Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway
Up the North Umpqua from Roseburg past a run of waterfalls to Diamond Lake, then down the Rogue River to Gold Hill in southern Oregon.
Also known as Highway of Waterfalls
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length172 miles[1]ODOT's TripCheck also lists 172 miles.
- Drive timeAbout eight hours[1]FHWA's "time to allow"; TripCheck recommends 5-7 hours
- RoadsOregon Routes 138, 230, 62 and 234[2]
- Start and endRoseburg to Gold Hill[2]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonJune through October for weather, wildflowers and waterfalls[2]TripCheck says to expect snowfall at higher elevations.
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesGas stations are few and far between; fill up in Roseburg or Gold Hill. Cell service is limited away from the two ends.[3]
- Seasonal closuresCan be driven year-round, though winter roads may be dangerous.[3]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway leaves Roseburg on Oregon Route 138 and follows the North Umpqua River upstream. At Glide the North Umpqua and Little River collide head-on, and beyond that the road passes Susan Creek, Toketee and Watson falls on the way into the Cascades.
Route 138 circles Diamond Lake below Mt. Thielsen, close to Crater Lake National Park's north entrance. The byway then turns west and south on Routes 230 and 62 along the upper Rogue River, past the Rogue Gorge and Natural Bridge sites, Lost Creek Lake and Shady Cove.
It ends in Gold Hill after a turn onto Route 234 past the Table Rocks. ODOT suggests June through October; higher stretches can get snow outside that window.
Stops along the way
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Shady Cove
Town where rafters and anglers put in on the Rogue.
Official information · 42.61069, -122.81256 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Natural Bridge
Interpretive site where the Rogue disappears into a lava tube.
Official information · 42.88958, -122.46533 · about 0.4 mi from the route line
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Rogue Gorge
Interpretive site where the Rogue runs through a narrow chasm.
Official information · 42.91043, -122.4411 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Diamond Lake
Resort lake between Mt. Bailey and Mt. Thielsen.
Official information · 43.17874, -122.13893 · about 0.4 mi from the route line
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Watson Falls
A 272-foot waterfall, among Oregon's tallest.
Official information · 43.2418, -122.39098 · about 0.4 mi from the route line
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Toketee Falls
Waterfall near Toketee Reservoir on the North Umpqua.
Official information · 43.26317, -122.43332 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
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Susan Creek Falls
One of the fifteen waterfalls along the byway.
Official information · 43.33292, -122.89325 · about 2.3 mi from the route line
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Glide
Community at the Colliding Rivers, where the North Umpqua and Little River meet head-on.
Official information · 43.30151, -123.10119 · about 0.3 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Glide Farmers' MarketGlide, OR · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Umpqua Valley Farmers' MarketRoseburg, OR · about 1.4 mi from the route
- Lookingglass Grange Farmers' MarketRoseburg, OR · about 7.6 mi from the route
- Sutherlin Farmers' MarketSutherlin, OR · about 9.5 mi from the route
- Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market-Thursday Medford Farmers MarketMedford, OR · about 11.3 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- Asian pearsAug, Sep, Oct
- BasilJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- BlackberriesJun, Jul, Aug
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Cascade Lakes Scenic BywayOR · about 69 mi away
- McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic BywayOR · about 90 mi away
- Outback Scenic BywayOR · about 100 mi away
- West Cascades Scenic BywayOR
- Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (Oregon)OR
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic BywayCA, OR
More scenic drives in Oregon
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- The Rogue Umpqua Scenic Byway (TripCheck, Oregon Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway: Visitor Services, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).