Sunday I hiked the Wagner Butte Trail for the fourth time. This was only the second time I made it to the top. My first two attempts were with my kids when they were little so we only went for a mile or two. The entire hike is over 10 miles and includes climbing (and then descending) over 2,200 feet.

I brought along my new lens (Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 DI II Lens) so I have far more than a week’s worth of photography for you. I’ll post several images a day and save some for later. For today, I’ll just explain how to get there (and post some rather uninteresting images that may help in orientation) as most guide books and internet sites give incomplete and/or erroneous directions.

Wagner Butte Trail begins southwest of Ashland. However, to get there, you need to go through Talent (to the northwest of Ashland). You can also get there from the top of Mt. Ashland, but most people are coming from other places in the Rogue Valley, making the Talent route easier.

From Highway 99 (Pacific Highway) turn onto Rapp Road which will eventually turn into Wagner Creek Road. Follow Wagner Creek Road all the way out. When Wagner Creek Road turns into a dirt road, at a point crossing the creek, check your odometer. You will find the trail head 6.1 miles from this point. Continue on Wagner Creek Rd. It forks several times. Stay on the most developed road (usually a left at the forks). At mile 4 since you started on the dirt road you will find a cattle guard. Cross it and go left at the fork immediately in front of you. Only two more miles until the trail begins. At 6.1 miles you will see the sign in the first photo if you are traveling slowly enough and look to your left. Pull into the parking lot on your right, pictured above.

The most difficult part of Wagner Butte Trail is the first (and last) mile as it is fairly steep.

Bring lots of water. I brought 40 oz., and it wasn’t nearly enough. I could have used 80 ounces, but it was a warm/hot day. If the weather forecast in Ashland/Medford is for 80 degrees or more, bring at least 2 liters of water per person. Note that it won’t be as hot as Ashland or Medford at this altitude, but it will feel warmer than Ashland or Medford on the way up since you will be climbing. Bring a jacket for the way down if the forecast is for 70 degrees or less in Ashland/Medford.

Posted on September 6th, 2011 under nature, places. Tags: hike, signs, Tamron 10-24mm lens, wagner butte. Comments Off on Wagner Butte Hike week

Parking place for High Lakes Trail

This past week we went on a little family outing to the east of Ashland. We have done the trail from Lake of the Woods to Fish Lake before, but this was the first time we all made it for the entire round trip.

To avoid paying the $7 day-use fee by parking at one of the lakes, we parked at the sign pictured above which is approximately where the A is on the map below.

Biking trail map for Lake of the Woods

At this point we made a mistake and went to the right since the sign says Fish Lake is to the right. This does not put you on the High Lakes Trail (which is what you want if you are hiking or biking). Instead, it puts you on the Resort Trail which looks like an old car trail. The Resort Trail is anything but resort-like, and it eventually disappears, but not before you have to carry your bike over lots of fallen trees and ride over other rather difficult terrain. To avoid this pitfall, keep going down the road (to the left toward Brown Mountain Trail) in the top photo a bit (maybe 20 yards) and then hang a right on High Lakes Trail.

More photos and info to come in the next week…

Posted on August 14th, 2011 under nature, outside of ashland, places. Tags: biking, fish lake, high lakes trail, hike, lake of the woods, trails. Comments Off on High Lakes Trail No. 6200

My first time down White Rabbit was New Year’s Day in 2001. The weather was warm, and I was a rather unexperienced mountain biker at the time. This trail is not for the beginner. There are some serious drops in a few places that aren’t even easy when you walk the trail. The names of the side trails are all Alice in Wonderland themed. For a map and directions see my prior post.

Posted on September 30th, 2010 under only in ashland, places. Tags: biking, hike, signs. Comments Off on White Rabbit

I took today’s photo last week on White Rabbit Trail, less than half a mile from Park Street.

Posted on September 21st, 2010 under nature, only in ashland, places. Tags: biking, hike, mountains. Comments: 1

There are many paths to pick from when you get outside of Ashland’s main streets. I like to try a different one each time. It can get a little crazy if you are pressed for time or don’t want to get lost so take this along if that is your situation. Click on the image for a much larger and detailed version (which you can print) of this free map of places to hike, bike, and run in the mountains around Ashland. Keep heading south (from Four Corners) if you want to go to the top of Mt. Ashland.

Posted on September 18th, 2010 under places. Tags: biking, hike. Comments Off on City of Ashland – Creek to Crest Trail Route (map)

Revisiting one of my favorite places in Southern Oregon, the Avenue of Giant Boulders.

Posted on August 9th, 2010 under nature, places. Tags: avenue of the giant boulders, clouds, hike, mountains, trees, water. Comments: 1

The hike to this lake is not very difficult. It is a bit under 2 miles each way from the trail head. Next time I want to take the more difficult, 9.6-mile loop trail that takes you above this lake and right by the Long Gulch Lake.

The location is northern California, about an hour and a half south of Ashland.

Posted on July 12th, 2010 under nature, places. Tags: california, hike, summer, trail gulch lake, water. Comments Off on Trinity Alps – Trail Gulch Lake

I could have taken this photo on a number of hikes near Ashland. But I didn’t because I won’t be back in Ashland for another four and a half months. I took this picture on a hike in Kamakura, Japan earlier this month.

Posted on March 23rd, 2010 under places. Tags: hike, trees. Comments: 2

Table Rock in Medford makes for a great hike or a great view from any angle.

Posted on January 28th, 2010 under nature, places. Tags: aerial, clouds, hike, medford, skywatch. Comments: 2