Crater Lake, Fish the Rogue, Wildlife Safari, Roseburg OR

Crater Lake National Park
The north entrance turn-off to Crater Lake is about 17 miles from US-97, west on OR 138.  clearly marked as a fee area.  See my Travel Tips page about discounts and free days and ways.  https://www.travelpacificnw.com/travel-tips-and-tricks.html

• Things to know:  cell reception is limited.  More things to know:  https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/directions.htm  and https://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/what-to-do/planning-your-visit/lodging-camping-services/services-mazama-village/   also https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
• Diamond Lake is just north of the turn-off.  I hope to get there yet someday.  It would be one option if you couldn’t stay right in the Park.  Great 5 min video by John Williams’ Accessible Adventures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sGw7_pMU-4&feature=emb_logo
• Expedia and others can give more ideas for places to stay.
• Very important info about the park at https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• The speed limit in the entire park is 45 mph.  At first this seems rather conservative for the summer, as you drive through dry forests and past flat or rolling snow mobile areas.  But as you climb the mountain, the road gets steep, winding, narrow, and lacking guards against the precipitous drop-off.  I wouldn’t feel comfortable in an RV, nor driving at 45 mph. 
• The last week of July 2020 there were still patches of snow.  No crowds, due to COVID. The views of the lake were marvelous, though the air a little hazy.  We took the west side of the Rim Drive, and that was enough for me.
• There are two places to stay and eat in the park, Rim Village and Mazama Village.  Supplies are available at Mazama Village and stamps at the ranger station.  Info on restrooms etc.  https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• Usually you can book a boat tour on the lake or take a trolley tour around the rim—let someone else do the driving.  “Trolleys are enclosed, wheelchair accessible, and seat 25 passengers. The tours are two hours and there are no bathroom stops.”  The trail down to the boat is too steep for disabled persons.  https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/boat-and-trolley-tours.htm
• For accessibility info, see https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm​​

Adventures in the Crater Lake area

Crater Lake to Shady Cove, via OR 62 W (Crater Lake Hwy) is another beautiful drive.  You’ll pass through the picturesque community of

• Union Creek,   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Creek,_Oregon , and nearby are Union Creek Campground https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/119140 , and Union Creek Resort   https://www.unioncreekoregon.com/ , both options for staying near Crater Lake https://www.unioncreekoregon.com/lodging/
• then Prospect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect , with nearby Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_State_Scenic_Viewpoint temporarily closed, and not accessible.   https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=22
• travel along the Rogue River, pass/stop/stay at Joseph Creek State Recreation area--camping, hiking, biking, picnic, playground, volleyball, horseshoes, swimming, flush restrooms, fishing, marina/boat ramp & rentals, dump station—some of which are closed for 2020; none indicated as accessible.  https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=23​

Crater Lake license plate from https://pngio.com/images/png-a962489.html

Route Map Eugene to Crater Lake, thence to Shady Cove to fish the Rogue River, from there to Wildlife Safari and Roseburg OR

On the Way to Crater Lake, from Eugene, OR
Highway 58 (Willamette Highway) to Highway 97
Update 10-16-21:  for more info and photos Hwy 58 & 97, see

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/klamath-falls-to-springfield-or-in-the-loop

     Just south of Eugene/Springfield (no sign of Simpsons, but we only passed briefly through), Hwy 58 exits from I-5, headed southeast toward Crater Lake.  It’s a beautiful road trip traveling through farm and forest, along waterways, and forested hills into the mountains.  Gradually you leave the archetypal PNW forests for the high desert forests of eastern Oregon.  There are lots of campgrounds and recreational opportunities, and the road is nice:

• Elijah Bristow State Park—picnic, restrooms, fishing said to be accessible, several other amenities not.  https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=60
• Dexter State Recreation Site—offers various recreational opportunities:  hiking, picnic, swim, wildlife, horse trails, kayak, bike paths, boat ramp, disc golf, fihing, but all that’s listed as accessible are pit toilets.  https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=179
• Black Canyon Campground—US Forest Service, fees, about half reservable (high use); Accessible amenities:  4 restrooms (vault toilets), drinking water, 4 paved and 3 rock campsites include picnic table and campfire ring/grill, nature trail  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=4488&actid=29
• Close by is the Black Canyon Day Use Area ($7/vehicle/day) with boat ramp, picnic tables (3 accessible), drinking water, vault toilet, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, swimming  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4489
• Blue Pool Campground—Old Growth Forest, camping (no accessible sites), fishing in the day use area, picnic in the day use area, water, flush and vault toilets, swim in the day use area, fees, no reservations https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4491
• McCredie Day Use Area Hot Springs—"Once a historic resort, this day use site offers access to the undeveloped McCredie Hot Springs. There is parking for nine passenger vehicles and one 40-foot RV. Two picnics tables are available. There is no overnight camping allowed.”  Water is hot.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=81565
• Salt Creek Falls—heavy useage.  No water.  Said to have wheelchair accessible restrooms with flush toilet.  Observation platform is wheelchair accessible, apparently part of the gravel trail with interpretive signs and views is accessible.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4654
• Gold Lake Sno-Park—cross country ski/snowshoe; permit required.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4679
• Willamette Pass Resort Ski Area—winter skiing  http://www.willamettepass.com/
• Odell Lake Lodge  & Resort—lots of recreational opportunities summer and winter  https://www.odelllakeresort.com/

Highway 97 to Highway 138

• Chemult, population 300, is the main village along US 97 from OR 58 to OR 138 to get to Crater Lake.  But it seems ready for traveler troubles.  For local recreation, there’s a Chemult Ranger District office:  110500  Highway 9 N., Chemult, OR  541-365-001 Chemult businesses  https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/united-states/oregon/chemult/
• Or, you can google Chemult Oregon stores to see them mapped.  Surprisingly, there’s an Amtrak depot there, a stop between Eugene and Klamath Falls.  See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemult,_Oregon
• Beaver Marsh—about 6 mi south of Chemult--has a small airport, FAA info for 16 July 2020.  https://www.airnav.com/airport/2S2
• Diamond Lake/Crater Lake junction where Hwy 138 exits US 97, and goes west toward Diamond Lake and Crater Lake has a tiny crossroad of tourist trade (like a café and a motel).

Shady Cove and Fishing the Rogue
            Shady Cove, OR is not as shady as the name implies.  Maybe along the (Rogue) river it is, but it was very sunny and hot the end of July 2020:  90ºF at 6:52pm.  We checked into our room at the Edgewater Inn, and went to find food.  Phil’s Frosty is a popular local fast food with a nice variety of choices for lunch, dinner, and breakfast.  Good food, nice size portions, not overly expensive, ice cream and such treats, picnic tables, easy to find.  Right next to it is the Shady Cove Market where you can find lots of snackies, and some real food.  It was clean, the produce ok, meats looked fresh (or frozen).  Prices are about what you expect in a tiny town in the tulies.  We bought our breakfast there, since COVID restrictions cancelled the complimentary breakfast at our hotel.  With a nice sized frig and a MW, we were good to go.  I noticed a pizza place, and the grand opening of a Mexican restaurant, as well.
            The Edgewater Inn has rooms right on the river with nice French doors and patios, a sidewalk along the river, and a deck with picnic table over the river.  Very nice; shade trees.  There are 2 floors but no elevator.  We didn’t have a river view, but our ADA room was pleasant enough, and thoughtfully appointed.  AC worked wonderfully, plenty hot water, table and 2 chairs beside usual amenities.  Freezer did a great job preparing my water bottles for next day.  Towels by tub and low enough to reach, fold down tub bench, but you need a helper to reach the hand held shower.  Tub is a narrow 22.5”, 14” high side.  Elongated toilet was 17.5” high, with a 6” toilet seat you could attach if needing extra height.  The tub and toilet were in the bath, and the doorway was 33.5” at narrowest.  Plenty room to maneuver.  The sink was next to the bath.  Two queen beds, 25” high.  There’s an outdoor pool and spa, a pretty nice laundry with one washer and drier, counter for folding, vending machines.  There’s a fish cleaning station outside the laundry, and a very modest “Convention Center” that might be a convenient place to have a family or other group gathering.
            Fishing the Rogue (https://fishingtherogue.com/ ) guide service was great to work with, as a disabled person.  They are flexible, willing, friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced.  Our guide (Jeremy Vidalo) cheerfully picked us up from our hotel and took us to our launch point.  I was content to let our guide take care of everything, which he did (including fishing gear for both Salmon and Steelhead, and snacks and drinks for us—I did bring my frozen water bottles in a shiny bag to protect my legs from the eventual heat and direct sun), so I didn’t make sure of the place he took us.  I think it was the nearby McGregor Park Boat Ramp.  There’s a picnic table under a gazebo, and tables and such along the built up bank on one side of the river.  The boat ramp is very rough for a person in a wheelchair.  He got the vehicle and boat as close to each other as possible, and with help I was able to make the difficult transfer. 
     He rowed our boat by intervals as we floated about 4-5 miles down the river to give us a chance to fish in the most likely spots.  He was very patient with us rank beginners, and interesting to learn from.  I really enjoyed our trip down the river, as did quite a few rafters and kayakers along the way, and my travel helper hooked a fish.  Since it was wild, it had to be released.  Around the river’s bend I think we passed

• McGregor Park (brochure says there’s a visitor center, accessible fishing platform, an interpretive boardwalk, playground, picnic tables, as well as river access; see https://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/mcgregor/files/interpretive.pdf  
• Casey State Recreation Site, where you can fish from the bank (picnic tables, flush restrooms, boat ramp, no drinking water, the site says https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=21 ),
• I think we got out at
• Rogue Elk Park which offers camping, fishing, rafting, swimming, picnic, grills, playground, water/electric hookups, restroom (no showers ‘til further notice) https://jacksoncountyor.org/parks/Camping/Rogue-Elk-Park

A half day was right for us.  By then it was quite hot again, we were tired, and we went to our room and napped in the AC.
            Next morn we followed Google’s directions instead of the advice of our guide and took Oregon Route 227 over the mountains to get to Winston/Roseburg.  Google said it would take 1.5 hours, and that was pretty close.  If you like to travel narrow winding mountain roads, you will enjoy the scenery (but keep your eyes on the road).  You will pass through villages of Drew, Tiller (nearly the entire town was sold in 2018, video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156113709316973 ) , Milo, Days Creek, and small town Canyonville (on I-5).  Just 22 miles north is Winston/Roseburg, Oregon.

What we hope is catching!

all kinds of opportunities mapped and charted

​Wildlife Safari, Winston, OR
            The Wildlife Safari near Winston/Roseburg Oregon is a grassland zoological experience, with some trees, waterholes, and animals you would find in Africa, Asia, America, and Australia.  The Village (with more zoo-like enclosures) is free, and children will enjoy various areas, such as the petting zoo, the panning sluice (not cheap), the train, camel rides (not cheap), keeper shows (some free, some quite expensive), as well as seeing the animals.  There’s a grill with good food and not as outrageous prices as some zoos, and outdoor picnic tables as well.  The restrooms are not stellar for persons in wheelchairs.  There were extra porta potties in the parking lot, and that with extra parking, indicates that crowds must come when things are normal.  My Oregon Zoo membership would have cut our admission price in half, but after talking to the staff in the gift shop  about other experiences offered, I decided to take the guided tour of the  larger park in a Jeep-like vehicle ($50 each person).  We went over steep hills and vales, as well as the usual roads, to get better views of the animals and the countryside.  Not everyone might feel comfortable driving that terrain.  The guide kept us safe and informed.  Plan on at least half a day.  It might feel more comfortable weather-wise to go early, and you might see more animals, but we were there in the heat of the day and saw pretty well all the animals, especially at dinner time.  It was hot, though.  Come prepared.
 
Roseburg and the Douglas County Museum
            We stayed at the Best Western Garden Villa hotel in Roseburg.  It was not expensive, especially for the room we got:  a king bed in the bedroom, and a hide-a-bed couch in the living room—2 rooms and 2 TVs.  The frig was nice sized, and of course the room had the usual amenities.  The closet in the living area had huge mirrored doors.  The tub was in its own room (height 13”, width up to 24”, plenty of bars to hang on to, but you still need a helper to put the handheld shower in reach, plenty hot water), and the sink and toilet in another (elongated toilet about 18” high, and there was a walker in the room, as well as the bar).  There was an outdoor pool, but the weather seemed too hot for us to even enjoy swimming.    There were plenty of places to eat nearby, but we were still full from eating at the Safari.  We were able to get a hot complimentary breakfast at the hotel that was pretty nice, even if limited by COVID.  Gas stations are right there, shopping in easy walking distance, Walmart not far by car, parks and paved trails that lead along the river, as well as things to do around Roseburg gave me a different perspective.  There are covered bridges to explore, Winchester Fish Ladder, Graffiti Weekend with its classic/vintage cars, BBQ, downtown fun day, etc.  And from Thanksgiving weekend through January is the annual Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights.  See also   https://www.roadtripsforfamilies.com/family-friendly-activities-roseburg-oregon/  and https://www.halfshell.org/
            The Douglas County Museum (http://umpquavalleymuseums.org/museums/douglas-county-museum/ ) is also much more than I expected.  I was really impressed with their exhibits.  They have natural history exhibits as well as historical exhibits.  Even a live turtle in an aquarium as part of an exhibit of a naturalist's parlor.  They show animal comparisons as well as different habitats.  They have 2 levels, and no elevator, so you have to wheel around to the lower level, and it was too hot for me to be able to spend time exploring the great outdoor exhibits.  I loved their Oregon Trail wagon exhibit, too.  They have so many wonderful things in the gift shop I was glad to have enough to spend for their support.  Admission prices are very reasonable.
            The museum is right by the fairgrounds, and there’s an RV campground right there as well.

Update 10-16-2021
     For more info and photos of Roseburg OR, see
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/klamath-falls-to-springfield-or-in-the-loop
​

            Roseburg is less than 3 hours from Portland, unless you hit traffic.  It took us 4 hours to get home, but we also took 15-20 min to go through a car wash along the way.  Temperatures in Roseburg late July 2020 were mid-90s.  But it was the same in Portland.  It was just hot everywhere, it seemed.  Unreasonable for the Pacific Northwest, in my opinion.  We’re supposed to be cool!