Note: All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips. This article was updated on August 20, 2020.
Looking for the road less traveled this summer? Follow HoneyTrek’s lead and blaze a trail across Oregon’s most dramatic mountain range.
Everyone knows about iconic U.S. road trips like the Pacific Coast Highway or Route 66, but hugging the curves of the Cascade Range? This has been one of our favorite legs on our 8,000 mile journey across the States. Within the Pacific Ring of Fire and running from Northern California to southern British Columbia, this mountain range is stunning across the board. Though to tackle it without crampons or a month of vacation time, we’d vote for the Oregon route between Ashland and Terrebonne. Spunky towns, glaciated mountains, high desert, craft beer country, and more adventure than an adrenaline junkie knows what to do with, this slice of the Cascade Range has it all.
The Route
Distance: ~300 miles
Timing: 2 nights Ashland, 1 night Crater Lake National Park, 2 nights Bend/Terrebonne, and 1-2 nights Portland.
Get artsy in Ashland
We pulled into Ashland and liked it instantly. A university town with a world renowned theater company, it exudes energy, creativity, and small-town charm. From February-November, catch a play or music performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Tuesday and Saturday shop the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market. The pride for all things local is infectious.
Farm stay at Willow-Witt Ranch
Just 12 miles from Ashland, nestled in a mountain valley covered in wildflowers, a historic and working organic farm has opened its doors to curious travelers and foodies. Even though Ashland is a destination in its own right, we actually came to the region just to experience Willow-Witt Ranch. More than a farm, it’s a project to conserve this unique ecosystem and get people of all ages in touch with the food we eat.
We slept in cozy canvas cottages and woke up with the sun to harvest spinach and arugula, gather eggs from the coop, and learn the ropes of goat milking from the lovely owners, Lanita & Suzanne. We spent our afternoons trekking the 445-acre property with their friendly pack goats, cooking up our hand-harvested delights, and capping off the day in the fire-heated hot tub under a blanket of stars. Spend a night or come for their day-tours…you won’t forget it!
Crater Lake National Park
Make your way east to Highway 62 and hop on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, with a special pit stop at the raging Rogue River Gorge and Beckie’s Cafe for an amazing slice of pie. An eruption over 7,000 years ago created a pumice desert and a profound caldera, now Crater Lake National Park.
Cruise along the 33-mile Rim Drive, breaking for countless photo ops of the deepest lake in the United States at 1,949 feet. The full loop and many of the trails are only open in mid-summer and early fall, so drive or hike as far as you can, and if all else fails there are snowshoe rentals and cocktails at the historic, Crater Lake Lodge.
Bend: Beer, music and an enviable place to live
Whether you take the straight-forward highway 97 or detour from Sunriver onto the Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway, you won’t be disappointed arriving to Bend. As sporty and entrepreneurial people, we’ve always had a little fantasy about moving here. It seems everyone is a skier, kayaker, brewmaster, artisan, or webmaster. We dove right into Bend culture with a music festival on the river (check the summer events calendar, it’s packed with fun!) and a few stops on the 16-brewery Bend Ale Trail.
Hike or climb Smith Rock State Park
Twenty-seven miles north of Bend, lies one of the “Seven Wonders of Oregon”: Smith Rock State Park. After going to such a grand national park as Crater Lake, our expectations weren’t too high for this place, but it completely dazzled us!
The Crooked River cuts through sheer red mountains of tuff and basalt, and world-class climbers scale its cliffs from all angles. Some even consider Smith Rock the birthplace of modern American sport climbing and there are more than a thousand bolted routes on offer. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, take the 3.8 mile Misery Ridge Loop Trail for a challenging hike with immensely rewarding views of the dramatic park and the Cascade Range.
Rejuvenate at Panacea
All these mountain adventures warranted a bit of R&R (any excuse for a bit of pampering) so we checked into Panacea at the Canyon. An off-the-grid glamping retreat set on the cliffs of the Crooked River, this place was built with nine years of hard work and passion by a husband-wife team.
The co-owner Darren, artist and hot-air balloonist by trade, greeted us and his wife showed us the way to the teepee spa for our chakra-balancing treatment. We were sent into a state of bliss that carried through our two-night stay, with walks in the meditation labyrinth and sun salutations on the cliffside yoga deck. Whether you use Panacea as your base camp for adventures in central Oregon or as a retreat away from it all, this place is worth a visit.
Top off your Oregon road trip with a scenic drive around Mount Hood, before finishing in Portland for a craft beer and cheers to the road less traveled!
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