Leave from the CVS 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: Nanci
Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
February 4: Mountain of the Rogue - New Hike rwcommended by Scott
Hike Leaders: Nanci & Scott
TH: Take Interstate 5 north 27 miles past Gold Hill. Take exit 45B (Valley of the Rogue State Park). Go left on Twin Bridges Road and then another immediate left of North River Road. Take North River Road for 1.6 miles. The trailhead will be on your right, follow the signs.
ETD: 35 minutes. Head up the Rat Pack trail to the Darkside trail to the top. Then go back down Darkside to Sasquatch (shows as planned for the future on map) connecting back to Rat Pack and then back to the cars. Distance 7.75 miles and 1,375 vertical. Weather forecast. RT driving mileage: 70 miles.
February 11: Collings Mountain - Applegate Lake (p.146 in 100 Hikes)
Hike leader: Nanci
TH: Proceed through Jacksonville on Highway 238 to Ruch. Left on Upper Applegate Road for 16 miles to the Hart-Tish TH where we drop the shuttle car; park on the west side of the road by the guardrail. Continue south along the lake for another 2.5 miles to the Watkins TH. EDT: 75 minutes. Description: woodsy trail with excellent views. Distance: 7 miles; climbing: 2,500 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 90 miles.
February 18: Applegate Lake Loop (p. 147 in 100 Hikes). Hike Leader: Bob.
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.
February 25: Ashland Watershed west side loop: NEW HIKE, Hike Leader: Bob
TH: From Ashland Plaza, follow Winburn Way south through Lithia park for about ¾ of a mile merge onto Granite Street (310 Granite Street, Google Map) and take the first right into the parking lot where the old park headquarters are. We will follow the Lithia Park trail southward up and around the old water tank past the small lake and across Granite street to the temporary bridge leading up the Wonder Trail. Our lunch stop will be at the top of the Wonder trail at the rocks. Then head north and down Fell on Knee trail to the intersection of Hitt Road trail then down to Lithia park via Ditch Rd Trail and the Nature Trail. About 7.7 miles and 1,800 ft vertical. Weather forecast.