Name: Red Queen
Rating: 4.3

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Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This is a multi-jurisdictional trail--on Ashland city lands for the first 6/10ths of a mile on the lower end and then on Forest Service lands from there on up. On city lands, dog owners are encouraged to keep their dogs on leash and equestrians are encouraged to clean up horse droppings. The Ashland Forest Resiliency (AFR) effort occasionally conducts burns in the area and sometimes uses the Red Queen trail as a firebreak.

Runner Notes

This trail was recently added to the Lithia Loop marathon course as part of the downhill, but most runners seem to run up it and run down something else.

Description

Red Queen is a popular hiking and running trail in the lower eastern side of the Ashland watershed.

At the low end, this trail starts on the Bandersnatch trail just above the Snark Trail. It rolls at an essentially flat grade for the first 6/10ths of a mile and then climbs steadily at an average grade of 9% up to Caterpillar Crossing (where Caterpillar crosses 2060 and where Lizard ends and Jabberwocky starts). Mature Ponderosas are adjacent to the trail in several locations. Vistas of Mt Ashland and other peaks are frequently admired here.

The Jabberwocky downhill mountain bike trail is just below, which can either be a distraction or welcome entertainment.The Gryphon Trail (pedestrian-only) intersects with the Red Queen Trail at about 0.4 miles and makes for a good loop with Red Queen and Bandersnatch.

One can also run up Red Queen and then at the top, turn right up the Caterpillar Trail to the Lewis Loops: Gyre and Lewis Loops: Gimble for various combinations. Alternatively, turn left onto the Caterpillar Trail and continue down to the White Rabbit Trail to Alice in Wonderland and then take Bandersnatch west or east. There are many loop opportunities.

Poison oak is visible on the sides of the trail and occasionally leans into the trail, so keep an eye out.

Flora & Fauna

Bears have been sighted occasionally on this trail. Deer are everywhere. Rare sightings of mountain lions. Various large Ponderosas and many spring wildflowers. Keep an eye out for poison oak which grows as bushes and vines and sometimes hangs into the trail.