Most likely you have driven northbound on I-5 far enough to observe out your right side window the impressive spillway on the North fork of the Umpqua River. Spanning almost 200 feet, the Winchester dam is 16 ft. in height. Year round the river spills between 2 and 3 thousand CFS (cubic feet per second) of shimmering water over the top in a seemingly endless ribbon.
As you travel 60+ mph you do not easily see how to access the structure much less grasp that the dam is part of a superb fish ladder and unique fish counting station. The fish pass by three, large, aquarium style windows as they reverse migrate upstream. On average some 25,000 winter steelhead, spring Chinook and cutthroat are counted each year.
The viewing platforms, down 75 ft. of wide steel stairs with handrails, allow up close and personal looks at the dam, ladder and counting works. Kids especially love being eyeball to eyeball with fish, often 25 – 30 lbs. each. It is a favorite stop of photographers and anglers who likely reminisce about the ones that got away.
Access is really quite easy. I-5 northbound, just beyond Roseburg, as you cross the bridge- itself a fine engineering specimen- start slowing. Exit 129 (Winchester-Wilbur) will be right ahead. At the off-ramp’s end, make a right hand 180 onto old 99 and the parking lot will be about 500 ft. on the left.
From here you get a good view of the three parallel bridges- the 99, the I-5 and farthest downstream, the railroad bridge. Photographers delight in trying to capture the three distinctive architectural forms with their various angles, forms and spans. You can walk on the 99 bridge as each side has a raised sidewalk. Just be extra careful of traffic whizzing past.
The middle of the bridge offers the full panorama of the dam and works. Otherwise follow the well-marked signs that double as informative narratives of the history and significance of the Umpqua fishery to the ladders and windows. Be delighted.
After the visit, travel north a few miles to historic Oakland, the first city in Oregon to be placed in the state’s historic register (1968). Oakland was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It has more than 80 structures built between 1852 and 1890. One of them, Stearns Hardware is still in business from its founding in 1887. A number of movies for the big screen have been shot in town.
No trip to Oakland would be complete without a stop at Tolly’s, an 1872 drug store with vintage soda counter. They are open from 11 to 4 with several hearty entrees including salmon, steak and pasta. But the ice cream, candy and milk shakes are the main attraction beside the memorabilia.
So, next time that you are heading to Eugene, Salem or Portland, make a point to stop at the Winchester Dam and/or Oakland. You will be glad you did.
This was originally produced for the Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune