Local Guide
Outdoors
Here, the outdoors starts at the edge of town. You can walk the Rogue in downtown Grants Pass, ride purpose-built singletrack before lunch, and be at the deepest lake in the country by afternoon. Grants Pass now has three mountain bike trail systems within minutes of downtown. These are the places worth knowing, from the Illinois Valley to the Cascades.
Cave Junction
Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
Cave tours and trails · $
A marble cave system in the Siskiyou Mountains, protected since 1909 and seen only on ranger-led tours. Park entry is free. You pay for the cave tour, and ticke…
Selma
Lake Selmac
Lake, fishing and camping · Free day use
A quiet lake off Highway 199 with a fishing pier, boat ramp, playground and campground. No motorboats, which keeps it calm for kayaks and paddleboards.
Grants Pass
Riverside Park
City park on the Rogue · Free
The Rogue runs right past downtown here. River walk, gazebos, a big playground, a spray park and a disc golf course.
Grants Pass
Cathedral Hills
Hiking and mountain biking · Free
A web of color-coded trails on the south edge of town, from easy loops to steeper climbs. The Outback Loop has the best view over Grants Pass. It's also the thi…
Grants Pass
Dollar Mountain Trail System
Mountain biking and hiking · Free
Grants Pass's new flagship trail system, on the hillside just northwest of downtown. The city bought the land in 2019 for recreation. The system opened with abo…
Grants Pass
Hellgate Jetboat Excursions
Jetboat tours · $$
Running jetboats on the Rogue since 1959, among the first jetboat companies in the country. The two-hour scenic trip covers 36 miles round trip from downtown an…
Between Rogue River and Gold Hill
Mountain of the Rogue Trail System
Mountain biking · Free
Southern Oregon's first purpose-built mountain bike system, on BLM land a few minutes off I-5 at Exit 48. About 13.5 miles of trail are laid out so the riding g…
Grave Creek, near Galice
Rainie Falls Trail
Hike · Free
A rocky river trail starting at Grave Creek, where the Wild and Scenic Rogue begins. In season, salmon jump the falls.
Upper Applegate Valley
Applegate Lake
Lake, swimming and camping · Free day use
A reservoir near the California line ringed by peaks, with swimming spots, kayak rentals, campgrounds and trails.
Central Point, White City, Sams Valley
Lower Table Rock
Hike · Free
A flat-topped mesa above the Rogue with big valley views and one of the region's best spring wildflower shows. A short, accessible Oak Savannah trail sits at th…
Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, Central Point
Bear Creek Greenway
Paved trail · Free
A paved path running the length of the valley floor through Talent, Phoenix and Medford. It's easy on a bike or e-bike, with lunch stops along the way.
Ashland
Lithia Park
City park · Free
About 100 creekside acres running up from Ashland's plaza: a Japanese Garden, a koi pond, shaded trails and deer that don't mind you.
Ashland
Mt. Ashland Ski Area
Skiing and snowboarding · $$
A local ski hill above Ashland. Its summit sits at 7,533 feet with 1,150 feet of vertical.
Prospect
Mill Creek Falls and the Avenue of the Giant Boulders
Hike · Free
A short trail from Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint to two big waterfalls and a riverbed of house-sized boulders. It's the best stop on the drive to Crater Lake.
Day trip, a little over 2 hours from Grants Pass
Crater Lake National Park
National park · $
The deepest lake in the United States. The rim views and most trails are open year to year; check current closures before you go.
Selma
Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk
An eighth-mile, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through a fen of carnivorous California pitcher plants, about 3½ miles south of Selma off Highway 199. Pair it w…
Selma
Illinois River Road
The drive west from Selma into Illinois River canyon country and the trailheads toward the Kalmiopsis.
Shady Cove, Eagle Point
Lost Creek Lake
Swimming, boating and camping at Stewart State Recreation Area.
Rogue River
Rogue River Greenway
The paved river path to Valley of the Rogue State Park.
Gold Hill
Ti'lomikh Falls
River access at the Gold Hill end of the Rogue River Greenway.
White City, Sams Valley
TouVelle State Recreation Site
A day-use park on the Rogue below the Table Rocks.
Sams Valley
Upper and Lower Table Rock
Two mesa-top hikes with valley views and spring wildflowers.