Outdoor Recreation

Waterfalls, the North Umpqua, Crater Lake two hours away, the coast an hour and a half, and skiing within three.

Toketee Falls in June

Douglas County calls itself the Land of 100 Waterfalls. The coast, Crater Lake and the redwoods are each within a day's drive.

Waterfalls

Within an easy drive:

Watson Falls
Toketee Falls
Wolf Creek Falls
Susan Creek Falls
Whitehorse Falls
Fall Creek Falls
Grotto Falls
Lemolo Falls

Watson Falls dropping from a basalt cliff into a green, fir-ringed bowl in June, seen from the air — Watson Falls in June

Lemolo Falls pouring out of the forest into a white stream between tall firs in July — Lemolo Falls in July

Watson Falls in March from above, its pool frozen white and the cliff edges under snow — Watson Falls in winter

Hiking and trails

North Umpqua Trail
Waterfall hikes
Mount Thielsen
Crater Lake National Park
Ford's Pond Loop
Cooper Creek Reservoir
Diamond Lake
Lemolo Lake
Umpqua National Forest
Table Rock

A rock peak on a forested ridge above the deep canyon of the North Umpqua River, more ridges fading into August haze — A rock peak above the North Umpqua River canyon in August

The sharp peak of Mount Thielsen rising above a layer of July morning haze, a fir in the foreground — Mount Thielsen above the morning haze in July

The North Umpqua River looping through a deep forested canyon under a bare rock face lit by low November sun — A bend of the North Umpqua River in November

Fishing

The Umpqua Valley is one of the best fisheries in the Pacific Northwest: winter and summer steelhead, Chinook salmon, trout and smallmouth bass. The North Umpqua is known as one of the region's best fly fishing rivers for steelhead and salmon. Other waters:

Main Umpqua River
South Umpqua River
North Fork Umpqua River
Rogue River
Coquille River

The clear green Umpqua River running over riffles and past a gravel bar in a wide forested valley in May — The Umpqua River in May

People ice fishing on frozen Diamond Lake in March under a snow-covered mountain and dark forest — Ice fishing on Diamond Lake in March

The North Umpqua River making a horseshoe loop around a wooded point at Whistlers Bend in May, seen from the air — Whistlers Bend on the North Umpqua River in May

On the water

In summer the rivers are where residents go: floating, paddleboarding, kayaking, whitewater rafting and swimming.

A green steel bridge over the clear turquoise North Umpqua River at Glide in March, forested hills and white clouds behind — The bridge over the North Umpqua River at Glide, March

A wide, calm river bending between green banks at Singleton Park on a clear May day — The river at Singleton Park in May

Skiing and snowboarding

Willamette Pass, 2 hr 15 min
Mount Ashland, 2 hr 15 min
Hoodoo, 3 hr
Mount Bachelor, 3 hr 30 min

Snow among dense firs at Diamond Lake in March, a white peak on the horizon under big clouds — Snow in the forest at Diamond Lake in March

Frozen, snow-covered Diamond Lake under snowy Mount Bailey and a blue March sky — Diamond Lake frozen in March

Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is two hours from Roseburg. Residents go for the day or the weekend: hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and camping.

Wizard Island close up in the blue water of Crater Lake in July, snow still on the caldera walls behind — Wizard Island, Crater Lake, in July

Firs on a grassy slope above Crater Lake on a July morning, Wizard Island soft in the haze — Firs above Crater Lake on a July morning

Crater Lake in March from the snowy rim, deep blue water below a ring of white cliffs — Crater Lake in March snow

Redwood National and State Parks

The redwoods are about three hours away, a weekend trip. Old-growth redwoods, coastal drives, fern-lined trails, elk herds and Pacific beaches.

Oregon Coast

The coast is just over an hour and a half away. Bandon, Coos Bay, Reedsport, Florence and Heceta Head Lighthouse are the usual destinations, for beaches, tide pools, seafood, whale watching, surfing and coastal hikes.

Stargazing

There is little light pollution just outside town, and the skies are dark on clear nights. Several residents do astrophotography.

Northern lights in pink and green over dark fields outside Roseburg on a May night — Northern lights over the fields outside Roseburg, May