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Medford, Oregon
United States
2 
0
0$$$
ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
South Umpqua Falls
Phil’s Frosty
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
Pack a lunch as there is no dining. Also, bring chairs because the whole area is covered with rocks (no soft-sand beaches). Wear river shoes or sandals because it can be very slippery. Lastly, when you are walking up to the falls, make sure to walk carefully on the mossy areas to prevent falls.
Good to know
The flow gets lower toward the end of the season, so the earlier in the summer the better. There is a fee of $5 per car for the day.
Recommended day/time
The later in the day you go, the busier it becomes. If you can go during the week there are fewer people, but it won’t really impact your wait time.
Recommended time of the year
The water is cool, so summer is the best time to go.
About This Day
Looking for some fun things to do in Oregon with kids? Head to South Umpqua Falls in Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest. Enjoy a nice, little hike down the trail to get below the falls. Then, get ready for some water-infused fun on the natural water slides. Spend the day splashing around and floating down the river. South Umpqua Falls is a great place for all ages. We sat under shade while watching the kids play for hours. Once the kids are ready and parents sufficiently relaxed, finish the day with ice cream at iconic Phil’s Frosty. A great way to spend a summer’s day in Oregon with kids.
South Umpqua Falls
National Forest Development Road 28, Tiller
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The South Umpqua Falls are a ton of fun. It’s an awesome swimming area and if you walk up to the top of the falls you can slide right off of the rocks into a 30-foot natural pool. There are a variety of different places to slide. Plus, there is also a warm-ish tub to soak in. If you would rather not go down the natural water slides, there are a few spots to just jump off of the rocks. In addition, if you go down the river a bit there is a rock to dive off of. For little ones, the water in the river in front of the falls is shallow enough to float around in.
DIRECTIONS From I-5 take a right on Crater Lake Highway OR-238 East for 23 miles (37 km). Turn left onto OR-227 North, then right onto South Umpqua Road, then, finally right onto NF-28/ South Umpqua Road.
TIP There isn’t much shade, consider bringing an umbrella or canopy if you need cover. Life jackets will come in handy for the little ones, too.
Phil’s Frosty
22161 Oregon 62, Shady Cove
$$$
An iconic ice cream drive-up in Shady Cove. Phil’s Frosty offers gigantic soft serve or Umpqua scoop ice cream. It also has hamburgers, hot dogs and other items if you are hungry.
DIRECTIONS Head west on NF-28, left on NF 2826, then left on OR-227 South, finally a right on OR-62 West and it will be on the right.
TIP The line is long, sometimes. If you are just ordering ice cream, the order comes pretty quick.
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