A legacy of generous donors, this jewel of a park is just at the edge of town, and affords locals, schoolchildren, and visitors a close, affectionate look at the natural beauty of this area.
In 1983, Vincent Oredson and John D. Todd, of Mountain Ranch Development Company, donated 10 acres of land containing Clay Creek to the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. Then in 1999, the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy donated this parcel to the City of Ashland, which now maintains it as a natural area, not to be developed or harvested for timber, in agreement with the original intention of the donation.
This area has a network of about 7 miles of trails, and an elevation gain of 900 feet, and connects to the much larger Siskiyou Mountain Park. Hikers can find the length of outing that suits them best and cyclists will be pleased to see that these trails lead to an extensive amount of mountain biking trails within the watershed. The Ordeson-Todd Woods is a popular place for dogs. Woof Waste stations make clean-up a breeze. Help keep this park dog friendly by keeping your dog on a leash and under control.
This area is not a pristine wilderness, but does afford a bit wilder experience than Lithia Park, and a lovely waterfall in the rainy season. This mixed successional forest gives a very good look at the resilience of our land when it is given the opportunity to regenerate itself. Maples shading the stream help to keep the water temperature cooler, which helps fish survive the summer.
Interesting Fact: Oregon has a native orchid; calypso bulbosa, which grows here in the Oredson Todd Woods. It is magenta pink, about the size of our native violet, and if you look at it just right, you can see how it got its other name, Deer’s head orchid.
Directions: From Siskiyou Boulevard (Hwy 99) turn south on Tolman Creek Road in Ashland. Less than half a mile from Siskiyou, turn right on Green Meadow Drive, and after a couple of blocks, take a left on Lupine, where there is a parking area and a map.
Follow the signs up the paved footpath for about a quarter-mile, past a few houses, to where a trail enters the woods, along with another sign.
You can also access these trails from Park Street. Park Street is very steep, so avoid it in icy weather. Go to almost the top, park along Tamarack Road and continue on foot from there. Stay to the left, to keep from entering a private driveway. The pavement ends, then go past a gate that prevents vehicle traffic and then look for signs for either Oredson Todd Woods or White Rabbit.
