Following orders to reduce the spread of COVID 19, everyone should stay at home but one exception is to hike and bike as long as you can keep a 6-foot distance between you and another person.  There are over 47 miles of trails in the greater Ashland area. There are many more miles of forest service roads that are a good option now while practicing social distancing.  I find the Oregon Atlas and Gazeteer as well as the Benchmark Oregon Road and Recreation Atlas to be indispensable for navigating Forest Service roads and little known areas of Oregon.

A few of the less frequently visited trails near Ashland are:

Fell On Knee, a trail that can be reached from Hitt Road off of Strawberry Lane or the west side of 2060.  Fell on Knee is one of our favorite close-to-town hikes.  It takes you through a beautiful ponderosa pine forest with big boulders, wildflowers and views (very briefly) of Mt Mcloughlin and Mt Ashland.  This is a multi-use trail.

Lewis Loops are off of the Caterpillar trail on the east side of 2060. These loops provide some of the best views of both Mt Mcloughlin and Mt. Ashland in the entire Ashland watershed.  Lewis Loops are hiking only trails.

Mike Uhtoff Trail, our personal favorite, is easily accessed from either the top of Park Street or Oredson Todd Woods.  It’s a steady, and sometime steep, climb uphill but we hike this frequently with kids as young as 5 and although it is challenging, it is a beautiful hike through oak and madrone forest.  No bikes allowed on this one.

Sterling Mine Ditch Trail

The greenish-brown Siskiyou Mountains as well as the Applegate Valley are highlighted on this beautiful 4.7-mile loop hike with stunning views, spring wildflowers galore and, especially fun for my kids, a tunnel you can crawl inside . Be careful of poison oak!

From Jacksonville, take Highway 238 to Ruch; turn left on Upper Applegate Road. In three miles, turn left on Little Applegate Road and travel 9.7 miles to the Tunnel Ridge trailhead at 9.7 miles.

Middle Fork Applegate Trail

Near Applegate reservoir, just barely south of the Oregon-California border, the Middle Fork Applegate trail goes along the emerald waters of the Middle Fork of the Applegate river, through old-growth forest, past an old mining cabin and in the spring offers a beautiful display of wildflowers.  This is a favorite once the weather heats up and you are in need of a swimming hole.