Lewis Loops

During this time of self isolation we still have opportunities to get outdoors if we practice social distancing and safe hiking.

Jerry and I met at Rite Aid at 9 am Monday getting back into the Monday routine. Barry and I had hiked Grizzly Peak the previous Monday. Temps were mild in the 60s with mostly cloudy skies. Our plan was to scout Lewis Loop in the Ashland Watershed for a possible future hike for the Monday group.

Jerry followed me in his car all the way up to the top of Morton Street and a hard left onto Ashland Loop Road for another mile or two on the dusty road up into the Siskiyous. We parked in the lot on the left for the trail head for White Rabbit Trail.

This hike has about 720 feet of gain but spread out over three miles makes it a moderate hike. So we go up White Rabbit for half a mile then right onto Caterpillar Trail following the signs up the mountain. Caterpillar crosses Ashland Loop Road and then up the other side 0.8 miles to Lewis Loop. The lower part of the loop is called Gimble Trail and that takes you to the Lewis Loop Lookout. We saw several wildflowers along the way and Jerry got a chance to try out his new camera. We saw the Yellow Leaf Iris, Balsam Root, and blue Lupine. At the Lookout we had a limited view through the trees of Ashland below and part of Mt Ashland above us until it was covered by clouds.

As we admired and sat at the picnic table that was gifted to hikers from Scout Troop 112 (Eagle Scout Project from 2017) the wind kicked up into a gale and included a little rain. So we decided to cut lunch short and head down off the mountain.

On the way back we did take the upper loop which is called the Gyre Trail. A series of switch backs that took us to 3,800 feet elevation. The round trip is about 5.5 miles and definitely doable for the Monday Hiking Group.

Hike Leader: Rich Stickle

Photos By: Jerry