Beginners -
Ashland
Ride Ashland’s Beautiful Watershed- 8 to 16 miles with short gentle rolling hills.
A gentle leisurely ride on a closed FS road with beautiful views of Mount Ashland and Wagner Butte. Crisp clean air and blue skies are yours to be had, topped off with quiet sounds of nature. You will feel refreshed with a head dunk in the snow melt waters of Ashland Ck.
Over the years I have seen Bards Owls, Black Bears, Cougars, Deer, and Elk. You will never know what you will see around the next corner.
Rides start at $125 per person. This includes a bike rental, a guide, and a wonderful dinner at one of Ashland’s yummy restaurants. $100 per person if you have a bike and still want a mouth watering dinner. $75 per person without a rental and dinner.
High Cascades
Or you can ride in the High Cascades through lava fields and old growth forests. You will look directly at the heart of Mt. McLaughlin, Southern Oregon’s tallest peak at 9,500 feet. See trees bigger in diameter then an SUV and as tall as a building. This is a 18 mile ride with a swimming hole at the half way point. So bring your swimming suit.
Rides start at $125 per person. This includes a bike rental, a guide, and a wonderful dinner at one of Ashland’s yummy restaurants or at one of the two lodges located in the Mountains.
Rides for the more adventurous- guided rides start at $75 per person.
Revenge of the Siskiyous
Ride the historic “Revenge of the Siskiyous” mountain bike race course. You start from the Mt. Ashland Ski Lodge and ride fire roads with amazing views of Mt. Shasta, Mt. McLaughlin and sites that will take your breath away. This was earliest mountain bike races in Oregon, imagine riding a 30 pound bike with no suspension and brakes that barley worked. You would be beat and rattled to death. Ride it today on a full suspension bike, so nice and smooth. The down part is that you will not get to ride “Revenge Hill” After riding 30 miles, riders had to climb a steep, horrendous 4 mile climb. It was agonizing, your legs hurt, and you lungs ached for air. But on this ride you get to skip this part, you get the 30 miles of sweet downhill with only one climb.
For the experts you can start in Lithia Park and ride to Mt. Ashland and then ride the course. This is a mind altering ride. And you can brag to your buddies that you just rode +40 miles.
I was only 18 years old when I got the chance to race in the “Revenge of the Siskiyous” I finished with the biggest dirt eating smile on my face. I was tired and my legs were burning, but I finished. I had way too much fun. This was what mountain biking was all about, riding with your friends- all 100 of them. This was the race to see all of the mountain bike legends, the ones who put mountain biking on the map.
Applegate Lake
A rolling 19 mile loop with one .5 mile climb. There are a few miles of FS roads but 85% of the ride is all single track, sweet single track at that. There are endless places to take a swim so bring your suit and take a dip. This trail is usually open year round.
Brown Mountain
Similar to the ride in the High Cascades there is a loop to be had. You get to ride through lava fields and stands of old growth, but you get more climbing, a ton more technical single track, and you get to breath hard. This is one of my favorite rides, you will never see another person coming the other way. Approx. a 20 mile loop.
Starting at $75 per person.
Rye Spur
This ride starts of similar to High Cascades, and Brown Mountain but heads in the opposite direction. A gentle 6 mile climb on FS road to reach the single track. 6.5 miles of single track later you feel refreshed. This finishes off with a gentle pedal back to the support vehicle. Starting at $75 per person.
To add some spice to life add the Rye Spur and Brown Mountain together. Guaranteed to leave you smiling in pain.
Rides for the Clinically Insane-
Hell Rides
This ride leaves by 0600 hours. There is tons of climbing, technical single track, and lots of pain. Do I need to say more. The ride will cost you $150. But you get a home cooked breakfast, goodies & munchies, and a lunch. To top it off you get to go out for dinner & beers after you finish the ride. You even get a cynical t-shirt from Cascade Mountain Bike Adventures. Plus you get to brag to your friends that you got whooped and lived to tell about it.