Skip to content
  • Newsletter Sign Up
Travel Oregon
      • Regions
        • Oregon's diverse landscape is divided into seven major regions.
          See Oregon’s Seven Regions
      • Tribal Nations
        • Celebrate indigenous peoples' traditions, food, art and culture.
          About the Tribal Nations
    • Cities
      • Astoria
      • Baker City
      • Bend
      • Eugene
      • Hood River
      • Klamath Falls
      • Portland
      • Newport
      • View all
    • Destinations
      • Columbia River Gorge
      • Crater Lake
      • Multnomah Falls
      • Oregon Dunes
      • Painted Hills
      • Silver Falls
      • Smith Rock
    • Natural Features
      • Dark Sky Sanctuaries
      • Lakes and Reservoirs
      • Mountains
      • Parks and Forests
      • Rivers
      • Waterfalls
        • Art, Galleries and Murals
        • Culture and History
        • Casino Resorts
        • Events
        • Family Fun
        • Food and Drink
        • Outdoor Recreation
        • Scenic Drives
        • Shopping
    • Oregon Adventures
      • A small terrier with a toy stick prances around the bank of an alpine lake.
        A Dog’s Guide to Trails in Central Oregon
      • Several pastries, sandwiches and mugs emblazoned with Creswell Bakery on a table.
        A Food Lover’s Guide to I-5 in Oregon
      • A majestic view of the Steens Mountain, rolling clouds and high desert landscape from a highway road.
        First-Timer’s Guide to Steens Mountain
      • Hands hold a collection of shiny colorful rocks
        How to Hunt for Agates on the Oregon Coast
      • Top Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge
      • A play performed in an outdoor stage, with the backdrop set of a old English style building.
        Your Guide to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
      • View All Adventures
    • Schedule
      • Guides & Tours
      • Transportation
      • Theater and Performing Arts
      • Sporting Events
    • Types Of Travel
      • Accessible
      • Budget-Friendly
      • International Visitors
      • Pet-Friendly
      • Road Trips
      • Sustainable
    • Trip Prep
      • Oregon Travel 101
      • Packing List
      • Travel Alerts
      • Welcome Centers
    • Communities
      • Asian
      • Black
      • Indigenous
      • Latino
      • LGBTQ+
    • Find a Place to Stay
      • A red tractor sits in front of the picturesque Sakura Ridge bed & breakfast.
        Bed & Breakfasts
      • Boutique Hotels
      • Dog sits in tent with view of Oregon river in background.
        Campgrounds
      • Cowboy and cowgirl ride through grassland at Wilson Ranches Retreat.
        Farm & Ranch Stays
      • interior of geodesic dome with ocean view
        Glamping and Treehouses
      • Yellow couches in the lounge of Hotel Lucia bring warmth to the room.
        Hotels & Motels
      • Girl in red coat looks at snowy entrance to The Village at Sunriver in Central Oregon.
        Resorts
      • RV park with airstream trailers in the foreground with Oregon coast and large haystack rock in the background.
        RV Parks
      • View All Lodging
  • Free Travel Guides
  • Events
Travel Oregon
      • See Oregon’s Seven Regions
      • About the Tribal Nations
      • Astoria
      • Baker City
      • Bend
      • Eugene
      • Hood River
      • Klamath Falls
      • Portland
      • Newport
      • View all
      • Columbia River Gorge
      • Crater Lake
      • Multnomah Falls
      • Oregon Dunes
      • Painted Hills
      • Silver Falls
      • Smith Rock
      • Dark Sky Sanctuaries
      • Lakes and Reservoirs
      • Mountains
      • Parks and Forests
      • Rivers
      • Waterfalls
      • Art, Galleries and Murals
      • Culture and History
      • Casino Resorts
      • Events
      • Family Fun
      • Food and Drink
      • Outdoor Recreation
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • A small terrier with a toy stick prances around the bank of an alpine lake.
        A Dog’s Guide to Trails in Central Oregon
        A majestic view of the Steens Mountain, rolling clouds and high desert landscape from a highway road.
        First-Timer’s Guide to Steens Mountain
      • A Food Lover’s Guide to I-5 in Oregon
      • How to Hunt for Agates on the Oregon Coast
      • Top Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge
      • Your Guide to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
      • View All Adventures
      • Guides & Tours
      • Transportation
      • Theater and Performing Arts
      • Sporting Events
      • Accessible
      • Budget-Friendly
      • International Visitors
      • Pet-Friendly
      • Road Trips
      • Sustainable
      • Oregon Travel 101
      • Packing List
      • Travel Alerts
      • Welcome Centers
      • Asian
      • Black
      • Indigenous
      • Latino
      • LGBTQ+
      • A red tractor sits in front of the picturesque Sakura Ridge bed & breakfast.
        Bed & Breakfasts
        Boutique Hotels
        Dog sits in tent with view of Oregon river in background.
        Campgrounds
        Cowboy and cowgirl ride through grassland at Wilson Ranches Retreat.
        Farm & Ranch Stays
        interior of geodesic dome with ocean view
        Glamping and Treehouses
        Yellow couches in the lounge of Hotel Lucia bring warmth to the room.
        Hotels & Motels
        Girl in red coat looks at snowy entrance to The Village at Sunriver in Central Oregon.
        Resorts
        RV park with airstream trailers in the foreground with Oregon coast and large haystack rock in the background.
        RV Parks
      • View All Lodging
  • Free Travel Guides
  • Events
Newsletter Sign Up
Search by city, region, or your current location
Start Over

About the Author

Megan Janssen

Megan Janssen is a native Oregonian, freelance writer and avid runner who moonlights as a bartender. She hopes to see you on the trail!

Run Away to Southern Oregon

July 15, 2016
Ashland gets a lot of press for being an outdoorsy town, a mountain biking paradise and a trail running haven — yet the trails above town aren’t crowded, not even a little bit. I rarely see more than two people on any given trail. Despite the quiet trails, the runners of the Rogue Valley weave a tight and welcoming community. Fellow runners greet each other with smiles and cheers. Even though it’s an individual sport, sometimes it feels like being on a wonderfully dynamic team. More
found in
Southern Oregon , Ashland , Running , Hiking & Backpacking , Sports , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,
Let's keep in touch. We have lots of ideas for you.
Sign Up for Email Newsletters

About

  • About Travel Oregon
  • Advertise With Us
  • Create Content for Us
  • Privacy Policy, Terms of Use & Accessibility

Travel Industry

  • Submit Your Lodging Listing
  • Travel Industry
  • Travel Oregon Press Room
  • Recognition Programs

Explore

  • Ask Oregon
  • Oregon Welcome Centers
  • Oregon Weather
  • Travel Alerts

Partners

  • Visit the USA
  • Trip Advisor
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
©2025 Travel Oregon | The official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information.
To contact us, call 1-800-547-7842 or email [email protected]
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • 日本語
  • 中文
  • Korean
  • Español
  • Privacy & TERMS