Posted by Rick Turner on March 24, 2013 at 10:23 AM
I am traveling to Oregon to visit my daughter in Ashland in May. Plan to spend a short week there so any suggestions on locations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Figure out how far you want to go, then visit a ranger station and pick up some U.S. Forest Service maps for that area. The supply of subjects is nearly endless. You will be in reach of three of my favorites with some driving. Lower Klamath and Tulelake National Wildlife Refuges in California for birds. Kalmiopsis Wilderness for flowers. And Boardman State Park on the coast. If you like hiking you might try out the Trinity Alps in California. On the other hand, you should be able to find plenty without all of the driving. It depends on what you like to shoot. Lots of folks do jet boat or rafting trips. You could hike the Rogue River. It should be beautiful at that season.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on March 24, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Thanks for mentioning "Photographing Oregon", John!
Rick: Ashland itself has some nice photo opportunities around the downtown plaza and especially in Lithia Park, which should have lots of flowers in their prime in May.
You could do a day trip drive up Hwy 62, following the Upper Rogue River and then up to Crater Lake National Park. There will still be a lot of snow at Crater Lake and the Rim Drive will not be open around the whole lake, but there are great views right from Rim Village.
Another possibility is the main part of the Rogue River, the section between Merlin and Graves Creek. Several good photo viewpoints along the road. And of course, a rafting trip or jet boat ride on the Rogue is tons of fun, with May being one of the best times for that, too.
Not far from Ashland, a little west of Medford is Jacksonville, a little town that still looks like the old west - the whole town is a National Historic District. Plenty to point a camera at.
Southern Oregon has quite a few vineyards and wineries, some of which are quite scenic, too. Visitor centers (and online sources) have maps and suggested tour routes.
From Ashland, it's a little over two hours drive to get to the north end of the California Redwoods. Just before Hwy 199 gets to the coast is Jedediah Smith State Park, with some outstanding groves of the huge trees. Late May is best time to visit there, as the rhododendrons are usually in bloom then.
Discussion
3 repliesThanks in advance.
Rick: Ashland itself has some nice photo opportunities around the downtown plaza and especially in Lithia Park, which should have lots of flowers in their prime in May.
You could do a day trip drive up Hwy 62, following the Upper Rogue River and then up to Crater Lake National Park. There will still be a lot of snow at Crater Lake and the Rim Drive will not be open around the whole lake, but there are great views right from Rim Village.
Another possibility is the main part of the Rogue River, the section between Merlin and Graves Creek. Several good photo viewpoints along the road. And of course, a rafting trip or jet boat ride on the Rogue is tons of fun, with May being one of the best times for that, too.
Not far from Ashland, a little west of Medford is Jacksonville, a little town that still looks like the old west - the whole town is a National Historic District. Plenty to point a camera at.
Southern Oregon has quite a few vineyards and wineries, some of which are quite scenic, too. Visitor centers (and online sources) have maps and suggested tour routes.
From Ashland, it's a little over two hours drive to get to the north end of the California Redwoods. Just before Hwy 199 gets to the coast is Jedediah Smith State Park, with some outstanding groves of the huge trees. Late May is best time to visit there, as the rhododendrons are usually in bloom then.
Enjoy your visit!