Leave from either the CVS (previous Rite Aid) parking lot on Ashland Street or Comfort Suites parking lot, Exit 19 as indicated promptly at 9:00 AM. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; CSNM = Cascade Siskiyou National Monument; RT = round trip mileage; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. AHG Hike Leader: Liz Landreth 707-332-2699.

The wildflower walks focus on botany, geology and ecology. There is plenty of time for stopping and discussion as well as taking photographs and birding so birders are encouraged to bring binocs. There are no specific walk distances  - it all depends on the number of species we encounter; we get our exercise running off into the underbrush!  Figure a minimum of 4 hours for these excursions. Bring water, lunch, hat and sun-screen.
PLEASE NOTE:  Wildflower Walk locations are subject to change due to weather and bloom conditions. Contact me if you are not on my WW distribution list so I can add you for last-minute updates.

July 3– MacDonald Peak Botanical Area, Mt. Ashland – NEED HIKE LEADER Meet at Rite Aid parking lot off I-5 Exit 14. Leave at 8:30 AM.
Lots of tiny alpine flowers give way to Giant Fraseras on a rocky exposed slope with great views. This one can be hot because of the exposure on the alpine ridge. Directions: Take I-5 South 9 miles to the Mt. Ashland Exit #6; turn Right onto old Highway for 99 0.7 miles. Turn Right on Mount Ashland Ski Road 9.5 miles past the ski lodge area. At the gate continue on dirt road FS-20 for another 3.2 miles past the intersection with the PCT and road to Grouse Gap to the Split Rock/McDonald Peak TH, a narrow turnout. EDT: 50 minutes. RT: 30 miles. Weather forecast.

July 18: CSNM Mariposas Lily Preserve - Take 3
Meet at Rite Aid parking lot off I-5 Exit 14. Leave at 8:30 AM.
Seeking the rare pink Mariposa lilies, Calochortus greenei, trying for a mid-season find. This is a bushwack, folks, there is no trail down a fairly steep slope. Directions: Take I-5 South 9 miles to the Mt. Ashland Exit #6; turn Right onto old Highway 99 for about 5-6 miles to just before the entrance ramp onto 1-5 heading south. Park and walk across the ramp to the other side, hop the guardrail. EDT: 45 minutes. RT: 35
miles. Weather forecast.

July 31: Mt. Ashland Wildflower Bowl
Meet at Rite Aid parking lot off I-5 Exit 14. Leave at 8:30 AM.
An AHG WW favorite, guaranteed to excite wildflower enthusiasts of all stripes. With so many flowers to see, we never seem to make the 2-/12 miles to the turn to Grouse Gap. Directions: Take I-5 South 9 miles to the Mt. Ashland Exit #6; turn Right onto old Highway 99 for 0.7 miles, then Right on Mount Ashland Ski Road 9.5 miles past the ski lodge area. At the gate take dirt road FS-20 for about 1,000 ft (before the campground) then turn Left on FS40S15 and head downhill about ¼ mile to the PCT crossing and TH. EDT: 40 minutes. RT: 30 miles. Weather forecast.