Leave from the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street promptly at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat, sun-screen and rain gear. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; RT = round trip mileage; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes is 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, 3rd edition
Hike Leader: Rich Stickle: 541-326-6108
Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
January 6 Viewpoint Mike
TH: From Medford drive Highway 62 past the turn-off for the Lost Creek Lake fish hatchery and take next right (Crowfoot Road) a few hundred yards later onto a paved road. The parking area is soon after on the right and for the trailhead, cross the road at the back left of the parking area and you will find a sign marked Viewpoint Mike. EDT: 60 minutes. Description: A very nicely laid out trail parallels Highway 62 as it climbs through varied terrain to a large rock outcrop with a stone wall looking down on Lost Creek Lake. Distance: 6 miles RT; elevation gain: 1,200 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles
January 13: Lewis Loop - Ashland Watershed
TH: From Rite Aid head west on Ashland Street, and bear right on Siskiyou Boulevard. At the light just past Triangle Park turn left on Morton. Head up Morton to a jog right and jog left at Ashland Street to stay on Morton. Follow Morton on up to where it curves back around first to the right then to the left where the dirt Ashland Loop Road takes off to the left and continues on up the hill for about 1 mile to the White Rabbit TH on the left. EDT: 10 minutes. Description: Head up White Rabbit for a half mile then right onto Caterpillar Trail all the way up to right onto Lewis Loop. Some views of surrounding mountains. Distance: 6 miles. Elevation gain: 750'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 10 miles.
January 20: Jacksonville Woodlands
TH: Leaving the Ashland Rite Aid at 9:00 AM. We will car pool to Jacksonville where we willl do Rich's Loop and Liz's Loop and include the Panorama Viewpoint. About 5-6 miles with perhaps 1,000' elevation gain. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 50 miles.
January 24: Bonus Hike to Steve's 40 Acres
January 27: Snowshoeing at Mt. Ashland to the Golf Ball
TH: Drive south on I-5, turn off at Exit 6 for Mt. Ashland, drive up a short distance on old Highway 99, and turn right up Mt. Ashland Ski Road. Pass the lodge across the parking lot to reach a dead-end parking area near a closed gate on FS Road 20. A Sno-Park permit is required for each car (passengers should help pay for it). EDT: 30 minutes. Description: Smooth, packed snow on FS20 ideal for snowshoes, XC skis, yaktrax, or even your hiking boots. We'll go up the road towards the Rabbit Ears. WeatherForecast. RT mileage: 30 miles.