Reeder Reservoir

A change in the weather had us donning our base layers and winter socks. Prepared for the chill in the air we departed Rite Aid at 9:30 for a new local hike in the Ashland watershed. A group of ten adventurous hikers caravaned up to the top of Morton Street then up Ashland Loop Road to the parking at White Rabbit trailhead.

The starting temp was 30 degrees with sun as we introduced two hikers to our usual regulars. Heading up the short 1/4 mile stretch of White Rabbit we saw patches of snow on either side of the trail. We next made a right onto the Caterpillar Trail and took it for 2 miles up and around to Lamb Saddle. We passed the turn off for the Lewis Loops at about 3,500 feet.

It was a brisk but radiant day with sunlight illuminating the golden Fall leaves in the forested hills.

At Lamb Saddle the new part of this hike began. Back in the summer a party of four scouted the unnamed trail that descends 0.8 miles down to Reeder Reservoir. It’s a narrow, slanted trail with about 2 dozen deadfalls to get over. About 2/3 of the way down you cross a dry gorge that eventually yields the East Fork of Ashland Creek as you approach the reservoir. The sudden appearance of the creek through the trees made us think it must have an underground spring as it’s source. So we’ve named this path the Phantom Creek Trail.

We reached Reeder after 1 1/2 hours and three miles from the parking area. The temperature had warmed to 45o and we followed the old service road around to the sunny side of Reeder for our lunch break. It was a pleasant respite in a beautiful serene setting.

The trek to Reeder Reservoir is an enjoyable local hike that can be completed in 4 hours or less with plenty of time for lunch.

Hike Leader: Rich Stickle

Photos By: Jerry, Linda