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 5 : Bolt Mountain
TH: Take I-5 north to exit 55 for US-199/Redwood Highway towards Ocean Beaches/Crescent City. Continue on 199 for 2.5 miles. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto OR-238 E and go 1.5 miles. Turn right onto New Hope Road. Go 3.2 miles. Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road and go 1.8 Miles. Turn right onto Wetherbee Drive 0.7 of a mile until you reach Fish Hatchery County Park. Park at trail head. There is a pay station below and the cost is $5.00. There is also a port-a-potty. EDT:1 hour. Description: The trail has a good mix of smooth trail and rocky sections. The first 2 miles are the steepest part of the climb. After that it is smooth sailing to the top for the most part. About 1.5 miles up the trail you'll see a small spur trail leading off to the northeast (right). Make sure you stay left there and follow the main trail. There are great views of the valleys and mountains around the area from the top. Some wildflowers will also be blooming. Distance: 6.5-7 miles Elevation Gain: 1,300'. Weather forecast. RT Mileage: 110 miles.
March 12: Frank Hill Road Trail Leave from the TH at 9:00 AM.
TH: Drive through Ashland, up Highway 99 turn left onto North Main Street, Right on Fox to Ashland Mine Road. Park at or near Liz Landreth's house at 1400 Ashland Mine Road. Frank Hill Road is at the corner of Ashland Mine Road.
Description: Hike up the road which eventually becomes a trail. Continue up past abandoned trailers to multiple overlooks of the Rogue Valley. Weather forecast.
March 19: Hike in the 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, then a quick right on Iowa up to the top, left on Terrace up to the reservoir on Waterline. EDT: 10 minutes. Description: Given the changing forecast we will stay in the Ashland Watershed. We will hike up White Rabbit to Caterpillar, then up to Toothpick down to Catwalk. From Catwalk we will go up to Martys, then down to the cars. Total hike is 6.2 miles with about 1,200 feet of vertical. We can add more distance by including Lewis loop (1 mile) or upper Martys (2 miles plus another ~800'). Weather forecast. RT mileage: 10 miles.
March 26: Greenhorn Park
TH I-5 south to exit 773 toward CA-3/Fort Jones/Etna. Right on Moonlit Oaks Avenue. Right onto Fort Jones Road/South Main Street for 0.6 mi Left onto Greenhorn Road 0.7 Greenhorn Park is on the left. We will hike the trail system on the Miners, Humbug and Big Ditch trails and then head around the reservoir. 4-5 miles and 620 feet of gain. EDT 45 minutes. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 80 miles.