September 7: Mount Bailey (p. 56 in 100 Hikes) - Meet 8:00 AM
TH: Take Highway 62 to Union Creek, then branch left on Highway 230. Approximately 2.2 miles past the Crater Rim Viewpoint rest area make a left onto Road 3703. At 2.2 miles drop a shuttle car at the intersection with NF-300 (the rough road to the upper TH). Continue on 3703 for another 3 miles to a right on NF-450 for 0.8 miles to the abandoned TH.  EDT: 2 hours. Description: We planned to do this version of the hike last year but ended up not doing the shuttle. This year we will use the west side open woods approach to head up to the summit. After lunch we will descend the "official" trail past the hole in the rock and across the saddle. When we get down to the upper TH we will take a right on the road and walk 1.7 miles on NF-380 and then take a right onto NF-300 for 900 feet back to the shuttle car. Distance: 7.2 miles. Elevation gain: 2,600'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 190 miles.

September 14: Duck Lakes  Meet at 8:00 AM in the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street
TH: Down I-5 to the Fort Jones/Etna exit (Exit 773).  Follow SR 3 for 31 miles and turn right onto French Creek Road (between Etna and Callahan).  Follow this paved road for 6.8 miles and turn right onto dirt road FS 40N22 for 0.7 miles (following signs to Duck Lake/Payne Lake trailheads) to a right onto High C Road for 1.3 miles to the TH on the left. EDT: 90 minutes.  Description: At 26 acres, Big Duck Lake is the largest lake in the Russian Wilderness.  It is 27 feet deep and at 6,400 feet elevation.  Little Duck Lake is a gem of a lake up against a massive cirque. The trail is a combination of long ago abandoned logging roads and single track trails. Distance: 9 miles if we do both lakes. Elevation gain: 2,700'.  Weather forecast. RT mileage: 160 miles.

September 20-22: Bend Overnight

Tuesday 9/20
Drive to Bend Tuesday afternoon in time for a group happy hour and dinner. We will be staying at the Three Sisters Inn again. Contact them directly at 541-382-1515 to make your reservation. Let them know that you are with the Ashland Hiking Group to receive the special group rate of $84.99 per night, including breakfast.

If you would like a little excitement on your way to Bend plan on visiting the mile long Lave Tube at the Lava Lands Visitors Center. About 18 miles north of La Pine take Exit 151 Cottonwood Road. Right at the stop sign and then follow Cottonwood Road for about 1 mile to the visitors center on the left.

Wednesday 9/21
Swampy Lakes / Tumalo Falls Hike
TH: Head north on Highway 97 for 0.2 miles to a left onto Greenwood Avenue. Cross the river and the street changes to Newport Avenue.  At 1.0 mile take the second roundabout exit onto NW 14th. At the next roundabout take the first exit onto Galveston Avenue. This becomes Skiliners Road and then NF-4603. At about 10 miles from town the road changes to gravel - continue 2.5 miles to the TH at the road end. Description: Delightful walk past impressive waterfalls, pleasant forest and colorful wildflowers. Distance: 7.6 miles. Elevation gain: 1,300'. Weather forecast.

Thursday 9/22
Smith Rock
TH: Take Highway 97 north for 21 miles to a right in Terrebonne onto Smith Rock Way and follow the signs for 3.3 miles to the park. EDT: 30 minutes. Description: We did an abbreviated version of this hike last year and liked it so much we are going again. We will be doing a clockwise loop of this world class rock climbing Mecca. Taking the River Trail to the Mesa Verde Trail passing Monkey Face. On to the Summit Trail, Burma Road Trail and finishing on the Wolf Tree Trail. Distance: 7 miles; elevation gain: 1,100'. Weather forecast.

September 28: Grayback Mountain (p. 160 in 100 Hikes) Meet at 8:00 AM in the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street. Hike leader: OGrapeSwani (AKA Gary Swanson)
TH: Take Highway 238 from Jacksonville and cross the bridge just beyond the Applegate store.  Left on Thompson Creek Road to just past the end of the pavement (11.7 miles) and make a right on Road 1005.  After 0.2 miles on 1005 stay left to remain on 1005. It is then an additional 3.7 miles on Road 1005 to the TH. NF 1005 is still in rough shape, but passable with high clearance vehicles. EDT: 1:40. Description: Hike up to the Windy Gap trail and then head up the ridge to the summit for panoramic views from the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, to Mt. Shasta, Mt McLoughlin and Crater Lake rim.  Return the same way or make a loop of it by going down via the meadow. Distance 6+ miles. Elevation gain 2,500 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage 100 miles.