Sensational Shady Cove  

As you drive up highway 62 toward Crater Lake, there is a town — a town where a river runs through it. This town, serenely nestled along the wily winsome waters of the Upper Rogue, is called Shady Cove. It’s a place that has developed a relationship with the river, its resources, and its changeability. In fact, Shady Cove has so embraced the river and all it has to offer, that much of the town’s livelihood is based on the tourism that the river attracts. 

Even the Shady Cove library was built in homage to its rural and rustic surroundings and the bounty of the river. 

Inside the library, the high ceiling that spans the length of the building is reminiscent of the narrow stretches of the river canyons and the mountains that surround it. The large timbers used in the construction reflect the forest that sits at the town’s doorstep.

Elsewhere in the library, you can find cozy nooks for relaxing and reading, and a children’s area that is open and welcoming. 

The shady cove branch also has neat programs like the seed sharing library. Patrons can “check out” seeds, grow the plants, and save seeds from those plants to return to the library later.

 

Just recently, I was fortunate to visit Shady Cove for the Festival on the Rogue, “a river, community, and watershed event, that is a fun, family-friendly gathering focused on the natural wonders, recreational opportunities, and pride of place found in the Upper Rogue watershed, and ways to pass them forward.” See more information at https://www.festivalontherogue.net.

 

As I walked into the park where the festival was held, one of the first tables I noticed was none other than that of the Shady Cove library! What a treat to see the team out and about, and on a day the library is usually closed. This points to the Shady Cove librarians’ commitment to their community and of supporting local interests. 

 

I learned about the various kinds of fish that populate our local waters and got to see some up close and personal! 

There is so much more to talk about regarding the festival and some of the neat things about the town of Shady Cove. All I can really say is you’ve got to check it out for yourself. The library, gift shops, bookstore, and iconic dining experience are all worth the visit. Make a day of it and travel up the road a bit to Joseph Stewart County Park or explore Pearsony, Barr, and Mill Creek falls. 

If you don’t get a chance to visit the town soon, at least make sure you put the Festival on the Rogue on your calendar for next year. If you’re lucky like me, you might just be one of the winners of a free raffle for a rafting trip down the Rogue!