There are few places quite like Southern Oregon. In a single day, you can stand along the rim of the deepest lake in the United States, watch the Rogue River rush through a narrow volcanic gorge, enjoy a slice of homemade pie, follow the river into the Rogue Valley, and finish your afternoon with a glass of Southern Oregon wine.
If you're visiting Crater Lake and wondering what to do next, don't be too quick to head back to the hotel. The drive from Crater Lake toward Medford and Grants Pass is part of the experience.
Here's one of our favorite ways to make a day of it.
Your Southern Oregon Day Trip at a Glance
8:00 AM — Crater Lake & Rim Village
10:15 AM — Rogue River Gorge
10:50 AM — Natural Bridge
11:30 AM — Lunch (and pie!) at Beckie's Café
12:45 PM — Cole Rivers Hatchery (optional)
1:30 PM — Shady Cove & the Rogue River
3:00 PM — Wine tasting at Del Rio Vineyards
5:00 PM — Head to Grants Pass
5:30–6:00 PM — Explore downtown & dinner
Times are approximate. Summer traffic, road conditions and how long you linger at each stop can easily change your schedule. That's part of a good road trip!
Start Your Morning at Crater Lake
where the impossibly blue water and sheer cliffs make even longtime Oregonians stop and stare.
If you're making this a full-day trip, we recommend concentrating your morning around Rim Village rather than trying to see every corner of the park. Give yourself about 1½ to 2 hours to enjoy the viewpoints, take photos and walk around a bit before heading toward the Rogue Valley.
There is parking at Rim Village, but summer is busy, so arriving early makes the morning much more enjoyable.
A few Crater Lake tips before you go:
Cell service can be limited, so download your maps and directions before you leave.
Weather at Crater Lake can also be very different from the Rogue Valley. Even when it's warm and sunny in Medford, it can be considerably cooler at the lake. Bring a layer.
Crater Lake is also a very seasonal destination. Snow and road closures can affect access well into the year, so always check current National Park Service road and weather conditions before starting your trip.
Allow: 1½–2 hours
Follow Highway 62 Toward the Rogue River Gorge
When you leave Crater Lake, take Highway 62 toward the Rogue Valley.
This stretch of the drive is beautiful, and your first stop is one that's easy to miss if you don't know it's there.
Rogue River Gorge
The Rogue River Gorge is a wonderful quick stop just north of Union Creek. Here, the Rogue River squeezes through a narrow channel carved into ancient volcanic rock.
You don't need to plan a major hike. Park at the day-use area, stretch your legs and take the short walk to the viewpoints.
It's especially impressive in the spring and early summer when the river is roaring, but it's worth seeing any time you're traveling through the area.
Allow: 20–30 minutes
Parking: Day-use parking is available near the trail and viewpoints.
Don't Miss Natural Bridge
Just a few miles farther down Highway 62 is Natural Bridge, and yes—you have time to see both.
At Natural Bridge, the Rogue River disappears underground into a lava tube before emerging again downstream. It's one of those fascinating places that you might drive right past without realizing what is hidden just beyond the highway.
Natural Bridge has its own parking area, so you don't have to hike all the way from Rogue River Gorge. A short walk takes you to the viewing area.
Allow: 30–40 minutes
Parking: Available at the Natural Bridge Viewpoint.
Can you visit Rogue River Gorge and Natural Bridge on the same trip?
Absolutely. They are only a few miles apart, which makes them an easy pair of stops when driving from Crater Lake toward Medford and the Rogue Valley.
Time for Lunch — and Save Room for Pie
By now, you've earned lunch.
A Southern Oregon road trip along Highway 62 wouldn't be complete without a stop at Beckie's Café in historic Union Creek.
Beckie's has been feeding travelers for generations and is known for classic comfort food and, most importantly, homemade pie.
Sit down for lunch if you have time. If you're running behind, there's nothing wrong with making this a pie-and-coffee stop and getting back on the road.
Either way, save room for pie.
Allow: 45–60 minutes for lunch or less for a quick pie stop.
Parking: Available at Union Creek.
Travel tip: Hours can change seasonally, so check current hours before your trip.
Optional Stop: Cole Rivers Hatchery
After lunch, continue down Highway 62 toward the Rogue Valley.
If you have extra time—especially if you're traveling with kids—consider stopping at Cole Rivers Hatchery near Lost Creek Lake.
Visitors can learn a little more about the salmon and steelhead that are such an important part of the Rogue River. Depending on the season, you may see fish in the holding and display ponds and activity around the hatchery.
Give yourself about 20–30 minutes here.
But remember, there's wine waiting.
If your morning at Crater Lake ran long or you spent extra time over lunch and pie, skip this stop and continue toward Shady Cove. You don't want the afternoon to become a race against the clock.
Follow the Rogue River Through Shady Cove
As you continue toward Medford, Highway 62 follows the Rogue River into Shady Cove.
This is a nice place to slow down for a few minutes, stretch your legs and enjoy the river.
You don't need another major activity. Take a short walk, snap a few photos and enjoy watching the landscape begin to change as you leave the Cascade forests behind and enter the warmer Rogue Valley.
If you skipped lunch at Beckie's, Shady Cove is also a good place to grab something to eat before continuing.
Allow: 10–20 minutes for a quick river stop.
From Crater Lake to Wine Country
This may be our favorite part of the drive.
As you leave the mountains behind, you'll begin to notice the landscape changing. The dense forests give way to rolling hills, warmer temperatures, farms and vineyards.
You've followed the Rogue River from the Cascades into the valley. Now it's time to experience another side of Southern Oregon.
Wine country.
Spend the Afternoon at Del Rio Vineyards
Located in Gold Hill, just minutes off Interstate 5 between Medford and Grants Pass, Del Rio Vineyards makes an easy afternoon stop on your Southern Oregon road trip.
And after a busy morning exploring, this is where we recommend slowing down.
Our tasting room is located in the restored 1864 Rock Point Stage Hotel, a piece of Southern Oregon history that once welcomed travelers making their way through the Rogue Valley.
Today, it welcomes wine lovers.
Del Rio is home to one of Southern Oregon's largest vineyards, where the warm Rogue Valley days and cool nights allow us to grow a wide variety of grapes.
Stop in for a tasting and discover some of the wines that make Southern Oregon wine country so special. Depending on what we're pouring, you might find everything from crisp whites and Rosé to Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and other Rogue Valley favorites.
If the weather is nice, give yourself some extra time to relax outside and enjoy the vineyard setting.
After a morning of sightseeing, hiking and driving, this is one stop you don't need to rush.
Allow: 60–90 minutes
Parking: Free parking is available at the tasting room.
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon, just off I-5 at Exit 43.
Small groups generally don't need a reservation, but larger groups should contact us in advance. Be sure to check our current tasting room hours when planning your trip, particularly outside the summer season.
[Plan Your Visit to Del Rio Vineyards]
Finish Your Day in Grants Pass
After your tasting, continue north on I-5 toward Grants Pass.
The drive from Del Rio is short, making downtown Grants Pass an easy place to end the day.
If you arrive early enough, take a walk through downtown, browse a few shops or simply enjoy a little more time along the Rogue River before dinner.
There are plenty of good choices depending on what sounds good after your day of exploring.
The Twisted Cork is a nice fit if you want to continue the food-and-wine theme.
Bohemian Bar & Bistro offers another downtown option with a lively atmosphere.
Or finish the day where so much of it began—along the Rogue River—with dinner at River's Edge Restaurant.
Restaurant days and hours can change, so check ahead before making one a definite part of your itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Crater Lake and Southern Oregon wine country in one day?
Yes. An early start makes it very doable. Rather than trying to drive the entire rim of Crater Lake, spend your morning around Rim Village and then travel Highway 62 toward the Rogue Valley. You'll have time for several scenic stops along the way and can still reach wine country for an afternoon tasting.
What is there to see between Crater Lake and Medford?
Highway 62 offers several worthwhile stops, including Rogue River Gorge, Natural Bridge, Union Creek, Lost Creek Lake, Cole Rivers Hatchery, the Rogue River and Shady Cove.
You could easily spend an entire day exploring this stretch of Southern Oregon.
Are there wineries near Crater Lake?
Crater Lake itself is high in the Cascade Mountains, so you won't find vineyards immediately outside the park. As you travel toward Medford and Grants Pass, however, you'll enter the Rogue Valley wine region, one of Oregon's major wine-growing areas.
Del Rio Vineyards in Gold Hill makes a convenient wine-country stop when continuing toward Grants Pass or returning to I-5.
Is Rogue River Gorge worth stopping for?
Yes, particularly because it requires relatively little time. The viewpoints are easily accessible from the parking area, making it a great 20- to 30-minute stop between Crater Lake and the Rogue Valley.
Can you see Rogue River Gorge and Natural Bridge on the same day?
Yes. They're only a few miles apart along Highway 62. If you're already traveling this route, we recommend seeing both.
What is the best time of year for this Southern Oregon road trip?
Summer into early fall generally provides the easiest access and most predictable itinerary. Crater Lake receives significant snowfall, and some roads and facilities are seasonal.
The Rogue Valley can be considerably warmer than Crater Lake, so dressing in layers is a good idea even in summer.
Always check Crater Lake National Park road conditions before leaving.
One Day, Two Very Different Sides of Southern Oregon
That's what makes this trip so much fun.
You can start your morning looking across the deep blue water of Crater Lake, follow the Rogue River through forests and volcanic landscapes, stop for a slice of homemade pie, watch the mountains give way to the Rogue Valley and end your afternoon sitting among the vineyards with a glass of Southern Oregon wine.
Not bad for one day.
And when your road trip brings you through Gold Hill, we hope you'll stop and see us.
Cheers from Del Rio Vineyards!
