Our Favorite Little Oregon Canyon
A Roundabout Ride Through Umpqua Valley’s Forested Hills and Vineyards
The ride starts and ends at Stewart Park in Roseburg, Oregon. The park is a day-use-only facility and is located along the South Umpqua River on the Southwest side of town. Take Oregon I-5 exit 124 West on Harvard Avenue. Pass the Umpqua Valley Arts Center and turn right onto Stewart Parkway, cross the bridge, and turn right into Stewart Park. The park offers restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas, accessible playgrounds, disc golf course, ball fields, sand-court volleyball, and multi-use paths. It is located near the Roseburg YMCA and it features a retired steam locomotive popular with visitors and kids. In summer, free live music is offered in Stewart Park on Tuesdays at the Half Shell Pavilion.
The Umpqua Valley Arts Center features local and regional art displays in several galleries. The Arts Center was formerly the Oregon Old Soldiers Home, established in 1917–the beautiful, if humble, beginning of today’s sprawling VA Center nearby.
Our Favorite Little Oregon Canyon takes you through beautiful valleys and mountains. The historic town of Lookingglass has a country store where you might obtain some riding supplies. Ride through Strickland Canyon and past the Girardet Winery and tasting room. Ride features include some steady climbs and excellent downhill runs with a view of the Callahan Ridge.
A nice long ride, 38 miles, it starts out with a few miles of climbing along Lookingglass Road, which has narrow, but adequate shoulders, and occasionally heavy truck and automobile traffic. When the gravel pit at the top of the climb is in operation, the truck traffic is particularly noticeable. However, that traffic is quickly left behind once riders pass the gravel operation at the crest of the road. After the crest, riders get to coast down a long stretch into Lookingglass. Strickland Canyon Road is a great road winding along Lookingglass Creek. Hwy 42 has adequate shoulders but has considerable truck and RV traffic. Reston Road is an enjoyable, winding road with a steady climb on Reston Road and Coos Bay Wagon Road.
Once you’ve completed your Little Oregon Canyon ride, consider stopping by one of Roseburg, Oregon’s many excellent restaurants or brewpubs for some refueling. Bike repairs and services are available at Canyon Creek Cycles and Waldron’s Outdoor Sports.
Photos From This Ride
Fine food at True on Main Street in beautiful, historic Downtown Roseburg.
Stop in for good coffee and something to eat at the Darkroom on Jackson Street in the Heart of Roseburg.
Food truck for mobility with a brew pub for a base, Salud offers unique food and drink for all comers in the Heart of Roseburg.
Looking for authentic Mexican cuisine? Mariachi Loco is a local favorite on Jackson Street in the Heart of Roseburg.
No better Greek food in Oregon than Alexander\'s Greek Cuisine on Jackson Street in historic Downtown Roseburg.
Nothing better than a brew pub after a long bike ride! Draper\'s is ready to serve you!
Brix offers a restaurant, a bar, an event center, and a coffee bar...all within a block of one another on Jackson Street and then at Oak Avenue and Main Street. Great food and drink at every location.
Need to build up those carbs? Try Dino\'s Ristorante for authentic Italian food at the corner of Douglas Avenue and Jackson Street in historic Downtown Roseburg.
Little Brothers Pub on Main Street near Douglas Avenue in Downtown Roseburg serves up good brews and excellent sandwiches with the fixin\'s.
Northeast of the downtown area is Backside Brewery and Canyon Creek Bicycle Shop. Have a beer and pizza on your Backside while the guys at Canyon Creek fix or upgrade your bike!
Old Soul Pizza offers wood-fired pizza excellence in the Heart of Roseburg on Main Street.
Big sign, great craft brews.
the Canyon Creek guys know what they are doing and can give you good advice about where to cycle..
Here\'s Chief Repair Wrenchhero, Aaron, fixing up a casualty.
Take a look at Canyon Creek\'s inventory when you stop by.
Head over past the Roseburg Armory north of the airport for some of the best craft brews in Oregon at Old 99 Brewing Company, Arrive early if you can; otherwise, the local cyclists will have grabbed all the good seats!
Two Shy Brewing is located in an off-the-main-drag location near Garden Valley Boulevard. Go find \'em, their craft brews are excellent!
Waldron\'s sells bike and all manner of outdoor equipment...kinda like Roseburg\'s version of Cabela\'s. They repair bikes, too. Check \'em out sometime.
Like trains? Try a brew and burger at McMenamin\'s Roseburg Station. Yes, the railroad was the reason for Roseburg\'s existence back in the 19th Century, and now the old train station offers up craft brews, wine, and lots of menu choices.
Roseburg\'s urban winery, Paul O\'Brien Winery, where they not only ferment and age the wine on site, they also serve it to you in an elegant tasting room!
Azaleas and rhododendrons ablaze with color in the Heart of Roseburg!
No better place than the Bagel Tree for fresh bagels and coffee at the corner of Jackson Street and Diamond Lake Boulevard in beautiful Downtown Roseburg.
O\'Toole\'s Pub serves draft beer, wine, and delicious food on Jackson Street in the Heart of Roseburg across from City Hall.
French pastries in the Heart of Roseburg on Jackson Street near City Hall. Bon appetit!
