Tiller Wigwam

Tiller Oregon is located in Douglas County, about an hours drive southeast of Roseburg. It's on the South Umpqua River, and I'm pretty sure I've been through there -- when I was significantly younger than I am now. It is definitely off the beaten path. That's why I'm delighted that Wade Rhodes shared these photos …

Loon Lake: Hwy 38

Loon Lake sits off of Highway 38, between Reedsport and Elkton. For many years as a young child, I traveled that road with my family while my Dad fished out of Winchester Bay. And for all those years, the turn off to Loon Lake has intrigued me. Several years ago, my partner and I pulled …

Susan Creek Falls: Hwy 138

Heading east from Roseburg, waterfalls dot Highway 138 and the North Umpqua River. Personally, I think the road from Glide to Diamond Lake should be called the "waterfall highway." As an extra bonus, the hikes into many of these waterfalls are relatively short and the trailheads are easy to get to. A couple weeks ago, …

Eel Lake: Winchester Bay

I know that many people go to the coast specifically to walk the beach -- and I love the beach too -- but I also like walking through the coastal forests with its salal and rhododendrons filling in the understory. While at the coast a couple weeks ago, we stopped by Eel Lake to explore. Eel …

Elkton Oregon: Wine Tastes Different Here

  Fall is here and, for me, it brings thoughts of wine tasting. Over the past 25 years or so, I feel like I've had a front row seat to the blossoming Oregon wine industry. With family and friends I've sampled wine in historic buildings in downtown Hood River, up dusty lanes lined with oak …

Tempranillo Trail

For the past 20-some years, our Thanksgiving weekend traditions have involved a day of wine tasting. Early on, we spent a lot of time in the Willamette Valley, especially the lower and mid-valley wineries, but we've ventured as far north as Dundee. Lately, though, with the current popularity of Thanksgiving weekend wine tasting, we have …

Watson Falls

Dropping 293 feet, Watson Falls is the highest waterfall in Southwestern Oregon. We visited the waterfall at the end of our annual BFF camping weekend along the North Umpqua River this summer. Prior to our trip, I had seen some spectacular pictures of the near-by Toketee Falls, but I did not know much about Watson …

Toketee Falls

When my friend and I started planning our camping trip up the North Umpqua River earlier this month, I knew one thing – I wanted to see Toketee Falls. I’ve been captivated by this waterfall since the first time I saw a photograph of it. However, as we were walking in on the .4 mile …

Hiking the North Umpqua Trail

Every summer I get together with my old college roommate for our annual BFF camping trip. Since my friend lives in Klamath Falls and I live in Cottage Grove, we find a campground roughly halfway between us and plan to spend 24 hours hiking, swimming, talking, and laughing together. Over the years, we’ve camped at …

Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden: Reedsport

Earlier this month we headed to Reedsport to experience something new, the O.H. Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden. Located 3 miles east of Reedsport on Highway 38, the garden is currently being restored by a joint partnership between the BLM and the “Friends of Hinsdale Garden.” This hidden treasure was a labor of love for one man, …