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New map highlights city trails By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings For years, trail enthusiasts have relied on word of mouth or trial and error searches to find Ashland's pathways. But now everyday residents can travel miles of trails, bike paths and bike lanes thanks to a comprehensive map of legal routes put together by the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department and the non-profit Ashland Woodlands & Trails Association, with help from the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks Department and National Park Service. A new Ashland trails map highlights out-of-the-way jaunts like this rock foot path in Quiet Village. Ashland Daily Tidings/Denise Baratta "With the map, people can see access points to the trails," said Steve Gies, interim director for the city parks department. "That was confusing before. They would say, 'I know there's a trail up there, but I don't know how to get to it.'" The map includes not only relatively familiar trails such as those in Lithia Park, but the lesser-known routes of Hald-Strawberry Park, Siskiyou Mountain Park and the Oredson-Todd Woods. Accessible from several streets, Hald-Strawberry Park connects a number of neighborhoods in northwest Ashland and offers panoramic views from Strawberry Knoll. "It has really some of the best and most spectacular views of the southern Rogue Valley," said Robert McLellan, president of the Ashland Woodlands & Trails Association. "The question was how to make it an accessible resource for the community." Like Hald-Strawberry Park, the Oredson-Todd Woods and adjacent Siskiyou Mountain Park in southeast Ashland required advance knowledge to be reached. The area offers a network of paths through undeveloped woodlands, as well as connections to trails that lead downhill to Lithia Park or uphill to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traversing Mount Ashland. "Unless you're an avid hiker, it's really been underused by the community," McLellan said. "The beauty of this map is it not only shows how to access the area, but how to connect to the Pacific Crest Trail or Lithia Park. It's great for people. We wanted to fulfill the need for a trail map that's been requested for years." While the map shows the myriad walking and biking routes throughout Ashland and in the hills above the city, it also reveals gaps, he said. Some existing trails on private land - and not protected by public access easements - are not included on the map. McLellan said the woodlands and trails association is working privately with landowners who may be willing to grant easements. A committee will be working over the next year to draft a master trail plan showing the existing trails and identifying gaps that could be closed through land purchases or easements. The goal is to create an "emerald necklace" tying together open spaces and trails around Ashland, according to trails supporters. Updated versions of the trails map will be released as additional legally accessible segments are added to the system, according to McLellan and Gies. In addition to routes, the map shows public restrooms, trailhead parking areas, street names, U.S. Forest Service lands and other useful features. The map is available for $2 at the city parks department office in upper Lithia Park, the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, the downtown plaza information kiosk, Ashland Mountain Supply, Ashland Outdoor Store, Northwest Nature Shop, Bear Creek Bicycle, Cycle Sport, Siskiyou Cyclery and Second Gear Cyclery. Merchants interested in selling the maps should call the city parks department at 488-5340. Community members who want to help improve Lithia Park's trails are invited to join the parks department and woodlands and trails association for a work party from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at the Cotton Memorial Woods parking lot in Lithia Park, across from 385 Granite St. Bring a sack lunch if desired. Refreshments, gloves and equipment will be provided. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -