Things To Do

—Downtown Ashland—

Lithia Park

Stretching far up into the mountains from the center of downtown Ashland, Lithia Park was designed by John McLaren, famed landscape architect of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. A short walk will take you along Ashland Creek past the theater, playgrounds, and duck pond, and there are several magical spots to dip your feet in the creek and cool off. Walk farther up in the park to find the pickleball and tennis courts, the Ashland Japanese Garden, the reservoir, and the fairy ponds. Farther still is Ashland's network of world-class hiking, trail running, and biking trails. For serious trails info, ask Rich or Austin. It's absolutely worth renting a bike (or e-bike) to ride the gravel or MTB trails. Pure magic up there. Check out the Lithia Artisan Market on Saturday mornings in the lower portion of the park!

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

See an Oregon Shakespeare Festival play at the open-roof Elizabethan Theater! It's awesome. 2025 is the festival's 90th anniversary, and you can find the full schedule at the link below.

Our favorite eats

(Everything is within walking distance from all recommended hotels.) Coffee and Breakfast: Mix, La Baguette Music Cafe, Morning Glory, Noble Coffee Lunch etc: Ruby's, Scout, Ashland Food Co-op, Creekside Pizza, Sauce, Taqueria Picaro, Flip Dinner spots: Osteria La Briccola, Thai Pepper, Hiro Ramen, Masala, Brickroom Bonus points if you try the lithium water downtown in the plaza.

..

—Activities ~20min drive—

Mount Ashland

The lodge is open on weekends in the summer. Disc Golf, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Hiking, Running. (8.1 miles from Ashland, 34 min drive)

Grizzly Peak Trailhead

Incredibly beautiful Class 1 hike 30min from Downtown Ashland through pine forests and mountain meadows.

Emigrant Lake

Swimming, waterslides, and camping (15 minutes from Ashland)

..

—Day trips or longer hikes—

Pilot Rock

Hike Pilot Rock (a favorite of Erin's). Class 2-3 hike about 40 minutes from town.

Lake of the Woods

Spend a day paddle boarding, kayaking, or just lounging at Lake of the Woods, 45 minutes from town. It's a nice cool escape from Ashland's summer heat.

Noah's River Adventures

Guided rafting trips on the Rogue River.

Crater Lake

Visit Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States—1hr 45 min drive from town.

Brookings

A longer trek—3 hours drive from town is worth it if you have an extra day or two to explore. The drive from Ashland to the Coast takes you along the Umpqua River or the Redwood Highway (depending on which way you go). Along the Oregon Coast there are sand dunes, dramatic rock formations, tide Pools, and wildlife.