Let’s Talk Real Estate – August 2022
As Realtors in Southern Oregon for over 20 years, we have met hundreds of families moving into our area from out of state. We quickly become their “go-to” for advice on where to go, what to do, and how to enjoy our great outdoors. We quickly realized that our job was not just selling homes, but selling the Southern Oregon lifestyle. For that reason, we wrote “Discovering Southern Oregon” and published it on our website. The content is divided into twenty-one sections such as hikes, theaters, golf courses, rivers, lakes, drives, and wineries. Every year we discover more and publish more. You can see it all at https://www.expertprops.com/discovering-south-oregon/.
We are now writing a summary of the “Best” in each category, which we began in the June Jacksonville Review, and will continue until completed. It’s time to get out and enjoy a drive to a waterfall or a bike ride that you’ll never forget. Our favorites in each category have been scientifically selected from our subjective opinions.
Best Waterfall: Toketee Falls—The Rogue and the Umpqua are two major rivers in Southern Oregon that begin as springs, seeping out of the base of Mount Mazama and descending over 7,000 feet in their journey to the ocean. They both make their way down rugged volcanic rock and over the years have carved out steep canyons creating the perfect opportunity for creeks to cascade over their canyons, creating dozens of waterfalls. Our favorite waterfall along the Rogue River is actually two waterfalls that you can reach in one short hike. Mill Creek Falls and Barr Creek Falls are 21 miles north of Shady Cove, on Hwy 62. From the parking lot, the trail down to Mill Creek Falls is a short 0.3 miles and Barr Creek Falls is just 0.1 miles further. The hike leads you to the bottom of a canyon where the Rogue River has piled up some huge boulders, creating tunnels, hidden beaches, and some great areas to explore. So, in one hike you get to see the boulders, and two waterfalls. Make sure you make it to Barr Creek Falls, it’s the more attractive of the two and in the fall the colors are spectacular.
The Indian word “Umpqua” means “thundering waters” which does a great job describing the sound of the waterfalls and rapids of the North Umpqua River. In the 50-mile drive between Diamond Lake and Glide there are 8 waterfalls. Our favorite and our vote for the Best Waterfall in Southern Oregon is Toketee Falls. This is a double-waterfall, and it’s the North Umpqua River itself spilling into the Umpqua. The upper fall goes into a bowl suspended halfway up the cliff, and the lower fall spills out of the bowl and plunges 80 feet into a large green inviting pool. The trail to the falls is only 0.4 mile to a viewing platform suspended in mid-air, giving you a view directly into the falls. This is truly a spectacular hike and view. There is also a very steep trail down to the lower pool where you will often see people swimming. This looks like a goat trail, and not a park trail, so I would suggest caution if you take it.
For the Rogue and Umpqua Falls you can find more detail at www.alltrails.com.
Best Bike Trail: High Lakes Trail #6200—Southern Oregon offers some of the best Bike Trails from the coast to the mountains, to the high desert. Oregon pioneered the Scenic Bikeway program and it has paths that showcase gorgeous scenery, history and community. For a leisurely day of exploring, take the Bear Creek Greenway, which follows Bear Creek for 20 miles from the city of Ashland all the way to Seven Oaks I-5 interchange north of Central Point. You can stop at any of the cities along the way: Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, and Central Point and tour them by bike. For the “extreme” cyclist there is the Cascade Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway which climbs 5,000 feet through oak savanna into fir forest on a 55-mile loop.
If bike-packing is your thing, Oregon Timber Trail is a world-class bike-packing destination. The 670-mile backcountry mountain bike route begins south of Lakeview and runs north to the Columbia River Gorge.
Klamath County offers twenty-five mapped cycling routes from easy to extreme, and then there is the Rim Drive of Crater Lake. This is an Oregon must-ride, boasting thirty-three miles of challenging road cycling with a view of Oregon’s crown jewel. Every year the road around the rim is closed to allow a twenty-five mile bike ride around Lake Rim. This year it is on Sept 10th and 17th.
Our vote for the Best Bike Trial in Southern Oregon is the High Lakes Trail. This is an excellent adventure for everyone. You can start at the Great Meadow Snow Park, off of Hwy 140, ride around the marsh area of Lake of the Woods and into Fish Lake. It’s about 20 miles round-trip, cutting through the ominous lava flows of Brown Mountain, crossing the Pacific Crest Trail and traveling along the base of Mt. McLoughlin, the highest peak in Southern Oregon Cascades at 9,494 feet. This trail truly gives you a taste of everything the Cascades have to offer, from prairies to fir forest, from lava flows to snowcapped mountains. We usually stop at Fish Lake, have lunch and then head back. You can also add a tour around Fish Lake or Lake of the Woods.
To be continued next month!