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
March 1: Snowshoe on Mt. Ashland
March 8: On the Rocks
TH:
I-5 north to exit 33, Central Point. Right onto East Pine Street for 0.4 miles to a left onto Hamrick Road for 0.8 miles which bends right into West Vilas Road for 0.2 miles. Left onto Table Rock Road for 7 miles to a left onto Wheeler Road for 1/2 mile to the TH. EDT: 35 minutes. Description: I have decided to keep it fairly easy. We will hike up Lower Tablerock and across the top. Then return down to the trailhead. If the weather is still favorable, we will drive over to Upper Tablerock and hike to the top and around and down. The mileage could be between 5-8ish miles and 720-1500 feet of gain. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 50 miles
March 15: Jacksonville Woodlands
TH: Take 1-5 to the Phoenix exit 24, turn right onto Highway 99, then left on South Stage Road to Jacksonville and park in the library parking lot. EDT: 30 minutes Description: I have mapped out a course that is about 6 miles and 1,400 feet of gain. We will start at the Jacksonville Library and cross Highway 238. Follow the Sarah Zigler Trail, then turn left on the connector from Britt Ridge. We will continue to the Guide to the Woodlands Flowering Plants information sign and along the Britt Canyon Trail. From there, we will continue to the Rich Gulch trail up to Panorama Point. Continue along the Rich Gulch trail then connect to the Petard DitchLoop and turn left. Continue to the White Oak Trail and turn left. Follow that until We get to Liz's Loop Trail. From there we will decide if we want to go left for a guaranteed Burn or right for an optional Hurl (Part of Liz's Loop). From there, We will go back along the Liz's Loop trail to the Petard Ditch Loop Trail to the South Fork View Trail. Take a left on the Jane Naverson Trail to a parking lot and then continue on the Sarah Ziglar trail and back to the cars at the Jacksonville Library. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles.
March 22: Lower Rogue River Trail: Grave Creek to Alder Creek (p. 189 in 101 Hikes)
TH: Take I-5 north to Exit 71 toward Sunny Valley. Keep left at the fork to continue toward Sunny Valley Loop. Continue on Sunny Valley Loop Drive to Leland Road. Turn left on Sunny Valley Loop. Turn right onto Leland Road. Head west on Leland Road toward Sunny Valley Loop 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Lower Grave Creek Road 2.6 miles. Turn left to stay on Lower Grave Creek Road 8.9 miles. Turn right to go down to the Graves Creek Boat Launch.
EDT:90 minutes. Description: Follow north rim of Rogue River canyon past Rainie Falls to Alder Creek and back; spectacular scenery, but trail is a little rough in places. You may find poles useful on this hike for both the occasional side stream crossings as well as the rocky up and down trail. Distance: 10 miles; About 2,500' of up on this one; lots of little ups and downs that add up to a good workout. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 150 miles.
March 29: Lithia Park and the Japanese Garden
Plan B: Since we may still have stormy weather, we will hike in Lithia Park and the Japanese Garden for around 4 miles then pick a restaurant on the Plaza for a late brunch or early lunch. Here is the proposed route. We can change trails as we go along. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 10 miles.