Winter Van Life: Mt. Ashland Ski Area
Time of Our Visit: Mid-February 2023
Mt. Ashland is a non-profit ski area that lies within the Rogue River National Forest in southern Oregon, only 30 minutes from the northern California border. The Pacific Crest Trail passes nearby. While the ski area’s address is in Ashland, the heart of the city is a half hour away. Ashland is most commonly known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival which got its start all the way back in the 1930s. Several trails at the mountain are named for Shakespeare characters.
What We Love About Mt. Ashland
Our first visit to Mt. Ashland was Labor Day weekend in 2016. Kyle and I wanted to escape the crowds at home in Tahoe over the holiday and neither of us had been to southern Oregon. The city of Ashland was close enough to pull off a long weekend road trip and to see other sites along the way. Upon learning that Ashland had a ski area, we drove up to Mt. Ashland, hiked around, and imagined what it would be like covered in snow. After admiring their terrain and views, we made a promise to return one day.
It took over 6 years, but we finally made it back in February 2023. Thanks Indy Pass! We were finishing up a tour of Indy Pass ski areas in California, and after a couple of days at Mt. Shasta Ski Park, we decided to continue our journey north into Oregon. While Mt. Ashland and Mt. Shasta reside in two different states, they are only an hour and a half apart with easy traveling between the two on Interstate 5. You can actually see Mt. Shasta from Mt. Ashland since it towers everything else in the vicinity at 14,180 feet.
I think I underestimated many of the ski areas we visited this year, including Mt. Ashland. Sometimes when I see advanced terrain on the trail map of smaller ski areas, I generally assume it’s probably not going to be that steep. Their black runs are just going to be the steepest trails they have and would probably be rated blue at a much larger ski resort. Not true at Mt. Ashland! I chickened out on dropping the steepest double blacks in The Bowl because the panoramic views from the top awakened my sometimes fear of heights. I chose the easiest way down on Wong’s and watched Kyle from the bottom feeling terrified. While Wong’s was soft for me, I could tell 4th Chute was firmer for Kyle as I could hear it with every jump turn.
Even though I skipped the most challenging runs, I still had fun in Mt. Ashland’s gladed areas and taking long runs from the top of the Ariel chair to the bottom of Windsor.
While my impression is that Mt. Ashland would probably be most enjoyable for skiers and riders that are at a strong intermediate or greater level, there is a beginner area separate from the advanced terrain. During my time as a beginner, I used to dislike advanced skiers and riders skimming past me at a high rate of speed. I would’ve loved a dedicated beginner area like Mt. Ashland’s where my focus wasn’t on getting taken out.
Plan Your RV/Van Life Road Trip to Mt. Ashland
mtashland.com
11 Mt. Ashland Ski Road, Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 482-2897
info@mtashland.com
Pass affiliation: Indy Pass 2023/24
Lift operations: Typically Thursday through Monday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. See their current Operating Schedule for the most up-to-date information.
Mountain Stats
- Skiable terrain: 240 acres
- Vertical drop: 1,150 feet
- Average annual snowfall: 265 inches
Driving to Mt. Ashland
Mt. Ashland is easy to get to given their proximity to Interstate 5. When you exit the interstate from either direction, you’ll take Old Highway 99 to Mt. Ashland Ski Road. Follow the signs. You’ll gain about 2,000 feet in elevation over 8.5 miles of a two-lane windy road. Carry tire chains!
Parking at Mt. Ashland
An Oregon Sno-Park permit is required to park at Mt. Ashland. You can purchase a permit at the ski area in the rental shop or the lodge or at any permit agent location.
If you read Mt. Ashland’s Frequently Asked Questions, they politely ask you to leave your RV at home due to their limited parking space, even though they are technically allowed.
If you do show up in an oversized vehicle, it’s probably best to park along the berm on either side of the parking area. Parking attendants were around for most of the day, so they can help guide you.
We personally liked parking our 20-foot van along the right hand berm past the lodge, maintenance area, and employee parking.
You can ski directly back to your vehicle via the Ado single black (ungroomed during our visit).
The parking lot also seemed to be most level around that area.
Tips on How to Ski/Ride Mt. Ashland
I found Mt. Ashland pretty easy to navigate. The only part that I was unsure about was getting to the single blacks to the left of the Ariel chair as seen on the trail map. When we got off the Ariel chair, there was no cat track or other groomed run to guide us to those trails. However, we followed a traverse track and figured it out.
Also, the first time we dropped into 2nd Bowl and Moraine Glade, we weren’t exactly sure where we were going to end up and if skating was going to be required at the bottom. We could eventually see the rope marking the ski area boundary and we popped out at the bottom of what I believe was the Caliban blue. No skating was required, but the closer you are to the rope, the more you’re going to be on edge traversing your way out.
If you don’t want to drop into The Bowl before scoping it out first, you can get an excellent view of all the terrain by taking Upper Dream to Caliban.
You can also traverse the top of The Bowl on Circe and get a view from the other side. However, there is no easy way out on the other side. Only single ungroomed blacks with natural obstacles.
My favorite tree runs were Birnam Wood and Coolwater due to their length and snow quality. Brutus might have been better with more recent snowfall. It was just a little too firm at its lower elevation. It was better to stick to ungroomed Windsor Chairline and Upper Bottom.
For the longest runs, start at the top of Ariel and make your way down to Windsor. If you look at the trail map, there are a variety of ways you can go.
Where to Sleep in Your Van/RV
Mt. Ashland does not allow overnight RV camping. See their Frequently Asked Questions page and scroll down to “Can I bring up my RV? What about overnight parking?”
Siskiyou Rest Area – 17.2 miles / 30 minutes in Ashland – This rest area is only accessible when traveling northbound on I-5. The Ashland Welcome Center is also located here. If you’re coming from California or need to rest after visiting Mt. Ashland, this might be a good option for you. The Welcome Center will also give you a great introduction to Oregon.
The Point RV Park – 21.8 miles / 35 minutes in Ashland – This RV park is a Jackson County campground at Emigrant Lake. It is closer to Mt. Ashland than the KOA we stayed at (below), but reviews related to their showers were questionable. After staying at Willamette Pass with no showers, we were ready for a clean, hot shower, and it didn’t sound like this campground could deliver. Maybe another time.
Southern Oregon RV Park – 38.5 miles / 50 minutes in Central Point – This is another Jackson County RV park. It caught our attention as we were driving I-5 on our way to the KOA mentioned below because it looked very well-manicured. Reviews attest to its beautiful landscaping and wonderful facilities, including showers. It is connected to the Bear Creek Greenway, a 20-mile paved walking and biking path that spans multiple southern Oregon communities. The only negative review I could find was the potential for RV break-ins. I assume this is due to the greenway. Regardless, we intend on giving it a try next time we are in Ashland.
Medford / Gold Hill KOA Journey – 46.1 miles / 1 hour in Central Point – We stayed at this RV park on our way from Willamette Pass to Mt. Ashland and again on our way from Mt. Ashland to Crater Lake National Park.
As we find with most KOAs, their bathrooms and showers were very clean and the water was nice and hot. There were also a lot of hooks for hanging clothes and other items.
We had a back-in gravel site with electricity and water with a small creek behind us and trees throughout the park. We last paid just over $45 per night. We did not have reservations but there were plenty of sites both times we chose to stay.
The only bummer was that the laundry room had limited hours – 9 am to 3 pm. It opened too late for us to finish a load before check out time at 11 am without rushing, and we kept arriving too close to 3 pm. The registration office/shop and laundry room share the same entry door, so my assumption is that the laundry room can’t stay open outside of their regular office hours of 9 am to 5 pm for security purposes. However, I should note, the woman that checked us in was kind enough to offer for us to start a load on our first visit even though it meant she would have to keep the office open late for us. I declined because we weren’t desperate for clean clothes yet, but it was a very nice gesture.
AT&T cell service worked well here. We were able to text, email, browse online, and stream entertainment without any issues.
Where to Eat Near Mt. Ashland
Sammich – 19.7 miles / 30 minutes in Ashland – We discovered this sandwich place back in 2016, and I was so happy they still exist years later. It was one of my most memorable sandwich-eating experiences because their thinly sliced beef is so tender. Sammich’s meats are smoked, brined, and poached in-house! Eating there a second time was as satisfactory as the first time. The Ashland location has all outdoor seating for enjoying southern Oregon sunshine. I recently learned that they have locations in Portland and Lebanon, as well as Seattle, Washington.
Note: Their parking lot has limited spots and they’re pretty tight. We barely fit our 20-foot van and we had to loop around the neighborhood waiting for a spot to open. There is street parking if you don’t mind doing a little walking.
Where to Find Conveniences Near Mt. Ashland
The city of Ashland should have most everything you need.
If you’re looking for a place with a water refill station, go to Albertsons (Ashland). It’s outside near the right hand entrance. Safeway (Siskiyou Blvd) does not have one.
If you’re in need of bath and body products, check out Em’z Blendz Soap Co. I discovered Em’z lotions long before a visit to Ashland at BioSpirit Spa in South Lake Tahoe, California. My favorite is their Coconut Vanilla Super Enriched Shea Butter Hand & Body Cream. We use a lot of hand sanitizer to limit our water usage in the van, so when almost every ounce of it was wiped out during the pandemic, I turned to Em’z. They were the only place with any in stock.
Sightseeing Near Mt. Ashland
Lithia Park – 22.4 miles / 40 minutes in Ashland – 100 acres of green space following Ashland Creek with approximately 6 miles of trails. For a tour of the park, check out this map that will guide you on a 1.43 mile walk one way from the Lower Duck Pond at the park’s entrance to the Swim Reservoir at the far end. Unfortunately, dogs are strictly prohibited.
Crater Lake National Park – 105 miles / 2.25 hours to the Annie Springs Entrance Station – Even though the Rim Drive is a must-do in summer and closes with snow, winter is still a special time to visit for backcountry camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing and snowboarding.
Note: During winter, the North Entrance Road is closed. You must enter the park at the Annie Springs Entrance Station via Oregon Highway 62. Also, the crater is often hidden by clouds, most especially in winter, so check the weather and the Crater Lake webcam to avoid disappointment.
Use caution when exploring the rim and definitely stay behind any ropes. We observed a fair amount of cornice danger.
We were at Crater Lake on Sunday of Presidents’ Day weekend and I was worried about parking, especially given recent snowfall followed by beautiful weather. We arrived early and departed a little after noon when plenty of parking still remained. However, an influx of cars was entering as we were leaving so an AM arrival is probably safest to ensure a spot.
For the best van and RV camping options in winter, check out the Sno-Parks near the Annie Springs Entrance Station. An Oregon Sno-Park permit is required.
- Annie Creek Sno-Park – 20 minutes
- Thousand Springs Sno-Park – 20 minutes
- Farewell Bend Snow-Park – 25 minutes – 1/4 mile from the junction of Crater Lake and Diamond Lake
Closest Ski Area to Mt. Ashland
- Mt. Shasta Ski Park (Indy Pass 2023/24) – 84.8 miles / 90 minutes in McCloud, California
