For the Nature Walks Class:
Our Primary List of Nature Destinations: the master list. We will NOT be visiting them in this order. Pay attention to the emails you receive concerning the next destination(s) we will be visiting, please.
Briscoe Geology Park, Ashland.
At the grounds of the old Elementary School, this park is a pocket-jewel. Small in acreage, packed with information. You start walking, reading all the info packed into each inch of the walkway – some of the plantings are plants from the specific geo-epoch you are reading about! – and finally arrive at our modern times, having traversed the 3.5 billion years of life on Earth. A minimum of 30 minutes; your smartphone can pull up additional info on all the epochs you are walking through. Right off Main Street, just north of the downtown plaza, Brisco School is on the left. Park on the street, paying attention of all posted signs and not blocking driveways.Wildlife Images, Grant’s Pass (Admission Fee; senior discounts)
This wildlife rescue and rehab/education center has special programs for children, Art and Wine and other special events for adults, and regular opportunity to get to know the needs and joys of many new furry/feathered/reptile friends! Otter and Grizzley, wolf and eagles, all have newly-designed living quarters. Easy to find. Get tickets online, check in at the desk in the Gift Shop. 45 min to Grant’s Pass, spend at least an hour enjoying the animals on a normal day, longer with seasonal or special events.North Mountain Park, and Mountain Meadows, Ashland
MM is private property (high-end senior living), but polite and courteous walkers are never hindered. North Mountain Park has special programs (see Ashland Parks and Rec catalog online or in print for details), and the wildlife trails are a delight in all seasons. You can visit every week, year-round and see new birds, mammals, fish and fellow citizen humans every time! Allocate an hour.Downtown Jacksonville, spring flowers (see additional info on List #2)
The downtown area is full of charming shops and historical homes and businesses, refurbished and ready to be your history guide. J-ville was a center of the gold mining industry in 1852. See the Trolley Tour on List #2. Our class visit will focus on the architecture of the historic buildings, plus a stroll through the historic cemetery next to the start of several hiking trails. You can schedule a nice meal, shopping or the Trolley Tour after all or part of our class. Sketching the trees and buildings, enjoying the birds and the history. You can also join us for a 1 mile jaunt down the Sarah Ziglar interpretive trail, for wildflowers, or the easy to find Rich Gulch Trail, both starting right in downtown J-ville.Emigrant Lake and nearby farms and ranches
This is a recreation area just 4 miles south of the Ashland town limits on Rte 66. Main entrance and parking area on the left. You will pass Equamore equine rescue (May 4th class, Open House), on the left en route. The lake has benefitted from winter and spring rain/snow and is close to full. The Ashland HS crew team practices here in their sculls. Many birds, including bald eagles and redtail hawks. Scenic view of surrounding hills. Optional extension excursion: Instructors’ home a mile away, walk past horses, llamas, sheep, goats, cattle and more, along with a tour of outdoor artwork. Greta the Gator, with torso composed of many species of iris; koi pond, with koi painted on flagstones and pond animals painted on rocks; mothers’ memorial herb garden – herbs to take home and add to meals.Willow-Witt Ranch (natural cemetery, walking trails, glamping, goats)
Willow-Witt is a former ranch, now focused on sustainable farming. A natural cemetery for humans and a separate one for pets. Walking trails. Glamping. Goats who may walk with us on the trail, depending on weather. We will walk on natural, uneven ground or you may sit at a picnic table and smell the piney air and meditate.Exploring the Spring Sky (sky-nature) location Emigrant Lake Parking lot, south end of Ashland.
After the Emigrant Lake nature walk, so you can find it after dark. Meet in the parking area. Thorough intro to this darker-sky area’s options for constellations, planets, moon and other fun.
Rick will have his camera, possible telescope, binoculars to share. Remember not to stand too closely to the instructors, sanitize your hands before you hand binoculars back to the instructors, and DON’T touch the telescope.Green Springs Inn area
Down Rte 66, the switchbacks bring you past some excellent pull outs that you might want to remember, if you want darker skies to observe from. [Make sure you’re not alone; stay safe.]
Eventually, you get to the Green Springs area. Several easy walking trails, as well as the chance to stroll around the lovely grounds and indulge in snacks and drinks. The Inn has rooms, cabins and other accomodations. Mailing list alerts you to specials.Mt. Ashland. Head south on I-5 to the Mt. Ashland exit and follow signs. The main parking area is where people stop to use the ski facilities during snow season. If you continue on the road, the secondary parking areas give you more sights to see. The final parking area has a vault toilet. We generally park here. If there’s no room, parking at the previous area. The main gravel path for a slightly more strenuous (only very mildly up or downhill) walk, or stay at the picnic tables and relax. Views include all the peaks in our immediate vicinity, most of which are in California, including the magnificent Mt. Shasta. Birds and small mammals. The large mammals stay away from highly-trafficked areas like this. Trees of various types and species. Shrubs with native berries (leave them for the wildlife, who need them, please). Photos, sketches, plein-air painting! Evergreen smell. Geology of the mountain (not volcanic).
At the foot of Mt. Ashland is Callahan’s Mountain Lodge, with lodging (including hot tub rooms), and dining. In room, in the main dining room and alfresco as weather permits.Kamerin Springs Pond (as part of a visit to other areas of Talent, like Lynn Newbry, or for a short visit solo). A wetland area has been developed into a small pond. 0.21 acres. Birds, other pond life, like amphibians, dragonflies, etc.
Lynn Newbry Park, part of the Bear Creek Greenway https://www.cityoftalent.org/parks/page/lynn-newbry-park
Many people have visited this park as part of events (including salmon migration viewing – not this season). Easy to walk on the Greenway, paved. Lots of birds and other wildlife, burn-scars on many trees from the Almeda Fire of 2020.Kirtland Lagoons tour
Several human-created ponds are a wonderful source of water birds, who are especially viewable at dawn and dusk.
List #1 and #2, combined, equals 20 local opportunities to interact with and explore nature. We hope that you visit all of them, either with us or on your own schedule!
Sign up at traveloregon.com (the state tourism board) for wonderful ideas for every season, in every corner of Oregon. Or email us.
Guide to Locations That We May Not Visit During This Class (but we will tell you about trips after class is over, if you want to stay in touch.
1. Indian Mary Park, Merlin (near Grant’s Pass).
Rogue River and forest. Has camping and RV sites (very popular), of come for the day and walk.
2. Botanical Waysides, on OR 199, en route to Oregon Caves or Crescent City, CA (coast). 8 Dollar Mountain and Rough and Ready (the one farther south of the two). Beautiful, especially in spring. Learn about local plants! VERY LITTLE PARKING. Go only midweek, and early. No place nearby to park and then walk. Carpool with another from the class?
3. Rainie Falls Trail, 4.4 miles round trip, very easy. Car breakins are common so keep all valuables, including phone, in the locked trunk. Waterfall! Nearby!
4. Sanctuary One, a rescue devoted to farm animals (you can meet/pet) as well as some cats. The drive out the Applegate Valley is very scenic. $ is a charitable donation. Book a date/time for a tour online.
5. Equamore Sanctuary, south of Ashland, just before Emigrant Lake, on Rte 66, on the left. Open House (we will attend) May 4th. Make a charitable donation if you can, but all are welcome. At Open Houses, you can meet all the horses and donkeys.
6. Oregon Caves, Cave Junction, OR. If you can stoop and walk on uneven ground, the Cave is a wonderful experience. Make online reservation for a specific time and remember it is several hours from Ashland. Summer road repair can cause delays and you can’t automatically switch to the next tour, so plan to get there early. The evening Candlelight Tour or daylight tours.
7. Jacksonville Trolley Tour, Jacksonville OR. The class trip will be on foot, enjoying the main street, historic graveyard and local trail. You can shop, eat downtown and wine-taste en route. You can book the trolley tour for anytime after our class meeting. 541-899-8118. 45 min of history. Railroad photos. Tues-Sun from June-Aug ($10). Add Sat in May and Sept.
8. Wildlife Safari, Winston, OR. A drive through experience of free-living herbivores from four continents, living their lives and some (like cheetahs) in national breeding programs. Predators have their own areas. You can book specialty experiences on the website, after the drive-yourself tour or on a different day. This is an especially-optional class experience due to the distance and cost, but absolutely amazing and the Senior discounted price is just under $20. Book online or prepare to pay on the day-of.
9. Upper Klamath Lake for bird viewing and botanical joys (can be a day trip; best seeing is within 90 minutes of dawn or dusk). The Running Y Resort has specials from time to time on room rates, and winter prices are lower than summer; some birding areas are only 1 mile from lodging (on public land, so you don’t have to stay at the Resort). Many other lodging and nature-viewing options close to Klamath Falls downtown and nearby communities. Tule Lake is nearby and also has wildlife viewing but if you want to do both, you will want lodging. OLLI is running a travel class for spring, using a local tour company, for birding enthusiasts or those who like to get out in nature. Just 90 minutes away.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION: If you don’t have the funds to buy a book, new or used, get going on this NOW to snag the copy(s) at the local library!
The Curious Nature Guide, Clare W. Leslie, is a wonderful guide to exactly what this class is all about: seeing all the wonders that most people’s eyes slide over unaware! Explorations in all seasons, of plants, animals (including insects), fungi. Learning ink-drawing (making maps of your neighborhood and other places!), and watercolor. Combining watercolor and ink, with found nature objects and more, in mixed media. Photography tips. The sky by day, the constellations, moon and planets by night! The animals of the night as well as the day. You will come ALIVE with ideas to see, hear, smell, touch, even taste ally) and how to memorialize them in photos, paintings and quick sketches in your very own Nature Journal. Many people have started by simply recording the weather every day and eased into reporting birds, mammals, butterflies, hills, trees, dunes… the whole living world!
Rick and I can’t recommend it too highly. Used copies easy to find on Amazon, Half Price Books, Hamilton Books online, as well as libraries.
OLLI Waiver -pls go to the OLLI Office if your email system has refused to accept it via email from the instructor.
For the CATS Class: