Welcome to Medford, Oregon! Located in the heart of the beautiful Rogue Valley, Medford is a vibrant city that acts as a perfect homebase for thrilling outdoor adventures, local wine tasting, and beautiful scenic views.
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the top things to do in Medford, Oregon. This list will have something for everyone. Medford, Oregon was the perfect mix of adventurous and relaxing for us and we hope this list of things to do will help you get the most out of this amazing destination. Let’s dive in!
Disclosure: All opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.
Check out a local coffee shop
There are many coffee shops to choose from in Medford! Our favorite was Forage Coffee which is a beautiful plant shop and cafe that serves amazing coffee and light breakfast items.
We absolutely loved our oat milk lattes and avocado toast. We loved the decor here too. It’s definitely somewhere you could hang out for a while.
Visit Crater Lake National Park
While not in Medford, Oregon, a visit to Crater Lake National Park is one of the best things to do in Medford, Oregon! Medford is less than 2 hours from the park entrance, making it great for a day trip.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and the 9th deepest lake in the world! It was formed from a volcanic eruption and has crystal clear blue water.
Many visitors don’t realize how snowy Crater Lake National Park gets during the winter. Due to the snow, the park is typically open from June to October as access can be limited during the winter due to heavy snowfall.
Crater Lake offers hiking, a scenic drive with numerous overlooks, camping, and even swimming during the summer. It is also a recognized Dark Sky Park.
Since Crater Lake is not a huge national park, you can explore plenty in just one day. While staying in Medford, we woke up for sunrise and headed to Watchman Peak Overlook and then spent the day exploring the park.
Check out our one day itinerary for Crater Lake here.
Chase waterfalls
Medford is the perfect home base for exploring numerous waterfalls.
There are several nearby waterfalls but it would be best to dedicate a day trip to chase waterfalls as most of the waterfalls are 1-2 hours from Medford in the Umpqua National Forest and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
You could visit all of these waterfalls in a day trip as most of the trail distances are short!
| Waterfall | Distance from Medford | Trail Length | Trail Description |
| Mill Creek Falls | 1 hour | 0.8 miles RT | Easy trail along a paved path and wooden bridge leading to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall. |
| Barr Creek Falls | 1 hour | 1 mile RT | Easy trail through a forested area leading to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall. Same trail as Mill Creek Falls. |
| Pearsony Falls | 1 hour | 0.4 miles RT | Easy paved trail to a viewpoint overlooking the falls |
| Whitehorse Falls | 2 hours | 0.2 miles RT | Easy trail with a viewing platform overlooking the waterfall, accessible for wheelchairs. |
| Toketee Falls | 2 hours 12 minutes | 0.8 miles RT | Moderate trail with some elevation gain, leading to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall and a lower viewing platform. You can travel to the base of Toketee Falls, but only if you are in great physical shape, have excellent traction hiking boots, and the ground is dry. |
| Rogue River Viewpoint | 1 hour | no hiking required | Not technically a waterfall, but this stop is well worth it as the trail is short. There’s a walking path to several overlooks to view the Rogue River and the beautiful surrounding landscape. |
| Watson Falls | 2 hours | 0.6 miles RT | An easy trail to the tallest waterfall in Oregon at 272 feet. A narrow waterfall that you can walk to the base of. One of the most photogenic waterfalls! |
Go wine tasting
The Rogue Valley is known for its wineries and vineyards. There are 33 wineries in the Rogue Valley and we wish we could have tried them all, but alas, we will be back! A list of things to do in Medford, Oregon is not complete without wine tasting on it.
2Hawk Vineyard and Winery had our favorite wine we tried in Medford. The parking lot is directly in front of rows of vines which have delicious looking grapes hanging from them. They have a great patio and lawn area to enjoy a tasting.
Dancin Vineyards which you could guess by the name of it is surrounded by vines. Right near the tasting area is a beautiful garden with a Koi pond in the middle.
Relik Winery is a great stop for a tasting and lunch. Yes, they have Alpacas and Donkeys. Enjoy a glass of wine and artisan pizza in the middle of some fruit trees on their lawn.
Visit Harry & David
Harry & David is famous for their pears and gourmet food. Did you know the Harry and David headquarters are located in Medford?
At their flagship store in Medford, you’ll fine a wide range of gourmet food products such as fresh fruit, chocolates, bakery items, wine, their famous Moose Munch gourmet popcorn, truffles, and gift baskets.
This is a unique and quick stop to visit this iconic brand’s flagship store.
Visit a lavender farm
During the summer months, visiting a lavender farm is a unique thing to do in Medford, Oregon! Many of the farms offer u-pick lavender, lavender products, and a beautiful relaxing setting.
Here’s a list of lavender farms near Medford:
- Dos Mariposas Vineyards & Lavender Farm
- English Lavender Farm
- Goodwin Creek Gardens
- Lavender Alley
- Lavender Fields Forever
Hike Roxy Ann Peak
One of Medford, Oregon’s best hikes, Roxy Ann Peak is an incredible trail close to town! The trailhead is located in Prescott Park which is also home to several other great trails.
The trail to Roxy Ann Peak is 3.5 miles round trip with about 1,100 feet of elevation gain. It’s considered moderate. The views of Upper and Lower Table Rocks on the ascent are beautiful.
Be sure to stop at North Roxy Overlook on your way to the peak for another beautiful view before the summit. This trail is great year-round, but be sure to check weather and recent trail conditions on AllTrails.
