Umpqua River Scenic Byway

We had breakfast outside at the picnic table overlooking the harbor this morning. It was sunny and we haven't been able to have breakfast outside for a long time. Leaving camp we drove up Salmon Harbor Rd and took a left up a hill to Umpqua Light. The light, on the south side of the bay, has a 65 foot tower that overlooks the sand dunes from 165 feet. There was a great viewing platform and we looked over the dunes to the ocean. We looked for gray whales - none -. Leaving the Umpqua Point we passed Lake Marie and its 1 mile walking trail, we decided to keep going.

Taking 101N to Rte 38 E in Reedsport we followed the Umpqua River Scenic Byway past Dean Elk Creek Viewing Area. A three mile section of Rte 38 has two specific viewing areas with several observation pull offs. This is the year round residence for a herd of about 100 Roosevelt elk. In the spring the females and young are easily seen. The males stay separate until the fall rut. We were able to see some of the herd in a meadow just off the road.

The scenic byway is a gorgeous ride with the river on our left and fern covered rock walls to our right. Water from melting snow and all this rain cascade down the rock walls making natural waterfalls. There are farmhouses along the road on the hillsides with pastures that roll up to them. We arrived in Elkton which is a surprisingly cosmopolitan village. This historic community is where the Hudson's Bay Company founded Fort Umpqua in 1832. We had lunch in town and then continued through small vineyards and through the beautiful Umpqua Valley. Elkton is a town of about 200 people with 4 wineries (my kind of place...).

Driving through small towns like Sutherlin, Kellogg, and Remote which have great character and have kept the simple country ambience. Soon we connected to Interstate 5S and followed it to Roseburg and then turned onto Rte 42W which would take us back to Coos Bay. Rte 42 is the Winery Tour route but we didn't see many wineries along the way. Driving through the Coquille River Valley we experienced more hale showers. The pastures and low lands were flooded and cattle were standing on small patches of high ground near the barns.

We got back to camp and watched TV for a while. The drive today was really beautiful and reminds us what this trip is all about... experiencing the byways of the U.S.

Pictures: Elk in meadow at Dean Elk Creek Viewing Area, Umpqua Light, View from Umpqua Light Platform (2)