Recreation

The Wonders of Scenic Oregon Are Yours to Explore

The good news? Oregon is famous for its abundance of natural wonders and outdoor recreational opportunities. The even better news?  With The Vineyards at Stage Pass as your home base, you’re always close to the action — whatever action looks like for you. Downhill and cross-country skiing? Of course. Golfing? Absolutely — with 10 courses around Jacksonville. Hiking? Fishing? Whitewater rafting? Check, check and don’t forget your sunscreen. For those who enjoy a bike ride — leisurely and relaxing around the city or rough and tumble on a mountain bike trail — you’ll find plenty of ways to put the pedal to the metal.  For those who’d like to wander closer to home — literally — good news. Residents of Stage Pass enjoy more than seven miles of on-site trails, including a link to the 18-mile Jacksonville Woodlands trail network — complete with rolling hills and trails with sweeping vistas of Mt. McLoughlin, the Table Rocks, Cascade foothills and the valley below. Lace up and head out, the great outdoors awaits.

Wizard Island is the volcanic cinder cone at the west end of Crater Lake.

Crater Lake

When volcanic Mt. Mazama collapsed roughly 7,700 years ago, what formed is the deepest lake in the United States — Crater Lake. The rim of the caldera (a large volcanic crater) is a lofty 7,000 to 8,000 feet — and visible from The Vineyards at Stage Pass. With its deep blue color and water clarity, the lake and surrounding park areas offer a wealth of recreational activities — most notably hiking, biking and back-country camping in warmer months, then cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing when it’s snowy. Take a two-hour boat tour around the lake with park rangers from Crater Lake National Park. And an artist in residence program gives writers, photographers, painters and other visual and performing artists the opportunity to live and create on-site each year.

Rogue River

Flowing from the Cascades to the Pacific, the 215-mile-long Rogue River is nationally known for its multitude of recreational activities. In the Rogue Valley, that translates to world-class whitewater rafting, along with fly fishing for salmon, steelhead, and redband trout. Skilled local guides are happy to show you their favorite fishing holes and can help you navigate the whitewater rapids via raft, jetboat or inflatable kayaks called “duckies.” Classic drift boats too, with McKenzie and Rogue River dories specifically adapted to Oregon rivers — and rapids. Swimming, hiking and camping are all popular river and riverside activities. In and amongst the ponderosa pines, western hemlock, Manzanita alder and masses of wildflowers, you can also spy the likes of river otters, deer, bald eagles, osprey, and bears.

The mighty Rogue River is federally protected as one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.

These two volcanic plateaus — Upper and Lower Table Rocks — were formed seven million years ago.

Table Rocks

The Table Rocks are one of the most popular hiking locations in the Rogue Valley. These volcanic plateaus were created by lava flow approximately seven million years ago, then shaped by erosion. Today, they stand 2,000 feet above sea level and 800 feet above the surrounding Rogue Valley. Between March and May, the wildflowers along the Upper Table Rock trail are spectacular. Pack a picnic (and comfortable hiking shoes) and soak in the view of Mt. McLoughlin, Mt. Ashland, Roxy Ann Peak and Pilot Rock.

Mt. Ashland

The Mt. Ashland ski area, in the Rogue River National Forest, is situated at the highest point in the Siskiyou Mountain Range — just minutes from Stage Pass. Fresh air, great views and an average of 300 days of sunshine coupled with 250 inches of natural snowfall make this the perfect close-to-home ski getaway. Mt. Ashland ski resort features four chairlifts, 23 runs and two terrain parks. In the summer, hiking and mountain biking take the spotlight.

The summit of 7,533’ gives the ski area a vertical drop of 1,150 feet — perfect for “steep and deep” skiing.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the lake’s ranger station and several other buildings.

Lake of the Woods

At an elevation of 4,900 feet, you’ll discover Lake of the Woods in the pristine old-growth forest at the foot of Mt. McLoughlin. In the summer, the lake is home to an aquatic wonderland of watersports, including water skiing, sailing, boating, canoeing, swimming and fishing, along with hiking and camping. During the winter months, the lake and surrounding area is a snowy playground for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.

Oregon Coast

If you really want to get out and go, you’re just a scenic two hours away from sipping your favorite pinot on the beach at the Oregon Coast. If you’re looking for crowds, you won’t find them here. But if you’re looking for outdoor adventures, secluded beaches, vibrant art communities and fresh coastal cuisine, you’ve come to the right place. And the scenery? Nothing short of spectacular.

Thanks to the Oregon Beach Bill, signed into law in 1967, all 363 miles of Oregon beaches are designated as public lands.