Scenic Drives
Adventure Through Southern Oregon
Home to several designated Scenic Byways, Southern Oregon is a road-trippers delight with journeys following wild & scenic rivers, wine country, high deserts vistas, and Crater Lake. Find your Southern Oregon Scenic Drives here.
Explore the designated Scenic Byways and cross Southern Oregon in style.
Rogue Valley Routes
Jacksonville
This 24-mile route, travels from Ashland via the Voorhies Mansion, the first pear orchard in Southern Oregon, to the historic city of Jacksonvillle. Known as the first place gold was discovered in Oregon, Jacksonville is one of only eight cities in the U.S. named as a National Historic Landmark. There are 100 historic homes and buildings in Jacksonville, historic site tours by trolley, lodging, shops and restaurants.
Mountain Lakes
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.
Riverside Park-Grants Pass
The highlight of Grants Pass is the mighty Rogue River flowing through town. Riverside Park is located right on the Rogue River and is a wonderful place to picnic and walk along the Rogue. The city is often referred to the “whitewater rafting capital” of Oregon and a mecca for Southern Oregon travel. More than 25 outfitters offer rafting adventures in Grants Pass and nearby Merlin.
Applegate Valley
The Applegate Valley is the middle of three adjacent river valleys extending from the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains along the California border to the Rogue River in the north. These three valleys roughly define the boundaries of the Rogue Valley AVA. In 2001, the application for American Viticultural Area (AVA) status for the Applegate Valley was authorized, making it the sixth official wine region in Oregon State.
Klamath Falls Routes
Northern Klamath Loop
In this 50-mile tour, you’ll travel through Central Oregon’s beautiful Cascade Recreation Area. Begin your tour at the Northern Klamath County Visitor Center in historic Gilchrist. Continue through the towns of Crescent, Crescent Lake Jct. and Chemult, home of the world-class Chemult Sled Dog Race. On your journey you can enjoy high desert mountain beauty, visit the quaint small towns, take in some outdoor recreation, have a picnic and watch wildlife in the woods. Be sure to visit Crescent Creek and Crescent, Odell and Miller Lakes.
2) Lava Beds Loop
In this 50-mile tour, you’ll travel through Central Oregon’s beautiful Cascade Recreation Area. Begin your tour at the Northern Klamath County Visitor Center in historic Gilchrist. Continue through the towns of Crescent, Crescent Lake Jct. and Chemult, home of the world-class Chemult Sled Dog Race. On your journey you can enjoy high desert mountain beauty, visit the quaint small towns, take in some outdoor recreation, have a picnic and watch wildlife in the woods. Be sure to visit Crescent Creek and Crescent, Odell and Miller Lakes.
3) Upper Klamath Loop
In Klamath Falls, enjoy a hike along the Link River, a day of golf or go antiquing. Traveling northwest on Highway 140 frames spectacular views of Upper Klamath Lake. Enjoy a canoe trip through Upper Klamath Wildlife Refuge or take a picnic to Crystal Springs day-use park. Drive north into Wood River Valley and visit the site of a historic military fort in Fort Klamath. Be sure to visit Kimball State Park and take a short hike to the headwaters of the Wood River. Next stop, Collier State Park & Logging Museum for a history lesson on the area located on Highway 97 north of Chiloquin. Proceeding south along the east side of Klamath Lake clear views of Mt. Scott, Mt. McLaughlin and Mt. Shasta.
