WEDDING WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

There's lots to explore in the area, whether you want to go for a hike, tour some waterfalls, sample the local wineries, or sit by the river with a book, so we'll leave it up to you to choose your own adventure. But for the early risers and the adventurous, below are a couple of great activities for a North Umpqua wakeup call for Saturday morning.

River Rafting

We've arranged with a local whitewater guiding company, North Umpqua Outfitters, for a raft trip through one of the most beautiful sections of the North Umpqua River, from Horseshoe Bend to Gravel Bin (Segment 2 on this map). They have six-person rafts as well as individual inflateable kayaks for the adventurous. You'll be picked up at 9 or 9:30am, spend about two hours on the water with their great guides, navigating Class III and IV rapids, and be back by 12:30 or 1pm. Please visit their website for more info and call 888-454-9696 to reserve a slot.

Fly Fishing

The North Umpqua is a legendary fishing river, with 31 miles of river reserved exclusively for fly fishermen. The prize fish is the wily Steelhead, an ocean-run trout the size of a salmon that has been called "the unmistakeable royalty of the Pacific coast." They are beautiful but elusive fish, and the North Umpqua can be a tricky river, so to up your odds, it helps to have a knowledgeable guide. We recommend contacting Summer Run Guide Service, operated by long-time North Umpqua guide Tony Wratney, either through their website or by calling 541-496-3037.

 

pre- or post-wedding road tripping: two suggestions

For those looking to extend their stay, either before or after the wedding, Oregon's the perfect place for a road trip. We've included a bunch of links at the top of the page, and there are plenty of additional resources out there to guide you on your way, but we thought we'd put together a couple sample itineraries to get you started. These are from Glide to Portland, but they work just as well in reverse, and spending a night in Portland isn't a bad idea either!

road trip 1: head for the hills

East of Glide, the North Umpqua Highway follows the river's winding course as it rises through the Umpqua National Forest into the foothills of the Cascades. You'll pass numerous trailheads and campsites, as well as Diamond Lake, a popular fishing and boating area, and Mount Thielsen (9,182 feet), whose craggy spire dominates this portion of the Cascades, before arriving at Crater Lake National Park, about an hour and a half from Glide From there, continue up and over the spine of the Cascades and head north to Bend, a gem of a town with a bustling outdoors scene and an amazing hotel in an old Catholic school. You will not be the first, or last, person to say, "I want to retire here." But you probably have a flight to catch back to wherever you came from, and it's a three hour drive back to Portland.

road trip 2: cruise to the coast

A drive up or down the Oregon Coast is a classic Pacific Northwest roadtrip, and for good reason: there are miles of jagged coastline, breathtaking views, miles-long beaches, sea lion colonies, old lighthouses, fishing ports, bungalow communities stuck in the 1950s, massive sand dunes, deep sea fishing, loads of vintage shops, a cheese factory, and plenty of Goonies nostalgia. From Glide, you'll head west, back through Tim's father's hometown, Roseburg, head briefly north and then continue westward to Reedsport, a town that is the gateway to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The best way to see the dunes, and to get to the beach, is to rent a dune buggy or a four-wheeler for an hour or two. From there, continue up the coast and overnight in Newport, an active fishing port with lots of cute inns and seafood restaurants that buy directly off the docks. Continuing north from Newport, you'll pass through Depoe Bay and Lincoln City--stop for some smoked salmon at Barnacle Bill's Seafood Market--and those with less time may want to cross back over to I-5. For those continuing on the coast, you'll have an option for the stunning, but slower,  Three Capes Scenic Drive, before arriving at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, a wonderful monument to cheddar cheese. From there, you can continue north to Canon Beach, where Goonies was filmed, or head back to Portland via a more direct route.