White Rabbit mountain bike trail (6.7 miles) is popular because it is so accessible to Ashland. It is heavily used by hikers as well as mountain bikers, and provides great views of Mt. Ashland and Emigrant Lake. To ride as a loop, begin at the Lupine drive parking area of Ordson-Todd Park. Climb through some stair steps and broken ground, and a couple of really short steep hills for 2 miles and up 1100 feet of elevation to Loop Road at the top. There is a short downhill section just before the final climb to the top. At the top, is a 3-way intersection with Caterpillar trail and Queen of Hearts. Then zigzag down the side of the mountain for a thousand feet, and get most of the hairpin turns. You can leave the trail at the top of Park Street, or take the irrigation ditch back to downtown. To park at the top, the trailhead parking on Loop Road is just downhill to the north-west.
Alice in Wonderland is a mixed trail of fire road with water bar jumps, turning into single track as you approach Lithia Park. Again, it is heavily used and accessible from either Ashland Loop Road or Tolman Creek.
Not highly technically challenging, but strenuous, ride the Ashland Loop Road up the ridge south of Ashland up to the Siskiyou Crest. It is a commitment and a serious push up 3000 ft. of elevation but the trail down through the forest is challenging and a few short climbs on the way down will cool your brakes. From Lithia Park, ride Granite Street up the creek about a mile. Follow the left fork to join Glenview Drive above the dam, and continue about ½ mile to Ashland Loop Road. It becomes Forest Road 2060 at the National Forest Boundary. Climb a few more miles then enjoy about 15 miles of rolling grades. The whole loop is 28 miles. This trail is narrow, rutted and can be closed during fire season, or when wet weather threatens erosion, because the trail is within the watershed for the drinking water supply for the town of Ashland.
Cathedral Hills (7.2 miles, 1400 feet elevation gain) in Grants Pass is varied enough to keep your interest. Flowing up and downs are punctuated by some challenging jumps. Start off in the woods, shady and cool, then rise onto the brushy crest of the hills for great views of the town. This trail is also well used by families and horseback riders, so keep your eyes on the trail ahead.
Applegate Lake Loop follows the 18 mile shoreline of Applegate lake, with mostly single-track, and a total of about 5 ½ miles of paved or gravel roads. Cross the dam and begin at the French Gulch picnic area. There are a few short, moderately steep sections, occasional deadfalls, and a few places to boulder-hop. This is not a technical ride. The trails are mostly well-packed decomposed granite or clay loam, and the roads around the lake are well maintained. From Ashland, take I-5 north to the Phoenix exit. Turn left on Fern Valley Road for half a mile then turn right on OR-99. Drive 1 ½ miles then turn left on South Stage Road, towards Jacksonville. Take South Stage Road, follow the signs to Jacksonville for 8.8 miles through a right-and-left jog in the road where you will enter the town of Jacksonville, and join Highway 238 at California Street. Continue on OR-238 for 9 miles, then turn left on Applegate Road. Continue 16 miles on Applegate Road/Upper Applegate road until you see the dam rising to meet the road on your left.
