The great thing about travel is getting the opportunity to try and discover new food, craft beverages or culinary experiences. The not so great thing about travel is attempting to find hidden gems and only being able to find chain eateries. The Great Umpqua Food Trail is your map to secret, culinary treasures of the Umpqua Valley.
Not only is the warm weather in the Umpqua Valley great for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking or rafting down the North Umpqua River, but also winetasting and indulging in savory mouthfuls of local produce straight from the fields.
This mild climate as well as a rich variety of soil types contribute to the successful cultivation of such crops as grapes, berries, nuts, melons, apples, plums and nurseries growing everything from exotic plants to Christmas trees.
The Trail highlights a variety of local wineries, eateries, breweries, cafes, farms, and other local food-focused artisans that take full advantage of this abundant harvest. Every business featured on the Trail showcases something uniquely special about the area.
The Great Umpqua Food Trail features several farms that offer U-pick produce for those wanting to harvest their own fruit and vegetables. Due to COVID-19 some farms have updated their public picking procedures so be sure to call ahead when planning to visit. If picking produce doesn’t sound appealing, the Great Umpqua Food Trail features farms with prepicked produce as well as some amazing eateries around the Roseburg area.
Planning agricultural adventures around the Umpqua Valley calls for a willingness to discover and try new things. The farmers, wine makers, brewers, chefs, and artisans here focus on quality all while trying to cultivate something truly unique and special to themselves and the Umpqua Valley. When exploring the Great Umpqua Food Trail, don’t be afraid to seek out new things as well as old favorites.
What exactly is in season?
During July in the Umpqua Valley you can find cherries, blueberries, peaches and apricots in season. Once August comes around some of those fruits will still be in season, but the new month will bring some early apples, pears and plums, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers at select farms. September and October will welcome some cooler autumn air as well as pumpkins, corn, hazelnuts, and winter squash.
No matter what time of year you visit, there is always something great in season in the Umpqua Valley. There’s plenty to check out in Douglas County when it comes to wineries, breweries, eateries, and farms. The Great Umpqua Food Trail is designed to be explored at any pace. Below is a weekend packed with local businesses that are featured on the trail.
A weekend on the trail
Starting a weekend Great Umpqua Food Trail adventure begins on a crisp Saturday morning at the Umpqua Valley Farmer’s Market in Roseburg. It is a crash course in all-things food. On a typical Saturday the market features local honey, pasta and other local artisans, in season produce, fresh baked goods, food trucks, local meat, live plants, and much more. The farmer’s market is a place where breakfast, lunch and possibly dinner ingredients for a week can be purchased. It’s a great showcase of a lot of agricultural items produced in the Umpqua Valley.
After checking out the farmer’s market, some nearby wineries are great next stops. Foon Estate Winery is just a short drive from the farmer’s market. Then it’s just a quick hop over the South Umpqua River to Season’s Wine Cellar and Oran Mor Artisan Mead. Oran Mor is the ideal place to try a flight of meads produced with local honey and ingredients. Then a stop at Growing Miracles Lavender Farm to pick up a few lavender based items and some hazelnuts. Swing by JosephJane Winery to sample all their wines or at the very least pick up a bottle or two of their lavender-infused wine.
From there, enjoy the scenic drive along the majestic Umpqua River out to Elkton, Oregon. While in Elkton, stop by Tomaselli’s Pastry Mill & Café for lunch and pastries to-go. Elkton has three great wineries right in town, River’s Edge Winery, Brandborg Vineyard & Winery and Bradley Vineyard. It’s also worth checking out the Outpost Café that is inside the Elkton Butterfly Pavilion. By now it’s probably time to head back to Roseburg, but be sure to stop by Estill Farms near Drain and grab some fresh or frozen blueberries!
Once back in Downtown Roseburg swing by Umpqua Sweets and Treats and grab some tasty and sweet souvenirs to bring back to friends and family. Then it’s a short walk around the block to Old Soul Pizza, where the specialty is wood-fired pizza that pairs nicely with a local beer or wine.
After a delicious pizza enjoy the scenic drive along the North Umpqua River to Steamboat Inn where a variety of suites, cabins or cottages can be rented for the night (check thesteamboatinn.com for availability). Steamboat Inn offers a full breakfast menu filled with appetizing selections and wash it down with some locally roasted coffee by Takelma Roasting.
While enjoying breakfast, take the time to plan out another day focusing on Great Umpqua Food Trail businesses at your own pace. Maybe check out Brosi’s Sugar Tree Farm and pick up some U-Pick produce. Or take a growler to fill up at some local breweries like Two Shy Brewery or Backside Brewery before leaving town. Perhaps by now, staying another night in the Umpqua Valley and experiencing everything else the area has to offer is sounding like a better and better plan.
Share and show off your Great Umpqua Food Trail selections by hashtagging your social media posts #ExperienceRoseburg and #GreatUmpquaFoodTrail.
Create your own weekend food trail itineraries or follow one of three suggested journeys at greatumpquafoodtrail.com. Explore other Oregon Food Trails at oregonfoodtrails.com.