Category Archives: Chasing Waterfalls

Rogue Umpqua Scenic Byway ~ Take Two

We explored the Rogue Umpqua Scenic Byway in two trips. First one, after attending a conference in Ashland, Oregon, we choose to head home via the Rogue River section of the Rogue Umpqua Scenic Byway. Due to a very snowy winter we were unable to explore as much as we’d like. Another trip we explored the Umpqua River leg of this incredibly scenic byway through the Oregon Cascades. Read about that in a previous post.

From Ashland: We caught Hwy 62 at Medford, Oregon, and headed east toward Prospect and the Historic Hotel and Dinner House where we planned to stay the night. The route ascends into the Rogue River canyon, into old-growth firs and lava flows. First stop, Butte Falls and then we traveled Butte Falls – Prospect Road to Prospect. Spent the night in The Prospect Hotel’s motel units as we were traveling with our dog. Next morning we explored the beauty surrounding the Prospect Hotel, a few waterfalls, geocaches, roaring rivers and creeks.

Said goodbye to Fred and Karen and continued travel on Hwy 62 toward Chiloquin. Stopped at the observation platform overlooking the Rogue Gorge, a collapsed lava tube where the river now courses through a 25-foot-wide, 40-foot-deep chasm or the Natural Bridge interpretive site that explains how the river disappears through an underground lava tube, forming a land bridge. Had a nice lunch at Becky’s Cafe in Union Creek. Unfortunately, there were a few more waterfalls we just couldn’t get into with the feet of snow. We’ll be back.

Prospect Historic Hotel and Dinner House is Crater Lake’s closest full service town and would be a perfect spot to refuel the body and soul while exploring Crater Lake and the Rogue – Umpqua Scenic Byway.  Built in 1888 as a stagecoach stop half-way between the Rogue Valley and Crater Lake, this Nationally Registered Historic Hotel has been restored to all of its glory. After a hearty breakfast set off to enjoy this breathtaking tour through the thickly forested southern Cascades.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hospitality Update: Oregon is one of the top states where it looks like social distancing is working. Our inns have been proactively doing everything in our power to keep you safe, welcome you back, when you’re ready to travel again. Not sure if your favorite inn is open? Give them a call as they just might be.

C.H. Bailey House

C.H. Bailey House is nestled in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley wine country. It’s Brenner Suite is a private luxurious “green” bungalow with a kitchen, queen-sized bed with luxurious linens, bathroom with walk-in shower, living room with gas fireplace, walk-in closet. Complimentary local wine and beer, and breakfast is included in the ADA accessible suite. 

The historic C.H. Bailey House and barn, built in 1909, and the beautifully manicured grounds offer a truly extraordinary romantic setting for your wedding or any other special celebration. You will find lots of idyllic country views, numerous places to sit, read, relax, chat, eat, drink, and be very merry. There are two groomed Italian bocce courts; play with a glass of wine or beer in your hand!

Day trips from C.H. Bailey House takes you to dozens of hiking trails and waterfalls along the famous Umpqua River. Visit award winning wineries and breweries, drive through world-renowned Wildlife Safari, or just relax and rejuvenate.

C.H. Bailey House can be your starting, or ending, place while touring the Rogue – Umpqua Scenic Byway. More commonly known as the ‘highway of waterfalls’, the Rogue – Umpqua Scenic Byway ascends from I-5 into the southern Cascades, tracking two of Oregon’s most storied rivers.’ From Gold Hill on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon or from Roseburg on the Umpqua River 85 miles north you’re only moments from enjoying this spectacular route. Follow the “Wild and Scenic” Umpqua and Rogue rivers through enchanting recreation areas in the heart of the southern Cascades.’

“Absolutely perfect….more than 5 Stars! I seldom write reviews for anything, but our stay at the CHBH is worth writing about. The occasion was our 30th Wedding Anniversary, so everything had to be perfect.” a Tripadvisor contributor.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hospitality Update: Oregon is one of the top states where it looks like social distancing is working. Our inns have been proactively doing everything in our power to keep you safe, welcome you back, when you’re ready to travel again. Not sure if your favorite inn is open? Give them a call as they just might be.

McKenzie River Koosah Falls

Expedia released, in November, its 2020 Trends in Travel report, an analysis of U.S. traveler data in 2019 that highlighted the rise of natural wonders and college towns as tourism destinations and top-selling experiences and attractions for the year ahead.

2020 Travel Trends waiting for you

Travelers were chasing waterfalls in 2019: According to Wiki are at least 238 accessible waterfalls in Oregon. A search for Oregon waterfalls on Northwest Waterfall survey resulted in 1591! Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?

Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon and only 20 miles southeast of Salem, our state capital with 9,000+ acres that includes more than 24 miles of walking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, and a 4-mile bike path. And 18 waterfalls! The 8.7-mile Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and has 4 walk behind falls.

Hidden beaches up and down the Oregon Coast: Make your visit to the Oregon coast memorable and special with a stay in one of our member bed and breakfasts along “The Peoples Coast, one of 7 Wonders of Oregon

Natural wonders? Yep, we have quite a few. We invite you to not just see Oregon’s 7 Wonders, but experience them. And there are so many more than just Seven. They aren’t just for taking pictures. You really need to get out of the car, hike down from the scenic vista and feel them beneath your feet.

Small college towns near outdoor attractions like hiking and biking trails grew in popularity in 2019. The type of places where there’s energy and stimulation, great restaurants, where you can walk around at night and where there are tons of outdoor recreation options. Here are the best college towns in Oregon for 2019 highlighting those that have member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild:

Activities and attractions are often the top considerations when travelers are choosing where to go and where to stay. Oregon is a beautiful state with stunning natural and architectural wonders. If you are planning a trip anywhere this year, take a few minutes to consider these places to visit in Oregon.

Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls is the most visited recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with 2 million stopping each year to take in the views, making it to where a visiting the falls can be challenging. As a local innkeeper I suggest visiting the falls on either ends of the day and midweek to beat the crowds. I also suggest taking the time to hike the 6 miles Wahkeena/Multnomah Falls loop so as to ‘discover’ 6 more waterfalls, if you indeed love to chase waterfalls.

Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies, usually it’s highest during winter and spring. Multnomah Falls offers one of the best places in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to study geology exposed by floods. Five flows of Yakima basalt are visible in the falls’ cliff face. The geocache ‘What’s Behind Multnomah Falls’, GC14VG2, studies the different types of exposed basalt layers.

You can Chase Waterfalls with us by subscribing to this blog, follow us on Pinterest, and on our Facebook Page. According to Wiki there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon!  I’m guessing even more than that. Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them? With 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge alone, we’ve set out to find them all plus those in the nearby Mt Hood National Forest, Washington and beyond. And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

Choose an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member in Portland or the Columbia River Gorge as your home base while chasing these waterfalls

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Silver Falls State Park

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Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon and only 20 miles southeast of Salem, our state capital with 9,000+ acres that includes more than 24 miles of walking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, and a 4-mile bike path. The 8.7-mile Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and has 4 walk behind falls.

North Falls is the third tallest waterfall within Silver Falls State Park. North Silver Creek is channeled through a narrow crack in the basaltic bedrock, from which it thunders 136 feet to the bottom of the canyon.

The Trail of Ten Falls is a 8.7-mile loop that passes behind four of Silver Falls State Park’s waterfalls, but the massive recess behind North Falls is especially unique. The undercut cliff extends back from the falls for at least 100 feet, and the ceiling runs anywhere from 20 to perhaps as much as 75 feet above the trail as it passes behind the falls.

You can Chase Waterfalls with us by subscribing to this blog, follow us on Pinterest, and on our Facebook Page. According to Wiki there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon!  I’m guessing even more than that.  Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?  We’ve set out to find them all.  And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

McKenzie River Koosah Falls

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Koosah Falls on the McKenzie River

Koosah Falls is the second of the three major waterfalls of the McKenzie River and is just one mile downstream from Sahalie Falls. The word Koosah is a Chinook word meaning “sky”.  These falls were formed 3,000 years ago when lava flows formed the McKenzie River. The volume of the river greatly changes the appearance of the falls. During modest summer river flows, the falls appear as one or two segments, but during the peak of snowmelt, the river spreads across the whole ledge, becoming a 70 foot wide wall of ear-splitting roar.

You can Chase Waterfalls with us by subscribing to this blog, follow us on Pinterest, and on our Facebook Page.  According to Wiki there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon!  I’m guessing even more than that. Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?  With 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge alone, we’ve set out to find them all plus those in the nearby Mt Hood National Forest, Washington and beyond. And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

The McKenzie River Round House is an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn that can serve as your home base while chasing the waterfalls along the McKenzie River.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its environment, culture, and heritage with you.  Get to know our State like a local. Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, a world class city experience, or a new spin on business travel,  you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance when staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Salmon Return

Salmon Return to Ancient Spawning Grounds

In September, salmon can be found in many of the tributaries of the major Oregon Rivers: The Columbia: The Rogue: The Umpqua and others. We here in northern Oregon witness the return in many of the tributaries of the mighty Columbia River and there’s nothing as spectacular as seeing the huge fish leaping up Klickitat Falls on Washington state’s Klickitat River.  The Klickitat River Salmon can be seen hurling themselves up the 8 foot Klickitat Falls as they make their way to their ancient spawning grounds. Most use the Klickitat fish ladder that the Yakima tribe has created but many attempt the journey upstream to their spawning grounds by themselves.

The Klickitat River roars through a narrow basalt canyon just a couple miles upstream from the Columbia River.  At the head of this canyon is the falls and the fish ladder.  Just down from the falls, in the narrows of the canyon, is a busy Native American dip-netting site, a fishing method used for centuries.  During the week, daily except Sundays and Mondays, you may respectfully sit and watch as the huge fish are caught with dip nets. And sometimes purchase a fresh caught fish.  The fish get spooked on fishing days so you will want to visit on Sundays or Mondays to witness the uninhibited spectacle at the falls.

From the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast enjoy a scenic 80 mile loop, crossing the Columbia River into Washington, to the Klickitat River and back to the Inn, an adventure into the Eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

McKenzie River Valley

Imagine Festivities in the McKenzie River Valley

The McKenzie River Valley and the nearby member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild invite you to visit the McKenzie River this summer for festivals, events and outdoor adventure.

McKenzie River Lavender Farm invites you to their Lavender Farm Open House and Festival July 8-10.  This event is a small piece of The Oregon Lavender Farm Tour presented by the Oregon Lavender Association, featuring statewide lavender events held the second weekend July. There’ll be arts & crafts, music, food, kids fun, and blooming lavender ready for u-cut lavender, lavender plants, and lavender lemonade and treats. Local artisans will be selling handcrafted skin care products, unique jewelry, soft woven scarves and more.

McKenzie Valley Art Festival being held at the McKenzie Community Track and Field venue in Blue River, August 6-7 and will have arts & crafts, chainsaw art, food, family activities, and a health fair.

Imagine yourself enjoying the many summer activities along the Wild and Scenic McKenzie River and nearby Willamette National Forest. Wake up to a sumptuous breakfast at one of our inns before heading out to explore the McKenzie River Valley:

The Innkeepers along the McKenzie River at the McKenzie River Round House will be glad to suggest day trips and adventures while visiting this stunning piece of Oregon.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share with you their version of Oregon Culinary Tourism and Geotourism.  Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts in any one of our many regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, taking in Oregon Geotourism, for a World Class City experience, or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Royal Terrace Falls

Royal Terrace Falls in McDowell Creek Falls County Park

Royal Terrace Falls is another of the four falls we found in the McDowell Creek Falls County Park.  The Volume of water in Fall Creek does shrink considerably as we go into summer so you’ll want to get out soon to see the strong spring flow.  Three miles of hiking trails wind along McDowell Creek, with bridges and viewing decks to rest and picnic. We visited as a side trip off of the Over the Rivers and Through the Woods Scenic Byway. We visited Lower McDowell Creek Falls in our last Waterfall Wednesday blog post.

You can Chase Waterfalls with us by subscribing to this blog, follow us on Pinterest, and on our Facebook Page.  According to Wiki there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon!  I’m guessing even more than that.  Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?  With 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge alone, we’ve set out to find them all plus those in the nearby Mt Hood National Forest, Washington and beyond. And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its environment, culture, and heritage with you.  Get to know our State like a local. Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, a world class city experience, or a new spin on business travel,  you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance when staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Lower McDowell Creek Falls

Lower McDowell Creek Falls this Waterfall Wednesday

Lower McDowell Creek Falls is one of four falls we found in the McDowell Creek Falls County Park.  Picnic while hiking three miles of trails in this lush green park, with bridges and viewing decks along McDowell Creek. We visited as a side trip off of the Over the Rivers and Through the Woods Scenic Byway

You can Chase Waterfalls with us by subscribing to this blog, follow us on Pinterest, and on our Facebook Page.  According to Wiki there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon!  I’m guessing even more than that.  Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?  With 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge alone, we’ve set out to find them all plus those in the nearby Mt Hood National Forest, Washington and beyond. And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its environment, culture, and heritage with you.  Get to know our State like a local. Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, a world class city experience, or a new spin on business travel,  you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance when staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.