Grouse Gap

Grouse Gap is an area on Mt. Ashland accessible by this 5 mile trail loop. Right off the PCT and below the beginning of Timewarp.

Driving 

– It’s a 20 minute drive to the top of Mount Ashland and the beginning of the Grouse Gap adventure from Exit 6 off of Interstate 5. I assume you are heading south, yes? So take the exit and at the bottom of the offramp continue forward through the intersection.  In about 1/2 mile you will take a right turn on the Ashland Ski Road.  That road winds about 8 miles to the top of Mount Ashland and the ski area. Continue past the ski lodge parking for a few hundred yards and you may reach a closed yellow gate where you’ll have to park and begin your hike.

In the summer, that gate is open! You can drive all the way on a gravel road forward, skipping the first dirt road downhill to the left and the second dirt road uphill to the right. Another mile and you arrive at a 3 way dirt road intersections.

Parking

– The dirt clearing to your right can hold a dozen cars, and beyond! Park politely in this flat grassy place and occasional hiking group can all share this spot. If the Yellow Pipe gate is not open for the season yet, you will park on the asphalt at the gate in the enormous enormous parking area right there.

The Adventure

– Grouse Gap is more of a place than a trail, but stick with me and we’ll make it an event.  First of all, just because you can drive there, doesn’t mean you have to.  Let’s assume it is spring and the Forest Service hasn’t opened the gate yet, or it’s winter and we’re  doing this all in snow shoes.

When the pavement ends, past the ski lodge on Mt. Ashland, stop and park.  It’s a 2.5 mile hike along that dirt fire road to the Grouse Gap shelter. But, about a half mile in there is the free campsite. Free!  Out house! No water! Remember that for later, but let’s move on. Less than 2 miles further on and a road splits to the right which goes to the tippity top top of Mt. Ashland.  With the weather soccer ball and the top of the lifts.  Take that road for just a quarter mile and there’s a cool rock. Bunny Ears rock or Devil Bear Ear Rock.  A fun scramble and view and then back to the main road.  Half a mile later you will turn left at the big intersection where you can see the PCT and the Grouse Gap shelter in the distance.

Go down to Grouse Gap and start a fire.  There is a giant fire pit there, you could, but at the very least, eat a little picnic lunch.

Now go back toward the main road and you’ll see the skinnier PCT. So take that back to your car.   It is wet and flowery and then pine shaded. A great alpine trail that dumps out back on a main fire road that goes back to your car.

The PCT continues here for a short distance and intersects the main Mt. Ashland road so some people like to connect that way.