2 miles, turn right onto NF-37 to end at Watson Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 5.19 miles / 8.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 8 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Watson Falls is the third highest waterfall in Oregon State and the highest in southwestern Oregon. This majestic waterfall plunges 272 feet over the edge of a basalt lava flow.
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Stop 7: Whitehorse Falls
Directions from previous place: Drive east on NF-37 and turn right onto OR-138. After 4.7 miles, turn left to end at Whitehorse Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 5.1 miles / 8.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 8 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Whitehorse Falls is next to 5-site Whitehorse Falls Campground on the Clearwater River. On location at the parking lot, this 15 foot falls is immediately visible.
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Stop 8: Clearwater Falls
Directions from previous place: Drive south and turn left onto OR-138, after 3.6 miles turn right to end at Clearwater Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 4.19 miles / 6.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 7 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Walk up the Clearwater River to see this 30-40 foot cascade of white water. The falls cascade over moss-covered rocks and logs. It is a breath-taking and picture-perfect view. Take a short break to picnic or a set up your gear for the night and camp.
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Stop 9: Diamond Lake Recreation Area
Directions from previous place: Drive west on the road and turn right onto OR-138 and continue for 9.0 miles. Turn right onto Diamond Lake Loop and stay straight to go onto NF-4795. After .5 miles, turn right onto NF-025 to end at Diamond Lake.
Distance from Previous Site: 10.48 miles / 16.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 17 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Diamond Lake is one of the largest US Forest Service recreation camping facilities in the Pacific Northwest, with year round selection of diverse recreation, including snowmobiling in the winter.
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Stop 10: Crater Rim Viewpoint
Directions from previous place: Drive south onto NF-025 and turn left onto NF-4795, after .5 miles, continue onto Diamond Lake Loop Rd, then turn right onto OR-138. After 7.1 miles, turn right onto OR-232 and drive for 9.2 miles. Turn left onto Rim Dr. East to end at Crater Rim Viewpoint.
Distance from Previous Site: 18.03 miles / 28.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes For a panoramic view of the mountains surrounding Crater Lake National Park, Crater Rim Viewpoint provides one of the best spots. Take out your cameras to immortalize the beautiful scenery of Crater Rim.
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Stop 11: Crater Lake National Park
Directions from previous place: Drive west on Rim Dr. East and turn left to go onto Rim Dr. West. Turn right to stay on the road, which becomes Munson Valley Rd. After 3.4 miles, turn right and go onto OR-62 and drive for 9.1 miles to end at Crater Lake National Park-W.
Distance from Previous Site: 22.3 miles / 35.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 39 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours One of the Cascade's finest features, this huge caldera resulted from the cataclysmic explosion of Mt. Mazama 7,700 years ago. Take the 33-mile Rim Drive around the caldera, or hike down to Cleetwood Cove Trail to catch a boat ride on the deep blue water for which Crater Lake is world-renown.
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Stop 12: Natural Bridge
Directions from previous place: Drive west on OR-62 for 6.2 miles, then turn left to stay on the road. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto Road 400, road turns into Road 401. Turn left and then left again onto road 410. Turn right to stay on the road and then left to go onto Rogue Gorge Trail 1034A. After 1.4 miles, end at Natural Bridge.
Distance from Previous Site: 10.02 miles / 16.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes The Rogue River cuts its way through a 1.25 million year old lava flow and disappears underground at one point to come gushing out of a lava tube. While at Natural Bridge, take advantage of the full range of interpretive, camping, and hiking opportunities.
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Stop 13: Prospect
Directions from previous place: Drive north on Rogue Gorge Trail 1034A for 1.4 miles, turn right onto Road 410 then left to stay on the road. Turn right, then right again, road turns into Road 400. Turn right onto OR-62 and drive for 10.6 miles, then turn left onto Mill Creek Dr. Turn left onto Red Blanket Rd. to end at Prospect.
Distance from Previous Site: 13.78 miles / 22.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Prospect is a small historic logging community, and the site of a restored historic hotel and dinnerhouse. Take a walk from the boundaries and see the natural features the surround the town like waterfalls and cascading waters.
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Stop 14: Mill Creek Falls
Directions from previous place: Drive west on Red Blanket Rd. and turn left onto Mill Creek Dr to end at Mill Creek Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.57 miles / 0.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Plunging 174 feet into the Upper Rogue River, Mill Creek Falls and nearby Barr Creek Falls are reached by an easy .3 mile trail.
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Stop 15: Joseph Stewart State Park
Directions from previous place: Drive southwest on Mill Creek Dr., turn right onto Prospect Access Rd., then left onto OR-62. Follow OR-62 for 6.1 miles to end at Joseph Stewart State Park-E Entrance.
Distance from Previous Site: 7.42 miles / 11.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 9 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Joseph Stewart State Park is a large Oregon State Park. For those that want to give their boats a spin, the park has a nice, long boat launch, and if you want to take a bite to eat or pick up supplies, there also offered is a cafe and store.
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End: Gold Hill
Directions from previous place: Drive southwest on OR-62 for 6.0 miles, then turn left onto Crowfoot Rd. After 7.7 miles, turn right onto Butte Falls Rd and drive for 7.6 miles. Turn left onto Crater Lake Hwy and then right onto OR-234; drive for 15.0 miles and continue straight as road turns into 4th Ave. End at Gold Hill.
Distance from Previous Site: 37.46 miles / 59.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 44 minutes Gold was discovered in 1860 in the community of Gold Hill, and a railroad was added in 1887 with the town being incorporated in 1895. Gold Hill provides most visitor services including gas, groceries, restaurants, guided fishing and rafting trips and boat launch facilities on the Rogue River. There is a central City Park that has a grassy place to relax and playground equipment for children.
