Upper Rogue River
Grab your camera and lace up your hiking boots
Long the indigenous home of the Takelma people, Southern Oregon’s Upper Rogue region serves as an abundant outdoor recreation playground in all seasons. Blanketed by Shasta red fir, western white pine, mountain hemlock and lodgepole pine, a visit to this forested playground will reward adventurers with cool mountain rivers and lakes ideal for rafting and boating, forested trails, and stunning views of the greater Southern Oregon and Northern California landscape from summits such as Mt. McLoughlin and Greyback throughout the Cascades. Well-known as a gateway to Crater National Park, the Upper Rogue is a destination in its own right, with the dramatic geographical history of this region told through its abundant lava rock formations and dramatic waterscapes, all formed by timeless volcanic activity.
Among the Upper Rogue’s treasures are its abundance of hiking trails, mountain biking routes, river access, and lakefront, all of which are easily accessed by highways 62 and 140. Lost Creek Lake, Lake of the Woods, Fish Lake, Union Creek, and the Rogue River all await swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Make Shady Cove, Prospect, Gold Hill, or Medford your home base, or sleep out under the stars. Camping options range from primitive backcountry backpacking to frontcountry county and state-run campgrounds with all the amenities, and the region’s rustic cabin rentals and lodges offer four-season fun that are sure to charm.
The Upper Rogue River Recreation Map is our guide to trails, backroads, campgrounds, historic sites & adventure.
Travel from Shady Cove to Gold Hill
Highway 234 skirts Upper and Lower Table Rocks and drops into scenic Sam’s Valley before reconnecting with the Rogue River at Dramatic Ti’lomikh Falls just north of Gold Hill.
Here mountain bike single track, world-class whitewater, and zip-lining adventures await, all adjacent to a friendly and accessible downtown with easy access to I-5
Lost Creek Lake – Recreation Hub
Only 35 miles from Medford and just a few minutes drive from Shady Cove, Lost Creek Lake offers boating, fishing, and camping, with rainbow and German brown trout, bass, and Coho salmon in abundance. To add to the appeal, the entrance to Crater Lake National Park lies less than an hour away by car.
Among the sugar pines, Prospect serves as a gateway
Busting with historic charm, visitors itching to explore the natural scenery will do well to linger a while to enjoy the small-town charm of the Prospect Store and Prospect Historic Hotel before venturing out.
With World-class outdoor recreation and sightseeing, this waterfall-filled corridor is year-round family fun.
Union Creek serves as a picturesque adventure
In winter, snow blankets this part of the Old Cascades, providing the perfect playground for snowmobile enthusiasts, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, as well as families looking to enjoy a snow day at Farewell Bend sno-park, with its many sledding hills, fire pits, and bathrooms. In summer, the Rogue River dazzles as it winds and tumbles through the natural lava rock tunnels and bridges along its many scenic viewpoints and hiking trails.
Ascend into the Rogue-Cascade divide
As the ranch and farmlands of Eagle Point and its outskirts give way to wilderness, Highway 140 provides Cascade lakes, stunning mountain views, and access to the world-famous PCT.
In a noisy, busy world, Oregon extends a quiet invitation: Come find yourself in our wild places — and please, take care out there. Help preserve the state’s outdoor spaces by following these responsible recreation values: Prepare. Care. Connect. And be sure the pack the 10 ESSENTIALS before you go outside. For more info visit TakeCareOutThere.org
