Discovering Southern Oregon – June 2026

SUMMER IN SOUTHERN OREGON is all about long, warm days, cool rivers and lakes, outdoor music, mountain scenery, wine country, and small towns that come alive in the evenings. Get your shorts, sandals, sunscreen and sunglasses on, uncover your boats and boards, and enjoy our favorite Summer Outdoor Adventures.

Outdoor Music—One of the Pacific Northwest’s best outdoor music venues is, of course, in Jacksonville.  During a Britt night, the streets of Jacksonville are hopping, and the air is filled with energy—it’s a magical time. Britt is just one part of the outdoor music scene in Jacksonville. In summer, South Stage Cellars moves their stage outdoors, Red Lily Vineyards hosts live concerts on their beach along the Applegate River, Dos Mariposas and Rellik Winery host music. In addition, Daisy Creek Winery, Remotion Tasting Room, Hummingbird Estate, and DANCIN wineries also host outdoor, live music.

Float Down a River—Southern Oregon’s signature river adventures include rafting trips, calm scenic floats, whitewater runs down the Wild & Scenic section of the Rogue River, half-day rafting trips, multi-day wilderness rafting, Jet boat excursions and swimming holes and riverside picnics.

Go Jump in a Lake—When temperatures climb, locals head for the water. Our area has excellent lakes for swimming, paddleboarding, water skiing, kayaking, fishing and boating.  Whether they are small and filled with turtles like Acorn Woman Lakes, at the base of the Siskiyou mountains like Applegate Lake, close by like Emigrant Lake, huge like Lost Creek Reservoir or the majestic high-mountain beauty of Lake of the Woods, all offer a retreat from the summer heat.

Outdoor Dining—It’s a great treat to dine outdoors. In Jacksonville, you can start your day sitting outside with a cup of coffee watching the world go by at Pony Espresso, GoodBean or the McCully House Bakery. For dinner, Lindsay Lodge has a deck overlooking the Applegate River. Bella Union has seating under the shade of a 100-year-old wisteria vine. The Restaurant at Jacksonville Inn has a hidden romantic outdoor patio. McCully House, Las Palmas, La Fiesta and others have patio seating under umbrellas.

Crater Lake National Park—The crown-jewel of Southern Oregon (and one of the more spectacular National Parks) is just 1.5 hours away. The drive is part of the adventure as you travel through the river town of Shady Cove, past Lost Creek reservoir and through Union Creek. Once there, head to the Historic Lake Lodge for lunch. The lake is stunning with its bright blue water and dramatic volcanic cliffs. The deepest point is 1,949 feet, making it the deepest lake in the United States.  Make sure you allow time to drive 33 miles around the rim and stop at the scenic overlook. We would also recommend the additional drive to Pinnacles Overlook.

Jacksonville Wine Trolley—The best way to enjoy the 7 unique wineries within a mile of town is by trolley that runs Friday-Sunday until the fall. From the trolley you can taste wine at 7 wineries including a stunning mansion, alpaca farm, and lavender farm—offering small bites to gourmet food paired with your wine. The trolley takes you through some of the most beautiful farm areas in the valley. When you’re back in Historic Jacksonville, make sure you enjoy outdoor dining at the many restaurants.

Chase Waterfalls along Hwy 138—The North Umpqua corridor is one of Oregon’s best waterfall drives. Summer is ideal because snow has melted but the forests remain lush. Drive up Hwy 62 and at Diamond Lake turn down Hwy 138. There are dozens of waterfalls along the Umpqua River but don’t miss Tokette Falls, Watson Falls and Mill Creek Falls.

Drive to the Redwoods & Coast—The Southern Oregon Coast can have nice weather all year-round, but in summer, it can be an especially nice break when the temperatures in the Rogue Valley exceed 90 degrees or if smoke blows in. The drive through Applegate Valley, Illinois Valley and Smith River alone is stunning and passes through some of the best Redwood groves. Once on the coast, the best destination is the 12-mile stretch of Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on the rugged coastline between the towns of Brookings and Gold Beach. There are about 12 pullouts that lead to overlooks, picnic areas, trails and beaches. Our favorites are Indian Sands, which is on a cliff of sand dunes overlooking the ocean and Secret Beach.

There is so much to do outdoors in Southern Oregon that we have personally decided to take our travel vacations in the winter and staycation all summer long. So, get out there and enjoy all the summer fun.