Leave from the Safeway parking lot in Ashland 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, 3rd edition.
Co-leaders: Alex Maksymowicz: 541-482-1964; Lynn Clegg: 541-552-9045
Website: http://ashlandhiking.org/
March 1: Snowshoe trip. Great Meadow/High Lakes Trail (Winema NF) (100 Hikes, p. 128) - Sno pass required for drivers
TH: Follow DIM to the Great Meadow Sno Park on Hwy 140 a short distance west of the intersection of DIM and Hwy 140; EDT: 75 min
Description: Follow the trail across the Great Meadow to Lake of the Woods, then turn right and follow the High Lakes Trail a reasonable distance before stopping for lunch; return the same way
Distance: 4-5 mi; elev. gain: 100-200 ft. Billie Creek Divide SNOTEL. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 85 mi
March 8: Lost Creek Lake (North Shore) (100 Hikes, p.88)
TH: Drive 35.5 mi on Hwy 62; turn left on Lewis Rd 1 mi to TH; EDT: 60 min
Description: “generally level”, pretty trail through the woods along the north shore of Lost Creek Lake; a short detour to see the Blue Grotto is an option for those who haven’t been there; return the same way
Distance: 7 mi RT; elev. gain: about 500 ft. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 mi
March 15: Applegate Lake: Payette Tr from Manzanita TH to French Gulch (p. 157 in 100 Hikes)
TH: Take Hwy 238 from Jacksonville area to Ruch (8 mi); turn left onto Upper Applegate Rd and drive 15 mi to the Applegate Lake dam; cross the dam and continue 1.2 mi to the French Gulch TH; leave a shuttle car; cross back over the dam and make a left onto the Upper Applegate Rd 7 mi to its end at the T. Left on Elliot Creek Road for 0.9 miles. Just past the bridge make a left at the Seattle Bar day use area and follow the road around until it ends at the Manzanita Trailhead. EDT: 75 min
Description: Walk along the shore of Applegate Lake for 4.5 mi; turn left onto the old road; take the usual return route to the French Gulch TH via the Osprey, Calsh, and Payette trails.
If there are insufficient participants for a shuttle, we will do an in-and-out hike from the Manzanita TH.
Distance: 7.5 mi; elevation gain: about 500 ft. Weather forecaast. RT mileage: 100 mi
March 22: Rogue River Trail, east from Peyton Bridge to Hurd Creek (p. 88 in 100 Hikes—last paragraph)
TH: From Medford drive 35.5 mi on Hwy 62; turn left on Lewis Rd to Peyton Bridge TH parking area (east end of Lost Creek Lake); EDT: 60 min
Description: Follow undulating trail along the north shore of the Rogue River to the second of two impressive waterfalls; return same way.
Distance: 6.5 miles RT; total elev. gain: 1000 ft. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 100 mi
March 29: Da-Ku-Be-Te-De Trail (Applegate Lake) (p. 158 in 100 Hikes)
TH: Take Hwy 238 from Jacksonville area to Ruch (8 mi); turn left onto Upper Applegate Rd and drive 16 mi to Swayne Viewpoint, one mile past Applegate Lake dam. EDT: 75 min
Description: Walk some 3.5 miles along the north shore of Applegate Lake to the Copper boat ramp (directly opposite the Manzanita TH on the south shore, where we started the March 15 hike); retrace our incoming route after lunch.
Distance: 7 miles RT; elevation gain: unknown—generally level, with undulations. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles