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
December 6: PCT - Castle Crags - North from Dog Creek to Sabin's Point Leaving Rite Aid at 8:00.
TH: Head south on I-5 to the Castle Crags exit (724). Right on Castle Creek Road for 3.3 miles to the Dog Creek TH on the right at an old mine. EDT: 90 minutes. Description: Take the 4W18 spur trail 0.7 mile to its junction with the PCT. Left on the PCT and head north on the shoulder of Castle Crags above the North Fork of Castle Creek to Sabin's Point for lunch. Great views of the Craigs and the canyon. Poles are useful on this hike. Distance: 10 miles. Elevation delta: 1,920'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 180 miles.
December 13: Lost Creek Lake (North Shore) (p.82 in 100 Hikes)
TH: Drive across the high bridge on the north side of Lost Creek Lake and make an immediate left on Lewis Road and continue for 1 mile to the TH; EDT: 60 minutes. Description: "generally level", pretty trail through the woods along the north shore of Lost Creek Lake past the spur to the Blue Grotto and on to our usual lunch spot at the bench below a rock outcrop overlooking the lake; return the same way. Distance: about 10 miles RT; 900 feet of up. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles.
December 20: 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.
December 27: Collings Mountain - Applegate Lake (p.146 in 100 Hikes).
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.