Fun-filled days await in the “Land of Umpqua”
This summer stick close to home for recreation with the family
A spirited afternoon of downhill mountain biking or a cool, crisp morning spent dangling precariously over a sheer rock wall at the top of a mountain is a great way to explore the world. For those who want a deeper experience with the great outdoors, UCC offers mountain biking and rock climbing classes year round.
“Both classes are a great way to get out and see what the country has to offer for recreational opportunities,” states Cheryl Yoder, UCC’s Athletic Director. Enrollment for the Outdoor Education classes is highly sought after in this community. UCC instructor Greg Orton’s summer rock climbing classes which go to the Callahan Ridge and up Acker Rock are already filled up. However, a beginning mountain biking class that includes a trip up the North Umpqua Trail has some spaces available.
Trails
For students unable to attend classes, the North Umpqua Trail starts a little more than 22 miles from Roseburg and joins up with the famous Pacific Crest trail which stretches on for 79 miles, 67 miles of which are rideable. Along the way are opportunities for fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking.
Twelve primary trailheads include parking, ten waterfalls, multiple picnic areas, campgrounds and access to trail segments with distances from three and a half miles long to over fifteen miles in distance. A brochure for the North Umpqua Trail is available at www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua.
The Swiftwater Trailhead has one quarter mile of wheelchair accessible trail that leads to the Deadline Falls Watchable Wildlife site where from May to October steelhead and salmon can often be seen scaling the falls on their journey upstream. A pavilion for short term group use of 15 to 60 minutes is also available for use. Reservations can be made by calling Swiftwater Park at 541-440-4500.
Rock Climbing
“The Rabbit Ears,” one of the more unique sites for rock climbing in the county, is a reminder of the area’s violent volcanic past. Here, mountaineers will find a pair of Adensite stone columns that jut skyward located near Crater Lake on the western border of Douglas County. In order to get there, follow I-5 to Roseburg and head east on Hwy 138 towards Crater Lake. Past Diamond Lake, take the exit to Hwy 230. The turnoff to “The Rabbit Ears” is just north of the junction of Hwy 230 and Hwy 62 -- turn on Forest Service Road 6510 off Hwy 230 and after 1.7 miles take a right at the junction onto FS Road 6515 to mile post 8. The twin pillars can be seen from the road at this point. Camping is allowed here, and parking for about five vehicles is available.
Mountain Biking
For mountain bikers, the North Umpqua Trail offers many dramatically picturesque waterfalls. The Toketee Falls are renowned for mineral hot springs and a gorge that the river carved out of lava which drops a total of 113 feet in two tiers. The Susan Creek Falls drop 50 feet. About 400 feet from the falls, the Susan Creek Indian Mounds can be found. These are stone piles that local lore says young Indian men constructed during the night as visions were given to them by their guardian spirits.
Camping
Primitive camping is allowed along the N. Umpqua trail although keeping out of sight of other trail enthusiasts is encouraged. The only drinking water available on tap is at Mott Trailhead and a phone for public use is also available here. An interesting spot for picnics is Illahee Flats gazebo originally built in 1928 and replicated in 1997 after it was destroyed in a fire. This historic building can be accessed via the Jesse Wright Trailhead.
Wildlife
For family outings that don’t require a lot of cash, the Wildlife Safari in Winston is a place for people of all ages. Safari Village is free of admission and has a wide array of animals to view, such as monkeys, lions, snakes, and a cheetah. Some miniature barn animals can be seen as well. Patrons can also buy lunch at the café in the village. For information on discounts offered, park hours or more information.
Summer Classes
Parents can register their children to keep them busy with the Summer Fun programs at UCC. For grades K-5, Discovery College will be offered June 13- August 4. Matrix classes for grades 6-12 will run June13- August 4. There also will be basketball camps for grades 4-8, and volleyball camps for grades 5-8 as well as for grades 9-12. Call 541.440.7650 or go to www.roseburgsummerfun.com for more information.
Relax
Then there’s the kind of fun that requires leaving the kids with a sitter. Every summer, Douglas County residents pile aboard tubes, rafts and other floatation devices on the North Umpqua River to escape the summer heat. Public access is available at the river such as Amacher park at Winchester and Hestness park off Del Rio Road. Just don’t forget to wear plenty of sunscreen for the famous “Sunburn Alley”, the long, slow-moving stretch of water visible from the Brown Bridge on Garden Valley Road.
Museum
For a quieter experience, try the Douglas County Museum which is chock full of information on the entire county and its rich history. “[The Museum] is truly unique in that it is both natural and cultural history combined into one institution,” says Director Gardner Chappell. Take a scavenger hunt there with a kid (or someone young at heart) to learn about the timeline of the county. A map is given out to help children find specific items located in the museum. A prize may be claimed afterwards. Opening summer of 2011, “Dig into History”, will allow kids to role play as an archaeologist or paleontologist. The museum is open seven days a week from 10- 5p.m. April through September. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and free for kids 17 and under.
Outdoor Music
A cheaper alternative to putting hard earned money into the fuel tank is to is to simply join in on something that has been a Roseburg tradition for 19-years.
Throughout summer on Tuesday evenings, adults and children alike gather to listen to free music played by live bands inside the Nichols Bandshell in Stewart Park, located just off Stewart Parkway in Roseburg. Vendors offer various foods from Italian to pulled pork sandwiches and even vegetarian, accompanied by drinks, sweets and cold treats. The event is popular. “Man, when they had The Wailers, it was packed,” said Shawn Howe, a UCC student who helped set up the stage for bands. “They have something everyone can enjoy.”
Music on the Half Shell showcases mostly regional and local bands. The following artists will be playing at the Half Shell this summer: Taj Mahal Trio, June 21; David Frizzell and Amy Clawson, July 5; Plena Libre, July 12; Pink Martini, July 26; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, August 2; Shemekia Copeland, August 16. The bands playing on June 28, July 19, will be announced at a later date and there will not be a concert August 9, due to the Douglas County fair. For more information, log onto www.halfshell.org.
For additional ideas for local summer fun, log onto www.visitroseburg.com.
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