Relocating to Roseburg from Eastern Oregon and I need help on what outdoor activities are close by (Portland: buy)

[Michelle&J]

My husband grew up in Eastern Oregon and loves to go up in the mountains. He goes mudding, rides dirt bikes and four wheelers. My daughter has even begun driving her own four wheeler. So my question is, is there somewhere relatively close to Roseburg that we can still go out and do this? We are used to just driving 5 or 10 minutes to get up in the mountains. I could really use help here so he knows that all his outdoor activities will still be available.
Thank you very much!

[Steve97415]

There are lots of recreational opportunities in the Thousand Valleys of the Umpqua. Be aware, though, that web-footers (western Oregonians) tend to be more environmentally conscious than bunch-grassers (eastern Oregonians). Four-wheeling impact is much more destructive in wetter areas than it is in drier ones. BLM lands probably offer the best prospects. See though if you can get them to get him to get over the juvenile machismo image of ripping up the land with internal combustion equipment and do something healthy instead. Go into the wilds on foot or with a mountain bike and you'll raise your level of appreciating of the outdoors to one that motorheads never get to experience.

[Michelle&J]

I grew up in Portland and love going for hikes and enjoying the beauty of nature, as does he. Where we go dirt biking is on an area reserved for this sort of thing. I know that there are the Umpqua sand dumes relatively close, but I guess what I was wondering was if there was anywhere closer than that in which he could go and enjoy riding. It is not something he does to tear up the land, but rather we all go for a ride, him on his dirt bike and my daughter and I on a four wheeler in designated areas. We make a day out of it by packing a lunch, taking a nice walk around and take in the scenery. I do not really like your generalization about individuals on the East side compared to those on the West. I just was curious if there is this option for us close to Roseburg.

[backdrifter]

I'm sure there are such designated areas for that because a lot of people in Southern Oregon do like to go dirtbiking and four-wheeling, etc. The thing is that I'm not sure the type of people who *generally* post on this board would be the kind of people who spend their time doing those things (like our last poster...).

I have friends who enjoy four-wheeling, but their family owns their own very large property and do it there. However, there are also a lot of people who go mudding and so on in National Forest and BLM lands (often illegally) here in Josephine County and it really is very destructive to our sensitive and extremely unique ecosystem in this particular area.

I wish I could offer you some suggestions, but I just am not familiar enough with four-wheeling or with the Roseburg area. If you hold out, maybe there is someone on here who does know where you could go.

Actually, one thing I might suggest is calling a dirtbike or four-wheeler dealer in Roseburg and asking them if they know of some places where you could do that.

Hope you enjoy Roseburg!

[Michelle&J]

Thank you for the information. I never thought about calling a dealer down there to ask....I appreciate the help

[StealthRabbit]

check here, doesn't look too close to Roseburg, better buy a few hundred acres.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/atv_map.pdf
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department: ATVs About Us
I know folks around Glide who 'off-road' in many areas nearby, I doubt if it is all private land., and is quite close to Roseburg.