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
Hike Leader: Rich Stickle: 541-326-6108
Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
January 2: Viewpoint Mike (near Lost Creek Lake) (100 Hikes, p. 241
TH: From Medford drive Highway 62 past the turn off for the Lost Creek Lake fish hatchery and take next right (Crowfoot Road) a few hundred yards later onto a paved road. The parking area is soon after on the right and for the trailhead, cross the road at the back left of the parking area and you will find a sign marked Viewpoint Mike. EDT: 60 minutes. Description: very nicely laid out trail parallels Highway 62 as it climbs through varied terrain to a large rock outcrop with a stone wall looking down on Lost Creek Lake. Distance: 6 miles RT; elevation gain: 1,200 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles
January 9: Lewis Loop - Ashland Watershed
TH: From Rite Aid head west on Ashland Street, bear right on Siskiyou Boulevard. At the light just past Triangle park turn left on Morton. Head up Morton to a jog right and jog left at Ashland Street to stay on Morton. Follow Morton on up to where it curves back around first to the right then to the left where the dirt Ashland Loop Road takes off to the left and continues on up the hill for about 1 mile to the White Rabbit TH on the left. EDT: 10 minutes. Description: Head up White Rabbit for half mile then right onto Caterpillar Trail all the way up to right onto Lewis Loop. Some views of surrounding mountains. Distance: 6 miles. Elevation gain: 750'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 10 miles.
January 16: Lost Creek Lake Marina to Casey State Park
TH: Drive up Highway 62 past the 27 mile post for a right into Casey State Park. Leave a shuttle car there. Continue up 62 to a left into Joseph Stewart Park, follow signs to marina parking ($4 day per car). Description: Follow the paved trail on the south side of Lost Creek Lake out towards William Jess dam. Take the upper trail overlooking the dam and the lake. Stop for lunch by the two long benches. Continue on the trail down towards the river, then follow the road out towards the Highway 62 bridge. Go under the bridge and up the stairs to take the bridge across the river. Then take a quick left onto the trail back to Casey State Park. Distance: 5 miles. Elevation gain: 300'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles.
January 23: Buck Prairie I Snowshoe
TH: Take DIM about 13 miles to Buck Prairie I Sno-Park. Sno-Park Permit required; passengers should help pay for it. EDT: 30 minutes. Description:The forecast is sunny and 40s at Buck Prairie on Monday so let's go for fun in the snow! Bring, borrow, rent or buy snowshoes or skis. Dress in layers; pack water and lunch. We'll do 3 to 5 miles on snowshoes, maybe more for the skiers. We'll have lunch around noon, then decide if we want to do more. Weather Forecast. Howard Prairie SNOTEL. RT mileage: 40 miles
January 30: Sunny Side of Lost Creek Lake (west shore)
TH: Take Highway 62 to Lost Creek Lake; turn left onto Takelma Road at “Fish Hatchery” sign, Drive about 2 miles to the signed Takelma Day Use Parking Area. EDT: 75 min. Description:There's going to be a cold trend starting on the weekend and affecting the weather next Monday. So we'll go for the best weather and hike on the sunny side of Lost Creek Lake. We'll hike out and back from the picnic area (north of the dam), then after lunch take a walk across William Jess Dam, about six miles total. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles.