Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway
Traveling the Road to Paradise

When Dr. Jason Heald, of Roseburg, Oregon, penned the words to the song, "The Road to Paradise," in honor of the Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway, little did he know that he would inspire a Jaguar car tour to wind its way in October through "every curve and swale" in order "to find the time, to see nature in detail."

"The Golden Leaf Tour," an activity of the Jaguar Owners Club of Oregon, was launched in Southwest Oregon, a 250-mile rendezvous with the road. The happy faces and joyful spirits of these motoring enthusiasts were not squelched by the rain, the overcast skies or the coolness. Instead, recent rains had lifted the level of rivers, increased the abandon of waterfalls pouring forth in generous proportions and enriched the greens, reds and yellows of autumn foliage.

Warm and friendly mountain lodges provided social interaction opportunities for drivers and passengers, coupled with gourmet meals, prepared with care, for which the establishments were known.

This was not just a Sunday afternoon drive. This was a dedicated 2-day outing and overnight retreat with sightseeing of waterfalls, hiking the Western Oregon forests, and the chance to take a guided pontoon boat tour on Diamond Lake. A highlight was the drive to Crater Lake Rim on the Volcanic Legacy All-American Road to an elevation of 7100 feet above sea level. With lunch at Crater Lake National Park in the Historic Crater Lake Lodge, they watched a few snowflakes descend in the cool mountain air, signaling the official passage of fall.

The Union Creek Historic District, built in the 1930s during the era of the Civilian Conservation Corps, beckoned with its lower elevation and fresh huckleberry pie. Then, despite the rain, the thundering waters of the Rogue Gorge and unique, underground, river at Natural Bridge, called to the drivers to take a break and see nature’s power close-up. That's where Jason's song echoed in the minds of the people as they sought "to find the time, to see nature in detail."

"The road to paradise isn't always a straight line" -- and the road to happiness isn't always straight, either. I think Jason would be proud to know he set the tone for a heart-warming and inspirational journey on the Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway for twenty-six adventurers. Like the unfurling petals of a newborn plant, nature has a way of lifting the wings of the human spirit -- and filling the soul with song. The national scenic byway is a grand avenue toward that end: "The road to paradise."

Read the lyrics to this song here.

For more information about Southwest Oregon, visit www.VisitRoseburg.com. For more information about the Jaguar Owners Club of Oregon, visit www.JOCO.org.

Photo Credits

Other Stories

  • Raft Wild & Scenic Rivers on Oregon's Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway

    Come do some rafting where two rivers collide head-on—in Glide, Oregon, on the northern piece of the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway. Experience a wild ride or a gentle float on the mountain waterways of this scenic byway.

    [Read more]

  • The Road Through Paradise

    My days start before the rising sun/ Appointments to be made and bills must be paid-/ A million projects screaming to get done./ It's life where time is always in demand./ Where non-stop is the pace, count the deadlines that I face-/ With every minute occupied and planned./

    [Read more]

  • Pacific Crest Trail

    It's a unique vacation that begins in a Mexican desert at its hottest and ends smack-dab in the middle of a Canadian winter, but those who travel the Pacific Crest Trail take pride in their uniqueness. A thru-hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail learns a new reckoning for time, distance, and even...

    [Read more]

  • Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway Overview

    Travel high and deep into the Cascade Mountains of Oregon when you drive the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, more commonly known as the "highway of waterfalls."

    [Read more]