Mimsy Trail

The Mimsy Trail is a new (2024) 1/2 mile downhill mountain bike only alternative to the old Alice in Wonderland Trail. It avoids private property and connects the Alice in Wonderland parking area to the top of the BTI trail.

Driving

– It’s a 20 minute drive from Interstate 5. From the north Ashland Exit #19 turn west (it’s towards Ashland) on Valley View Road. Hit the 99 or North Main or Siskiyou Drive (it has an annoying number of names) and turn left towards Ashland. Drive through Ashland and at the end of downtown turn right, before the library, on Gresham. Take this uphill until you dead end on Holly. Right on Holly. Dead end into Terrace. Left on Terrace.

Terrace kind of tops out at the Ashland Loop Road intersection where you will turn left at the underground water tank. (It’s underground but you’ll see it. Just trust me) You are now on the windy windy Ashland Loop Road and there will be an intersection with Morton Street. The isolationist in Ashland will not give you a sign here. Super rude. There is a large privacy fence in front of you and Morton is downhill to the left but you?… You turn right and quickly you will see a rutted dirt road with very small, vague signage. This is the continuation of Ashland Loop Road.

Take this for 1 mile. It’s a single lane dirt road so rural country road etiquette applies. Wave and pull over when you see oncoming traffic. You dead end into a dirt lot

Parking

– This dirt lot has no amenities and can hold about… 10-12 cars? On beautiful days this lot can fill up, so try to get up here when it’s cold and wet.

The Adventure

– From the parking lot ride (Don’t forget. Mountain Bike only) across the road to the downhill trail signs. Head down the obvious, decades old, trail. There are many side trails but within a couple hundred yards you will see the new Alice in Wonderland reroute trail sign to the left. Just past that, the new Mimsy Trail peels off to the left (I was there in Jan 2024 but I’m sure there is a Mimsy sign by now, right?)

The tempting old trail straight ahead has always been privately owned but the owner decided last year to log it so it’s now a freaking mess so just turn left. This new trail has some new berms and a couple beginner jumps and in under 1/2 mile rejoins the old Alice in Wonderland Trail for… 2 minutes.

The hiking only Bandersnatch trail crosses and you are now headed towards the beginning of BTI. Say goodbye to that Mimsy beginner nonsense. Good Luck!