Northern County Loop, Klamath Lake Upper Loop, and Lava Beds Loop

Northern County Loop
54 miles of spectacular mountain beauty in Central Oregon's High Desert. All seasons offer great recreation opportunities. Begin in chemult and see Miller Lake, then drive north to Hwy. 58. Crescent Lake and Odell Lake are fishing havens; current events can be obtained at the Willamette Pass Visitor Center. Double back to Crescent Lake Junction to Crescent Road to visit Crescent and Historic Gilchrist.

Highlights:
- Chemult Ranger District
- Crescent/Odell Lakes
- Willamette Pass Visitor Center
- Gilchrist (the only "company owned" town in Oregon)

Klamath Lake Upper Loop
From Klamath Falls, a 93-mile loop encompassing nature trails, trophy fishing spots,canoe trips through a refuge, Mares Eggs botanical area, an extra loop to Crater Lake.Then, stop by the Fort Klamath Museum or collier Logging Museum for a history lesson.Return via the Klamath Tribe office and museum.

Highlights:
- Howard Bay
- Klamath Canoe Trail
- Mares Eggs Springs
- Fort Klamath Museum
- Collier State Park

Lava Beds Loop
South from Klamath Falls for a 110-mile loop including Bald Eagles, the Applegate Immigrant Trail and National Wildlife Refuge on Highway 161. Explore the caves at Lava Beds National Monument, site of the Modoc Indian War, 1872-73. Return to Klamath Falls via Hwy 39.

Highlights:
- Applegate Trail Monument
- Tulelake National Refuge Headquarters
- Captain Jack's Stronghold
- Petroglyphs

Winchester Bay
This three-mile tour begins at Highway 101 and Salmon Harbor Drive and headswest into Winchester Bay. Charter boats are available for salmon and bottomfishing, and for whale watching in season. Crab can be caught off the dock inthe harbor. Bass, perch and cod can be caught off the jetty one mile west onSalmon Harbor Drive. The beach, one mile south of the jetty, is a great place tocollect driftwood. Return to Highway 101 past the Umpqua Lighthouse and whalewatching lookout. The Coastal Visitor Center near the lighthouse is open Maythrough September, Wednesday through Sunday. This route returns you to thehighway through the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. Estimated travel time: 1 hour.

Highlights:
- Salmon Harbor
- Umpqua Lighthouse
- Campgrounds
- Umpqua Whale Watching Platform
- Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
- Umpqua River Jetty
- Coastal Visitor Center
- Beaches

Charleston Harbor / Seven Devils Loop

This four mile loop tour can take you about three hours, or as long as you like. Begin at either the North Bend Information Center/Coos County Historical Museum or the Coos Bay Information Center/Oregon International Port of Coos Bay. Work your way along the route to the quaint fishing village of Charleston at the mouth of the Bay. You will be able to fish from a dock, engage in clamming or crabbing or take a charter boat. A short sidetrip west from Charleston will take you to Bastendorff Beach and Sunset Bay Parks where you can beachcomb, explore tide pools and view spectacular sunsets. This trip also takes you to historic Shore Acres Gardens. Enjoy panoramic views of Cape Arago Lighthouse. Then after this side trip, proceed south to Bandon, stopping at the South Slough Estuarine Sanctuary Interpretive Center along the way. Estimated travel time: 3 hours.

Highlights:
- International Port of Coos Bay
- Coos County Historical Museum
- Charleston - Bay views, ocean and dock fishing
- Cape Arago Lighthouse
- Shore Acres Historical Gardens (State Park)
- Bastendorff Beach and Parks
- South Slough Estuarine

This five-mile tour can take you just a few minutes, or if you prefer you can make a real outing of it. Start with a short walking tour of historic Old Town Bandon. The drive starts by traveling along the Coquille River to the Coquille River Museum located in the historic Coast Guard building. The South Jetty County Park is along the route for picnicking,and offers many easy access points to the beach. A lighthouse can be seenfrom the park. The route returns to Highway 101 via Face Rock Viewpoint State Park. Estimated travel time: 2 hours.

Highlights:
- Old Town Bandon
- Coquille River Museum
- South Jetty County Park
- Historic Lighthouse
- Beach Access
- Face Rock Viewpoints State Park
- Bullards Beach State Park

Powers Route
This 100-mile loop tour takes you through the country that made Oregon famous. From an ocean view at Gold Beach, the route travels to the small rural community of Powers. The route parallels the Rogue River. The Illinois River joins the Rogue at the small community of Agness. The rivers form a gorge of unsurpassed beauty. There is abundant wildlife, plus recreational opportunities,including whitewater rafting and boating, hiking along the Rogue River trail and excellent fishing. Upon reaching Highway 42 the route travels through Myrtle Point and Coquille. The route then courses down the broad, meandering Coquille River Valley. Highway 42-S is a State of Oregon Scenic Highway. The route ends at Bandon on Highway 101. Ten miles of the route is gravelled, with some narrow, single lane sections to watch for. Estimated travel time: one day.

Highlights:
Historic Highway 101 Bridge
National Wild and Scenic Illinois River
Camping and Picnic Sites
National Wild and Scenic Rogue River
Recreational Opportunities/Hiking, Rafting
Fishing, Salmon and Steelhead
Scenic Coquille River Valley

This 40- mile tour takes you to several mountain lakes, including Hyatt and Howard Prairie Lakes. There are opportunities to fish, boat or canoe, and rental services are available at many of the lakes. This tour is especially well-suited to the nature lover, and photographic opportunities abound.Estimated travel time: 2 hours.

This 40-mile tour takes you through Grants Pass and the quaint communities of Applegate, Ruch and Murphy. Wine tasting is available at Valley View Winery near Ruch. Jacksonville, known for being a NationalLandmark City, features over 85 historic buildings and homes. This routetakes you back through the countryside and rejoins Interstate 5 at CentralPoint (Exit 32). Estimated travel time: 3 hours.

Highlights
- Hyatt Lake
- Emigrant Lake
- Howard Prairie Lake
- Camping
- Fishing
- Boating/canoeing
- Rustic Resorts/Restaurants
- Waterslide

This 24-mile route travels from Ashland through the Rogue Valley'sper and apple orchards on your way to the historic city of Jacksonville.Known as the first place gold was discovered in Oregon, Jacksonville isone of the only eight cities in the U.S. named as a National Historic Landmark.There are 85 historic homes and buildings in Jacksonville, old-time trolleytours, lodging, shops and restaurants. Estimated travel time: 2 hours.
Highlights
1. Pear and Apple Orchards
2. Jacksonville, Historic Landmark Town
3. Jacksonville Museum of Southern Oregon History
4. Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides
5. Old Time Trolley Tours
6. Peter Britt Music Festival
7. Oregon Shakespeare Festival
8. Historic Lithia Park
9. Pacific Northwest Museum of Natural History.

Rogue/Umpqua Scenic Byway

This 180-mile tour takes you past Diamond Lake, along the wild Umpqua and Rogue rivers with their riffles and pools that sport world-class trout and steelhead fly fishing, and to waterfalls, parks and campgrounds. Follow the National Byway signs along this special Discovery Drive. Estimated travel time: Full day.

Highlights
1. Colliding Rivers
2. The Narrows
3. Waterfalls, including Susan Creek Falls,Fall Creek Falls, Jack Falls
4. Diamond Lake
5. Lemolo Lake
6. Wilderness areas/trails
7. Mt. Thielsen Views
8. Crater Lake National Park
9. Upper Rogue Regional Park

Umpqua Valley Winery Route

You can visit six wineries on this 35-mile drive in the beautifulUmpqua Valley. You can taste award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling as well as unique blends. Tasting rooms are open most of the year, and many wineries offer picnic facilities. This tour also brings you to the River Forks Park, an excellent place for picnicking and water activities. The Wildlife Safari Game Park is also en route, where you can see exotic animals right from your car. Follow the blue and white "Winery Tour Route" signs. Ask for a detailed map of the route from any of the wineries or the Roseburg Chamber of Commerce. Estimated travel time: 6 hours. If you prefer you can break this up into two shorter loop trips.

Highlights:
1. Wildlife Safari Game Park
2. Callahan Ridge Winery
3. Girardet Wine Cellars
4. Lookingglass Winery
5. Hillcrest Vineyard
6. Umpqua Valley Winery
7. Henry Winery
8. River Forks Park
9. La Garza Cellars

This 140-mile route travels along Highway 66, one of Oregon's "Historic and Scenic" highways. Pine and fir forests along the route open to reveal small sub-alpine meadows and vistas. Turning northwest the route(Highway 140) skirts Klamath Lake. Lake of the woods and Fish Lake as wellas seven U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds are situated near the summit ofthe Cascades on this route. The southern Cascade Route returns to Interstate5 heading west and then south on Highway 62. Estimated travel time: Fullday.

Highlights:
1. Emigrant Reservoir
2. Historic/Senic Highway 66
3. Klamath Lake
4. Lake of the Woods
5. Fish Lake
6. Camping
7. Fishing
8. Boating

This 44-mile tour begins in the heart of the Illinois Valleyat Cave Junction. Route 46 through the Siskiyou National Forest takes you to Oregon Caves National Monument. Food and lodging are available in the lodge located steps from the caves. Upon leaving the Oregon Caves travel back on Highway 46 to Siskiyou Winery. Turn south on Holland Loop Road and continue to Foris Winery and Bridgeview Winery. Estimated travel time: 3 hours.

Highlights:
1. Bridgeview Winery
2. Siskiyou Winery
3. Foris Winery
4. Oregon Caves National Monument
5. Woodland Echoes
6. Cave Junction Visitor Center
7. Grayback Forest Service Campground.

Grand Tour #1

Start from Interstate 5 near the Oregon border (you can enter the Grand Tour at any point), leave Interstate 5 at Exit 40 in Gold Hill and head north on Hwy. 234, to Highway 62 (the Crater Lake Highway). The route ascends to the rim of Crater Lake. Leaving the Park by the "northgate" the route (Hwy 138) skirts Diamond Lake and descends alongside the North Umpqua River and past waterfalls named Coolwater, Watson, and Toketee.

Content provided by the Southern Oregon Visitor's Association Website.