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
Coordinator: John Kerr: 541-630-0026.
Website: http://ashlandhiking.org/
November 6: Panther Point (Applegate Lake) RT (p. 157 in 100 Hikes)
TH: Take Hwy 238 from Jacksonville to Ruch (8 miles); take Upper Applegate Rd. 15 miles to Applegate Dam; drive left across dam to Dagelma TH: (2.5 mi.); EDT: 60 min.
Description: Take Osprey trail to Payette trail and continue along the lake shore to Hal’s Point for lunch; return the same way.
Distance: 7.5 miles; elevation gain: 750 ft. Weather forecast. RT driving mileage: 80 miles.
November 13: Lost Creek Lake (west shore) RT
TH: Take Hwy 62 to Lost Creek Lake; turn left onto Takelma Rd. at “Fish Hatchery” sign; Drive to end of paved road and continue on gravel road about 2.5 miles (4.5 miles from Hwy 62). Pass the Cross Creek campground and continue until you see a trail on the right coming up where the land beside the lake suddenly disappears and there is no place for a trail. There is a red marker on the sign. Continue a short distance to where you see a small road going up the hill to the left and just beyond it the well-marked Rogue River Trail to the right. EDT: 75 min. Description: Follow the trail along the Lake to left turn sign for the Blue Grotto and go left about 200 yards to the Grotto. Return by same trail. Distance: 7.5 miles: Elevation gain 750 ft. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles.
November 20: Sterling Mine Ditch Trail (Tunnel Ridge TH to Bear Gulch RT) (100 Hikes, p. 152)
TH: Follow route 238 thru Jacksonville to Ruch; turn left onto Upper Applegate Rd 2.9 miles; turn left on Little Applegate Rd 9.7 mi to Tunnel Ridge TH; EDT: 75 min Description: Climb up to the Ditch, then turn left and follow the Ditch trail a short distance beyond the top of the Bear Gulch trail lunch; return the same way.
Distance: 7 miles; elev gain: 600 ft. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 70 mi
November 27: Ashland Watershed Hike Leader: Rich Stickle
TH: Take Tolman Creek Road 3.1 miles to Toothpick TH. EDT: 20 min.
Description: Start out on Toothpick trail, then make a left onto the Catwalk and climb steadily uphill to its end; turn right onto the bicycle trail and follow the ridge above the road to a suitable location for a cross-country scramble down to the road; go downhill along the road to Lamb’s Mine TH; hike to end of Lamb’s Mine trail for lunch; return to our vehicles on Toothpick trail.
Distance: 5.5 miles; elev. gain: 1000 ft. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 15 miles.