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Cities, Towns
Villages & Areas
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6.
The wild and scenic Rogue River...
...the Oregon Caves...
...one of Oregon's "best kept secrets" - Josephine County
...of the REDWOOD EMPIRE
CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES & AREAS
The wild and scenic Rogue River, the Oregon Caves...Oregon's "best kept secrets" - Josephine County
- APPLEGATE VALLEY
- Take William Highway south, off U.S. 199, to wineries and the ApplegateDam.Continue on into historic Jacksonville.
- GALICE
- This historic gold mining town is a popular lunch stop for fishermen andrafters and has great deck entertainmnet.
- GRANTS PASS
- Historic Grants Pass, "Where the Rogue River Runs", is often referred to as the "white water rafting capital" of Oregon. Headquarters for licensedguideswho can outfit one- to four-day trips in rafts, kayaks, driftboats andpaddleboats along the wild and scenic Rogue River. Exhilarating jetboatexcursionsto Hellgate Canyon, where sheer rock walls rise more than 250 feet. Salmonandsteelhead fishing. "Amazing May", a month long eclectic mix of activitieskicks off the summer season The four-day BOATNIK FESTIVAL is held overMemorial Day weekend with a celebration at Riverside Park and a thrilling35-mile hydroboat race to Hellgate Canyon and back. Horse races at GrantsPassDowns. County fair in August. Grants Pass Museum of Art at Riverside Park.Oregon's largest outdoor agricultural "GROWERS MARKET" offers farm freshfruits, vegetables and flowers every Saturday morning from Easter toThanksgiving, and Wednesdays in the summer. Local and Redwood EmpireTravelInformation is available from the Josephine County-Grants Pass VisitorsCenter, Sixth and Midland Streets, on Redwood Highway, just south of theInterstate Highway 5 off-ramp 58 or 55.
- ILLINOIS RIVER STATE PARK
- At the junction of the west and east forks of the Illinois River, sixacres oflawn in a 518-acre park beside Illinois River offer picnic and barbecuefacilities and swimming.CAVE JUNCTIONThe gateway to the Oregon Caves and the center of the pastoral IllinoisRiverValley. Attend the Wild Blackberry Festival in August and the Lion's ClubParade and Labor Day Festival. The Visitors Center is just east of U.S.199 onCaves Highway. Airport, golf course, private wildlife park.
- JOSEPHINE COUNTY PARKS
- Along the Rogue, Illinois and Applegate Rivers, three runs of steelheadattract fishermen in spring, fall and winter. Swimmers, rafters, hikersfindcampsites, picnic spots and boat launching at county-operated parks.Information: 101 N.W. A Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526 (City Hall),503/474-5285.
- KALMIOPSIS WILDERNESS AREA
- This pristine, isolated area in Siskiyou Mountains is rich with botanicalandfloral phenomena, including a shrub that survived the Ice Age, for whichthewilderness area was named. The area also offers hiking, wildflowers,wildlife,lakes, creeks and camping. Information is available from the Galice RangerStation: 503/476-3830.
- KERBY
- The Kerbyville Museum, privately owned and operated, houses and displays early gold mining, logging and local society historical artifacts, and is open March - November. Admission to the museum, house and other attractions on the grounds is $3.00 (.50 for children under 15). Picnic facilities & gift shop. 541-592-5252 or 541-592-6414.
- LAKE SELMAC COUNTY PARK
- At this 160-acre man-made lake in the Illinois River Valley, fish, swim,ridehorseback, camp and hike. No powerboats or water skiing are allowed.Concreteboat ramps and campsite pads are provided. The lake is well-stocked withbassand trout, and has a fish-cleaning facility. 503/474-5285.
- MERLIN
- The little hamlet of Merlin is located northeast of Grants Pass and is the home base for many outfitters and fishing guides. This and the fact that Merlin is close to the 84-mile segment of the Rogue River set aside by Congress under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, is why Merlin is known as the "Gateway To The Wild & Scenic Rogue River."
Also located nearby is the famous Hellgate Canyon (on Galice Hwy.) where the famous "Jump" segment of the movie "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" (starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford) and many other Westerns were filmed. Above Merlin is Grave Creek, the starting point for the 32 mile "wild" section of the Rogue River.
Great Fishing and rafting on the white waters are but some of the activities available in the Merlin area. One of the best hiking trails around is the famous Rogue River Wild and Scenic Trail which starts at Grave Creek above Merlin and runs downstream 40 miles through the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River to Foster Bar. A permit, available by lottery, is required in the summer for floating some sections of the river; contact US Forest Service, River Permits, 14335 Galice Rd., Merlin, OR 97532.
- MURPHY
- O'BRIEN
- South entry point to the Illinois River Valley and Josephine County on Redwood Hwy (U.S. 199). Stop at the O'Brien Country Store or next door to see an old railroad caboose converted to a store.
- OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT
- Caves Highway 46 leads 20 miles to the "Marble Halls of Oregon."Year-roundguided tours through caverns, canyons and corridors (fee). Child care isavailable for those under six (fee). Summer lodging and tour reservationsareavailable from the concessioner.
- ROUGH 'N READY BOTANICAL WAYSIDE
- Midway between O'Brien and Cave Junction, this state wildflower preservecontains a variety of plants not found elsewhere, including Howell'smariposalily, Piper's bluegrass and the Siskiyou butterwort.
- SAVAGE RAPIDS DAM
- Boating and water skiing mid-April through mid-October on a three-milelake,six miles southeast of Grants Pass on Old Highway 99. During spring andsummerseasonal runs, steelhead and salmon climb fish ladders.
- SELMA
- At the flashing light in Selma, visitors and locals use this access to the Illinois River Road. Rafters start their journey at Miami Bar which is the beginning of the Class VI Wild and Scenic Illinois River. Rafter enthusiasts can fill out a self-issuing permit at the Selma Market.
- SOUTHERN OREGON PUBLIC MARKET
- New multi-use facility in the heart of historic downtown Grants Pass. Thelothas 120 parking spaces, tour and RV bus access, pedestrian walk-way andpark,public restrooms, art, and community offerings, depending on the time ofyear.Home of Growers Market two days per week during growing season March toOctober. For more information, call the Grants Pass Visitors andConventionBureau: 503/476-5510 or 800-547-5927.
- SUNNY VALLEY
- Home of the Applegate Interpretive Center. Historic Covered Bridge: fromI-5,north of Grants Pass, take the Sunny Valley exit 71, east on Grave Creek Road.
- TAKILMA
- The Takelma's were the local Native Americans that once lived in the south part of the Illinois River Valley. Just south of Taklima is the Out and About Tree House Resort where people can spend the night sleeping in a number of tree houses.
- WILD AND SCENIC ROGUE RIVER
- Offers legendary salmon and steelhead fishing. Rock walls rise 250 feetabovethe rapids in HELLGATE CANYON. Experienced guides from Merlin, Galice andGrants Pass provide thrills for passengers. Float or boat trips in theWildRiver section (Grave Creek to Illahe) by permit only in season; permitinformation is available from the Galice Ranger Station (503/479-3735).Boating and rafting on the recreational part of the Rogue, Grave CreeknearGrants Pass, requires no permit. The Wild and Scenic River Act of 1968protects miles of magnificent wilderness alongside the river. Hikers canboatpart way, then backpack along primitive trails, enjoying the river fromanother view.
- WILDERVILLE
- Located about 4-5 miles south of Grants Pass, Wilderville is named
for Joseph L. Wilder. A local resident and once postmaster of this community. Post office was changed from Slate Creek to Wilderville on August 12, 1878.
- WINERY LOOP
- Taste wines from Oregon's newest and most promising wine valley at award-winning wineries. From Caves Highway 46, turn right on Holland Loop Road,which loops back to the highway.
- WOLF CREEK
- Historic Wolf Creek Tavern: half-mile west of I-5.
- WONDER
- When the Wonder Store first opened in the late 1800's, local people wondered if it would survive given it's remote location. The store is still
open for business.
CLICK TO FIND:
For other areas of THE REDWOOD EMPIRE, click below:
6.The wild and scenic Rogue River, the Oregon Caves... one of Oregon's "best kept secrets" - Josephine County
5.
Redwoods, Rivers, Seaports and Coastline of California's Humboldt and Del Norte Counties
4.
The dramatic & beautiful Coast, the dynamic inland areas & Wine country of Mendocino County
3.The Lakes and Playgrounds of Clearlake & Lake County
2.The dramatic coastline, the legendary Wine country and progressive cities of Sonoma and Napa Counties
1.Baghdad by the Bay... the beautiful and compelling City of San Francisco and, across the Golden Gate, the magnetic towns and villages and the coastal playgrounds of Marin County
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