North Umpqua River Roller
This “roller-coaster” ride starts and ends at River Forks Park in Roseburg, Oregon. The park is a large day-use-only facility and is located at the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Umpqua River with restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas, playgrounds, disk golf and golf course, ball fields, sand volleyball and multi-use paths. There is a fee for parking. Right next door is the Master Gardener’s Discovery Garden.
This ride is one of our favorites, but a bit more difficult because of hill climbs than some on the Cycle Umpqua website.
After leaving River Forks Park, you head north to the little town of Wilbur, Oregon and turn east on North Bank Road towards Glide, Oregon. North Bank Road climbs, dips, and winds with great views of the river, ranches, and nearby Cascade hills. Take a look at the madrone (red-barked tree) and oak-savanna character of the area, along with the broad expanses of grasslands and pastures.
At Glide, just over the bridge, turn left on Route 138 and pedal to Colliding Rivers, where the North Umpqua and Little Rivers meet head-on, the only place in the world where this happens. The Colliding Rivers interpretive area and overlook will be on the left (restrooms available). The Forest Service North Umpqua Ranger District office and Exploration Center, run by the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History, is right next door to the Colliding Rivers overlook. If you are hungry or need refreshments, you can detour further east and enter Glide where services are available.
After leaving Glide, you pedal a short distance on Little River Road and then turn west on Buckhorn Rd. These roads offer a good riding surface generally, but a couple of substantial hills on Buckhorn may challenge you. The ride travels through farm- and ranch-land and takes you to the little crossroads of Dixonville where there is a country store. The remainder of the trip means traveling along some beautiful and scenic country roads into Roseburg where many services are available. Colorful kiosks on Jackson and Main Streets can provide you with information about restaurants, coffee shops, brewpubs, and other businesses in The Heart of Roseburg. Also available in Roseburg are bike service and repair businesses: Canyon Creek Bicycles and Waldron’s Outdoor Sports.
To get to River Forks Park, you take Oregon I-5 Exit 125 and turn West onto Garden Valley Road. Go West about 5 miles passing the Grange and the Roseburg Country Club and then, after crossing the North Umpqua River, turn left on Old Garden Valley Road. Go about a mile and see the signs on your left to River Forks Park.
Photos From This Ride
Take some time and visit the Discovery Garden at River Forks Park...a treat for the senses.
Kiosks with maps of the Heart of Roseburg let the pedestrian or the bicyclist know where to find essential services
Each kiosk in Downtown Roseburg interprets information about the Land of Umpqua
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.
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.
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!
Le Petit Cafe counter with a cooler full of goodies!
