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
November 6: Big Tree & Mount Elijah - Oregon Caves
LEAVE TIME 8:00 AM
TH: Merge onto I-5 N 41.0 mi Take exit 55 for US 199/Redwood Highway toward South Grants Pass/Crescent City 0.2 mile Continue onto US-199 S/Redwood Highway 29.6 miles. Drive to OR-46 E 37 minues (20.3 mi) Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve 21000 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Distance: 9.15 miles loop to Mt. Elijah and back
Elevation Gain: 2,390 feet
Trailhead:Visitor Center, follow Big Tree Trail to the left for 1.32 miles to the widest-girthed Douglas-fir tree known to exist in Oregon. At 1.7 miles, continue along the Mt. Elijah Trail. At 2.74 miles, stay left on the Mt. Elijah trail to the summit. Descend a little over a mile and reconnect on the previous part of the Mt. Elijah Trail. After another mile connect back to the Big Tree trail, but this time turn to the left and return to the trailhead.
Mt. Elijah with a summit of 6,390 feet takes you past meadows and Bigelow Lakes. Clear days offer views of Mt. Shasta and Preston Peak.
EDT: 1 hour 50 minutes. Weather report. RT: 190 miles.
November 13: Pacifica Trails at Steve Miller's Ranch NEW HIKE
TH: I-5 North 10 miles to exit 24. Left on North Phoenix Road. Right on Highway 99 for 1.4 miles. Left on South Stage Road for 3.4 miles. Right on Griffin Creek for 0.3 miles. Left on South Stage Road 2.8 miles. Continue on East California Street for 1.6 miles. Continue on Highway 238 for 20.3 miles. Left on Water Gap Road 2.3 miles to Pacifica, A Garden In The Siskiyous. These are trails that are around the Steve Miller Ranch in Williams. It will be an easy hike with very little elevation gain. Distance 5-7 miles Elevation gain 737 feet. Gaia shows the hiking trails at just under 5 miles while the Pacifica webpage says there are 7 miles of trails. We will have the option to stop at Plaisance Ranch and Winery after the hike. Drive Time 1 hour. Weather Forecast. Roundtrip Mileage 90 miles.
November 20: Litha Park and the Japenese Garden
Since we may still have stormy weather, we will hike in Lithia Park and the Japanese Garden for around 4 miles with 600' of elevation gain. Option to have lunch on the Plaza afterwards. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 10 miles.
November 27: Oredson Todd to Mike Uthoff
TH: Ashland Street to left on Tolman Creek Road 1.2 miles. Right on Green Meadows Way 0.3 mile. Left on Lupine Drive. Short hike the dabefore Thanksgiving. We will hike for 5 miles on the Oredson Todd and Mike Uthoff Trails. Elevation Gain 1,558'. Weather Forecast: Drive Time 6 minutes. RT mileage: 3 miles.