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Spoiler alert: Southern Oregon has some of the best hikes around. The problem is narrowing it down, because there are so many amazing places to explore. Do you want mountaintops or waterfalls? River trails or big trees? Rock formations or wildflowers? Here are six hikes to help relieve some of your hiking angst.   Mt. Ashland's Pacific Crest Trail section Picture this: a view where you can take in Mount McLoughlin and Mount Shasta in one sweep. That's just part of the allure of the Pacific Crest Trail stretch around Mount Ashland, says Morgan Lindsay, outreach director for KS Wild. The trail offers superb views of both Oregon and California, along with numerous meadows of colorful flowers. Access the trail section by driving Interstate 5 south to exit 6, then drive up Old Highway 99 to the Mount Ashland Ski Road. Continue beyond the Mount Ashland parking lot to reach several different crossings.   Takelma Gorge If you're looking for consistently scenic views of a slice of the Rogue River, Takelma Gorge is a good bet. KS Wild executive director Joseph Vaile refers to the 4½-mile hike as "spectacular," with dramatic shots of the river as it flows through a narrow canyon. To get there, take Interstate 5 north to the Highway 62 exit. Drive on Highway 62 for 46 miles, then turn left onto U.S. Forest Service Road 64 to access the Upper Rogue River Trail.   Grizzly Peak Grizzly Peak is one of the region's best-known trails, a spot where many locals acquired their passion for the activity. Vaile refers to the mountain as part of the "Old Cascades," and it features vibrant meadows of covered with wildflowers. The hike to the top follows a 5½ mile loop, traveling past an expanse of charred trees, a recovery area from the 2003 East Antelope fire. "The view has opened up considerably," Lindsay says. To reach the trailhead, drive up Dead Indian Memorial Road. Drive just shy of seven miles and turn onto Shale City Road for three miles, then hang a left onto BLM Road 38-2E-9.2.   Pilot Rock Fascinating geological formations await hikers heading up to Pilot Rock. "It looks as if a kid took his building block and went up there, like some giant toddler was playing with Lincoln Logs and built this rock formation," Lindsay says of the volcanic plug.  Pilot Rock can be reached by taking I-5 south to exit 6, then driving Old Highway 99 to Pilot Rock Road, or 40-2E-33. Drive for two miles until you reach an old gravel quarry, which currently serves as the route's trailhead and parking area.   Hobart Bluff Hobart Bluff, located in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, features a diverse sprawl of trees, including cedar and old-growth sugar pines. The route, also on the Pacific Crest Trail, ends on the aforementioned bluff, with a view looking out across the southern Rogue Valley. Get to the trailhead by taking exit 14 from I-5. Drive about 15 miles on Highway 66 to the Greensprings summit, then take a right on Soda Mountain Road. Drive a couple miles to a small parking area where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses. Heading north from there will take you to the bluff. To the top of the bluff and back to Soda Mountain Road is about three miles.   Table Rocks  Any Southern Oregon hiking list would be incomplete without the Table Rocks. The Lower Table Rock trail is just under three miles round-trip, and the Upper Table Rock trail is 2½ miles long. More than 300 plant species and a host of animals await hikers, along with spectacular views across the Rogue Valley. "I like to think of the Table Rocks as Medford's backyard," Lindsay says. "It's a great hike." One caveat: In the summer, the trails can be HOT, and there is no water, so bring plenty to drink. To reach the Table Rocks, drive from Medford on Table Rock Road about five miles. Turn right onto Modoc Road and drive for about a mile to access Upper Table Rock. Turn left onto Wheeler Road and drive another half mile to reach Lower Table Rock. Details on these hikes and others can be found in William Sullivan's "100 Hikes in Southern Oregon." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil .