Ashland Parks and Trails
There are so many ways to explore the outdoors in Ashland, you may need to visit The Bard’s Inn more than once just to see and do everything our town has to offer. For general information about Ashland parks (including dog-friendly parks), visit the City of Ashland About Parks page.
Lithia Park
Wide walking trails and wooden bridges wind through Lithia Park along Ashland Creek. Picnic tables, restrooms, benches, and playground equipment are located along the main trail, which is just under one mile long. Beyond the end of the main trail you’ll find steeper trails that continue through the woods to the swimming reservoir at the extreme south end of the park. Beyond that, a network of separate hiking and mountain biking trails continues into the hills.
North Mountain Park
North Mountain Park encompasses a Nature Center, Demonstration Gardens, multiple playing fields and several acres of wildlife-friendly open space and trails.
Garfield Park
Locals call it the “water park”. This three-acre, dog-friendly park features a playground, basketball court, sand-pit volleyball courts, and public restrooms. Kids and grownups alike can enjoy the newly-built splash pad on hot afternoons. Located at the intersection of East Main and Garfield streets, the Water Playground is open May through September from 11AM to 7PM.
Hobart Bluff
Hobart Bluff is a rocky outcrop overlooking Hobart Lake in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The area is home to many exotic flowers and many rare species of butterfly. The hike is easy to moderate difficulty, and passes through meadows and old-growth forests. The distance is about four miles one way. A short branch trail leads to the summit of Hobart Bluff, with unsurpassed views of the Rogue Valley and surrounding area.
Pilot Rock
At the crest of the Siskiyou mountains, Pilot Rock towers over the upper Rogue Valley. The trail to Pilot Rock is short but steep and can be somewhat treacherous with loose gravel and dirt, but is oh-so rewarding at the summit. The climb up Pilot Rock itself involves scrambling over steep uneven rocky terrain with a couple of short (ten feet or less) vertical scrambles, and for those who persist and reach the summit, the reward is a panoramic view of Southern Oregon and Northern California, including Mount Shasta, Mount Ashland, and Mount McLoughlin. The road to the well-marked trailhead is rough, and four-wheel drive is recommended.
Maps and Links
Ashland Parks
There are 34 parks and properties to explore in the Ashland Parks system
Bear Creek Greenway
Bear Creek Greenway is a 20 mile bike and walking path from Ashland to Central Point
Lithia Park
Lithia park is a 93 acre park in the heart of downtown Ashland
Hiking in Ashland
There are many miles of trails available to hikers and bicycles from Mt. Ashland to Lithia Park
Booking Your Hotel
Relax and put your feet up at The Bard’s Inn Hotel after your active day hiking and sightseeing Ashland’s beautiful parks and trails.