Cycling
enjoy our cycling scene
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Come explore Ashland’s cycling scene!
Whether you are a mountain biker, road rider or gravel rider, you will love riding in and around Ashland and can do so year-round. Ashland’s passionate cycling culture is welcoming with a dynamic variety of trails and resources for every type of cyclist.
For the mountain bikers, uphill or downhill riders: Where else can you find 14 miles with 4000' vertical drop directly into an amazingly, FUN town that has great food, great beer and a welcoming vibe for your post ride? Here in Ashland you can. Traveling with family? We got you covered with fun things to do for the little ones and those not pedaling.
In fact, we have some of the best dirt on the planet. It is decomposed granite and drains, so when it gets wet, its like Velcro and helps for those 'hero turns'. Ashland provides year-round access and amazing quality trails where you will encounter friendly fellow riders, ready to show you their favorite trail.
Many enjoy the challenge of the climb but if you want, take the shuttle, with Ashland Mountain Adventures, to the top of the 15,000 acre Ashland Watershed to Mt. Ashland Ski Area where the world is your downhill oyster for trails such as Bull Gap, a bit more mellow option from Time Warp, an expert trail. Check out the Ashland Map Guide to learn about the trails, designations and information. Ashland Watershed is Ashland's drinking water source and we ask that all riders and users of the trails are good stewards of the land.
Beyond the Ashland Watershed, we have amazing riding around Southern Oregon. Either stop by for the day to ride for a few hours in Ashland if you are driving through or make it a destination trip for 4 days. Stay in Ashland and go explore Spence Mountain, Mountain of the Rogue, or the Mountain Lakes.
There are many cycling events to take part in. New in 2022, the Cascadia Dirt Cup, part of the Race Cascadia series offers both adults and kids a chance to race. The Ashland Mountain Challenge, an enduro style race welcomes riders from around the West Coast as part of the California Enduro Series, each October. Plan your next trip by participating in one of the races or bike events in the region. For more information visit our partners, Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association, Siskiyou Velo or Rogue Valley Race Group.
Kids love riding in Ashland! We have many nice wide dirt roads with no motor vehicle traffic for those little legs to stretch out on. Rabbit Hole and Lizard are also 2 trails in the Ashland Watershed that come highly recommended by fellow riders. In June of 2022, the dirt bumps pump track offer fun for locals and visitors alike, down near the Dog Park in Ashland. Ashland Devo offers rides, races and lots of fun for kids.
There is a large selection of bike shops for new and used bikes, rentals, supplies and services. Bike maps and information are also provided by outfitters and in addition can be found on the City of Ashland’s website. Or request an Ashland Map Guide.
All riders: Please follow the sharrows in town – Providing multi-modal transportation options is important to Ashland. Many roads throughout Ashland provide bike lanes and shared lanes for bikes and cars designated by sharrows.
For the road rider: From the 26 mile long, paved Bear Creek Greenway that extends from Ashland to Central Point, to Southern Oregon's only designated Cascade Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway that climbs over 5,000’ in elevation, the roads in and around Ashland are bike friendly, many are low traffic and offer stunning scenery with views that can only be seen by bike. For more on the Scenic Bikeway see below.
The Siskiyou Velo Club is the largest and most active bicycling club in Southern Oregon. Club activities include year round organized group rides for road riders at various speeds and distances. See siskiyouvelo.org for up-to-date listings. Ashland is also home to the United Bicycle Institute, the biking industry’s leading technical school in bicycle mechanics, certification and frame building.
Enjoy the Cascade Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway Video
Cycling the Scenic Bikeway: The Cascade Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway incorporates 5,100 feet of steep and winding climbing through oak savannah into fir forests, showcasing the ecologically diverse ecosystem of the region. The 55-mile Scenic Bikeway starts in Ashland and the route skirts the edges of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument along the way, a region so ecologically significant that 62,000 acres of it is so designated.
The route climbs oak-dotted mountainsides with views of the Rogue Valley and of Pilot Rock, a 25- million-year-old volcanic plug, standing over the valley on the Siskiyou Pass. In the spring wildflowers and red-tailed hawks can be spotted. Above the oak savannah, the Bikeway enters the Cascades ecosystem, with tall pines and Douglas firs providing welcome shade on the way to the 4,551’ Greensprings Summit. Riders can opt for a 5-mile out-and-back to historic Tub Springs State Wayside, where they can fill water bottles from a cold, pure mountain spring, just as emigrants traveling the Applegate Trail did in the 1800’s. Tub Springs is open year round and has restrooms.
Near Hyatt Reservoir you’ll see views of the 9,000’ Mt. McLoughlin, with glimpses of osprey and bald eagles nesting. Nearing the top Dead Indian Memorial summit, there is one final 3-mile climb through the wildflower-covered alpine meadows of Buck Prairie before a dramatic, winding 13-mile descent back to Ashland.
Bike campers can plan a two-day adventure by staying at one of the campgrounds near Hyatt or Howard Prairie Lakes.
For a shorter ride, many cyclists enjoy riding up the 3,000 feet to the Greensprings Inn for a meal and returning by the same route which is a 35-mile ride round trip.
For rides and trails statewide, visit www.rideoregonride.com or www.ridewithGPS.com
For Bike Friendly Businesses in Ashland go to www.rideoregonride.com