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By Joseph Vaile May 20. 2015 7:31PM The seven wonders of southwest Oregon Seastacks abound at Whaleshead Beach, located about 7 miles north of Brookings. You'll first see the Whaleshead Trail Viewpoint parking area on the ocean side of Highway 101, but the better place to access the sand is a half mile farther north at Whaleshead Beach Road, which has a parking area near the beach. Photo by Nancy McClain Travel Oregon, the state’s leading travel and tourism group, has a very popular campaign called the Seven Wonders of Oregon. I like the campaign, but I was seriously disappointed that the only southwest Oregon wonders to make the list were Crater Lake and the Oregon Coast. The other listed wonders are the Painted Hills, Smith Rock, Mt. Hood, Columbia Gorge and Wallowas. All deserving and wonderful but, in my humble opinion, they are not as great as southwest Oregon’s special places. So, Travel Oregon, I made my own list of "Seven Wonders of Southwest Oregon": 1 - Wild Rivers Coast — I’m not going to mince words: the southern Oregon coast is the most spectacular coastline in the known universe. From the dramatic cliffs to offshore islands with bright waves crashing and ample sandy beaches — it’s a paradise. Check out the Samuel Boardman State Park, once proposed as a National Park. There is much to explore just inland, including massive redwood forests. Defined by the Sixes River in the north, the Wild River Coast is a succession of breathtaking rivers including the Elk, Rogue, Pistol, Chetco, Winchuck and Smith. 2 - Oregon Caves — Known as the Marble Halls of Oregon, the Oregon Caves National Monument was established by President Taft in 1909, and it was expanded in 2014. It is a must-see in southern Oregon with the largest cave tour west of the continental divide. I had the pleasure of working on the campaign to expand the monument. The watershed protection now includes the Bigelow Lakes basin, nearby campgrounds and hiking trails. 3 - Crater Lake — Well, this one is easy. This massive lake was formed when Mount Mazama exploded in a particularly violent volcanic eruption. The resulting collapse of the mountain set the stage for this awe-inspiring clear lake that draws tourists from around the world. 4 - North Umpqua — Where to start? Hiking trails along a beautiful Oregon stream? The Dread and Terror trail. Check. Dramatic Waterfall? Tokatee Falls. Check. Hot springs? Umpqua Hotsprings. Check. A beautiful mountain? Mount Thielsen, the “Lightening rod of the Cascades.” Check. Spend a weekend on the North Umpqua — it will not disappoint. 5 - Kalmiopsis — The Kalmiopsis is a river-rich Wilderness Area in extreme Southwest Oregon. Warning: It is not for the faint of heart. Red rocks give rise to rare plants and the botanical diversity is off-the-charts. It is a refuge for rare plants, wild salmon and wilderness expanses not seen anywhere else on the West Coast. Did I mention rafting?  6 - Rogue River — I can’t believe that the Rogue did not make Travel Oregon’s list. The Rogue River has the best fish runs in Oregon outside the Columbia River. It is a world-class whitewater stream that brings in tourists from around the world. From the headwaters near Crater Lake to Gold Beach, the Rogue River is a wonder. Well, it’s on my list at least. 7 - Siskiyou Crest (including the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument) — The crest of the Siskiyou Mountains is a spectacular ridgeline right on southern Oregon’s border. Defined in the east by the Cascade Siskiyou Monument, the mountain peaks offer panoramic views with Mount Shasta in view. The Pacific Crest Trail follows much of the crest, so it is a wonder that is easy to explore on foot. The ancient Greek scholar Herodotus was the first to create the early list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Of course, Herodotus never made it to southwest Oregon. If he had, I bet he would have substituted the Wild Rogue River for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, or maybe the Kalmiopsis for the Statute of Zeus at Olympia. Joseph Vaile is executive director of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild, 541-488-5789, www.kswild.org). His Wild Side column appears every three weeks. http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20150520/NEWS/150529949 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->