Seek rejuvenation in the beauty of Southern Oregon’s winter landscape.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution to get outside more this winter and to prioritize personal wellness? With access to some of Oregon’s finest natural areas, spas, healthy dining and world-class wine, Southern Oregon has gorgeous offerings for winter escapes that blend natural wonders with rejuvenating wellness activities. Better yet, the Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford has quick flights from Portland, Los Angeles and San Francisco for a weekend getaway. Here are some of the many cozy options.
Cozy Cabins and Snow Adventures
Grab your snow clothes and head to Crater Lake National Park, an ideal destination for outdoor winter activities. You can use Medford as your home base, heading to a hotel before driving the gorgeous 65 miles to the park. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is known for its pristine blue water as well as for the 42 feet of snow it receives on average each year. Here, find opportunities near and around the park for your winter getaway.
Although you can’t stay in the park in the winter months, there are a number of easy and accessible snowshoeing and winter hiking trails at the park. If you’d like to learn about the region’s flora and fauna, take a ranger-guided snowshoe walk, two-hour guided loops on medium to strenuous trails. There are many incredible viewpoints along the way to witness the grandeur of the frozen landscape.
After a day of exploring the winter trails at Crater Lake, treat yourself to a meal at Beckie’s Cafe in nearby Prospect, a mainstay in the area since 1926. Minutes from the park, Beckie’s bakes fresh pies daily and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Choose to stay near the park at the historic Prospect Hotel — with 5 acres of grounds near the Rogue River, a seasonal restaurant and nearby waterfall walks — in Prospect. Other options are to stay at the cozy winter cabins or lodge at Union Creek Resort or to make Medford your base camp, roughly an hour-and-15-minute drive from the park.
For more winter recreation, explore Diamond Lake Resort north of Crater Lake, a historic resort area where families can even stay in cabins in the snow. Diamond Lake has over 40 miles of cross-country skiing along with ice fishing, snowmobiling and snow tubing. You can even ski the mile distance to South Shore Pizza, or rent the snowcat for traveling in ease.
Farm Stays and Wellness Retreats
If you’re looking to create your own DIY wellness retreat, there’s nothing like waking up on a farm with ample time to renew and revitalize. Cedar Bloom in the Illinois Valley, with the nearest town of Cave Junction, hosts uniquely beautiful A-frame cabins and two geodesic domes overlooking the Illinois River. Located on 100 acres, the sites are spread throughout the landscape of mixed forest and meadows, perfect for contemplative walks. Those who stay have access to a commercial kitchen, a camp store and a sauna.
Or head over to the Applegate Valley and stay at Yale Creek Ranch for a farm retreat in the Siskiyou Mountains. Offering a number of rustic cabins spread throughout the 125 acres of pastures and woodlands, the retreat includes an outdoor fire pit, eco-toilets and on-demand hot showers. The ranch is in the heart of wine country so plan a day visiting local vineyards like Valley View Winery or Wild Wines, which has a selection of handcrafted wines made from flowers and berries. Stock your cabin with organic snacks from the Whistling Duck Farm Store. Nearby, you can hike the Sterling Mine Ditch trail for a historic walk along a former waterway serving the mine.
Yoga, Spa Treatments and Hot Springs
For the ultimate wellness weekend, head to Ashland for an urban wellness retreat. Start with a yoga class at Ashland Hot Yoga. You’ll love the soaking and sauna, but be sure to add on a massage or a trip to the tea room at Chozu Bath & Tea Gardens, a Japanese-inspired hot spring featuring a cold plunge, hot pools, steam baths and a dry sauna.
A quick drive from Ashland’s downtown, the Lithia Springs Resort has bungalows, suites and rooms available with thermal hot springs piped into soaking tubs. Stroll through the gardens or book a massage or facial at the Waterstone Spa on-site. Build your own bowl of whole grains and vegetables at Sauce Whole Food Cafe, or linger over top-shelf sushi and an excellent wine list at Nama.
Another option for a relaxing treatment is the River Rock Spa at Seven Feathers Casino & Resort in Canyonville, just under 30 miles south of Roseburg.
