Lithia Park

Located in the heart of downtown Ashland, Lithia Park is the year-round nexus and soul of the small college town.

Following Ashland Creek for 1.5 miles upstream, Lithia Park's 93 acres is a beautiful balance between the manicured, English-style* gardens with lush lawns, duck ponds, magnolia trees, and the natural landscape typical of the Siskiyou Mountains that include ponderosa pines, California incense cedars, and madrone trees.

The diverse park is host to numerous picnic areas, a large playground, spacious lawns, a concert amphitheater, tennis courts, a small beach at Granite Street Swiming Reservoir, public restrooms, a winter ice-skating rink, and numerous miles of walking and hiking trails. The park's southern end also serves as the main access point for the vast trail network of the Siskiyou National Forest and Siskiyou Mountain Park, including the Alice in Wonderland, White Rabbit and Caterpillar trail that is popular among hikers and mountain bikers alike.

Note: There are two main group picnic areas that can be reserved by calling Ashland Parks and Recreation, 541.488.5340.

* Commissioned in 1914, John McLaren, who had famously designed San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, was hired to make design improvements to the new public space. Before it was set aside for public use, much of the lower portion of the park was previously the site of flour mill owned by Abel Helman and Eber Emery.