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. Hike leader:Francie Skinner, 541-840-4042
Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
June 7: PCT from Old 99 to Pilot Rock
TH: Take I-5 to the Mt. Ashland exit. Proceed under I-5 to the PCT crossing. EDT: 30 min. Description: follow the PCT towards Pilot Rock and return the same way. Climbing Pilot Rock is optional. Distance 9 miles; climbing 1,500 feet (add 500 feet for a successful Pilot Rock summit). Weather forecast. RT mileage: 30 miles
June 14: Cameron Meadows / Frog Pond Loop (p. 152 in 100 Hikes) Leave at 8:00 AM
TH: Take Highway 238 from Jacksonville 8 miles to Ruch; turn left onto Upper Applegate Road for 19 miles past Applegate Lake; turn left onto Elliot Creek Road for 1.3 miles to the junction of FS 1040 and FS 1050. Sharp right onto FS 1040 for 9.7 miles to the Cameron Meadows TH on the left. Leave a shuttle car there and then proceed another 2 miles to the Frog Pond TH, parking just before the Frog Creek ford. EDT 90 minutes. Description: You may have heard about this hike, or read about it (2012 Report or 2014 Report), and now you can do it. From the TH head uphill 2,000' on the Frog Pond trail to a lunch spot in Cameron Meadows. After lunch wander around a bit looking for the Cameron Meadows trail before heading down to the shuttle car. Distance 6 miles; 2,000' elevation change. Weather Forecast. RT mileage 110 miles.
June 21: Duck Lakes Leave at 8:00 AM
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 at the T onto dirt road FS 40N22 for 0.7 miles to a bear 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.
June 29: Mt. Eddy (opposite Mt Shasta in California) (p. 210 in 100 Hikes) -Leave at 8:00 AM.
TH: Drive south on I-5 and take Stewart Springs Road exit (about 1.5 miles after passing rest area next to Weed); turn right at both stop signs, then left onto Stewart Springs Road; after 4 miles, turn right onto Road 17 for 9.3 miles to the upper / PCT TH. Drop the hikers here and then position a shuttle car 1.3 miles further on down the road at the hairpin curve at the lower TH. EDT: 105 minutes. Description: Wildflower heaven, inviting lakes, spectacular views of Mt Shasta; alternate turn around point is the ridge top before the long, barren slog to the summit. Distance: 10 miles; elevation gain to summit 2,200 feet, to ridge 1,400 ft. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 150 miles.