Leave from the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat, sunscreen and rain gear as appropriate. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes = 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, Second Edition. Hike leader:Francie Skinner, 541-840-4042
Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
january 1: NEW YEAR Applegate Lake Loop (p. 147 in 100 Hikes)
TH: Take Highway 238 from Jacksonville to Ruch (8 miles); take Upper Applegate Road 15 miles to Applegate Dam; drive left across the dam to the French Gulch TH (1.2 miles); EDT: 60 minutes. Description: Make a loop on the Applegate Lake Trail system in a clockwise direction so that we get the uphill out of the way before enjoying lunch on Hal's Point. Distance: 7.6 miles; elevation gain: about 1,000 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 80 miles.
January 8: Cathedral Hills from Sky Crest TH
TH: Head North on I-5 for 34.4 miles. Take Rogue River exit 48. Turn Left on Depot Street, Turn Right on Rogue River Highway 99, Turn Left on Fruitdale Drive, Left on Clover Lawn Drive, Right on Grandview Avenue, Left on Sky Way to Sky Crest Trailhead Cathedral Hills. EDT: 1 hour. Starting at the Sky Crest Trailhead hike clockwise around the outer trails. Stopping at the Walker Trailhead then continuing down to the Espey Trailhead then back around and down to the Sky Crest Trailhead. 6.3 miles 1,338 feet of elevation gain. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 90 miles.
January 15: Sterling Mine Ditch / Jack-Ash Trail – Deming Gulch to Grub Gulch
TH: Up I-5 to the Talent Exit. Left into Talent and right onto 99 North for 0.4 miles. Left on Colver Road for 2.1 miles to a left onto Pioneer Road for 1.9 miles to a right to stay on Pioneer Road for 2.2 miles to a left for 1.3 miles to stay on Pioneer. Left on Griffin Creek Road for 1.3 miles to a continue straight on Griffin Lane for 4.3 miles to leave a shuttle car on the left near 7595 Griffin Lane. Continue on Griffin Lane for 0.5 miles to a left onto Sterling Creek Road for 2.2 miles to a left (at the trailhead sign on the right) onto 39-2-8 for 0.3 miles to a left to stay on 39-2-8 for 0.7 miles to the TH on the right. EDT: 40 minutes. Description: Head north on the Sterling Mine Ditch for 3 miles to the intersection with the Grub Gulch Trail. Then up the hill for 2.5 miles with nice views down into the valley to the junction of the trail leading back down to Griffin Lane through many mining claims ending up walking through areas of hydraulic mining from the gold rush days. Distance 8 miles; elevation gain 1,000’. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 50 miles.
January 22 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 29: Jacksonville Woodlands
TH: Take 1-5 to the Phoenix exit 24, turn right onto Highway 99, then left on South Stage Road to Jacksonville and park in the library parking lot. EDT: 30 minutes Description: I have mapped out a course that is about 6 miles and 1,400 feet of gain. We will start at the Jacksonville Library and cross Highway 238. Follow the Sarah Zigler Trail, then turn left on the connector from Britt Ridge. We will continue to the Guide to the Woodlands Flowering Plants information sign and along the Britt Canyon Trail. From there, we will continue to the Rich Gulch trail up to Panorama Point. Continue along the Rich Gulch trail then connect to the Petard DitchLoop and turn left. Continue to the White Oak Trail and turn left. Follow that until We get to Liz's Loop Trail. From there we will decide if we want to go left for a guaranteed Burn or right for an optional Hurl (Part of Liz's Loop). From there, We will go back along the Liz's Loop trail to the Petard Ditch Loop Trail to the South Fork View Trail. Take a left on the Jane Naverson Trail to a parking lot and then continue on the Sarah Ziglar trail and back to the cars at the Jacksonville Library. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles.