Bear Camp Road, Southern Oregon. One of the most beautiful mountain drives.

Bear Camp Road, Southern Oregon. One of the most beautiful mountain drives I’ve experienced! Stretching roughly thirty miles through the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest, Bear Camp Road connects the Rogue Valley near Merlin with the mountains above the Pacific Coast near Gold Beach. This historic route follows a corridor used for generations, including by Native Americans and later by miners and settlers during Oregon’s gold rush era. Today, it’s a narrow, winding mountain road with incredible views, beautiful forests, countless dirt roads to explore, and some amazing dispersed camping opportunities. The road climbs to elevations above four thousand feet and is typically closed or impassable during winter because of snow. Even when open, it’s a route that deserves respect and preparation. I finally got to drive it from the coast toward Merlin, and the fall colors made the experience even better. Come along for the ride. This is one of those lesser-known Oregon roads that deserves a spot on your adventure list! #TheLoneOverlander #BearCampRoad #SouthernOregon #Overlanding #RogueRiverSiskiyou #RoadTrip