State: Oregon
Location: Rogue River National Forest
Length, One-Way: 2.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 5520 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Trail Information
Bull Gap is a prominent saddle on the ridge between Neil Creek and Ashland Creek. From the mid 1930’s to early 1960’s the route of the Bull Gap Trail was part of the old “Mount Ashland Loop Road.” Built by Civilian Conservation Corps, it was the only route to Mount Ashland from town. The old road had been closed to motorized traffic for many years and became popular with mountain bikers and Nordic skiers. In 1993 it was converted to the trail system and a picnic site was constructed to provide trailhead parking. The old road, narrowed and grown over some with vegetation, is a nice walk as well as a prominent mountain bike route. From the trailhead it winds 2.5 miles and climbs 110 feet to the Mount Ashland Ski Lodge and parking lot.
When traveling the route in reverse, begin at the Mount Ashland parking lot near the ski lodge, look for the trailhead sign near the closed gate between the lodge and rental shop. Follow the dirt road marked with blue markers (Nordic ski trailmarkers) and traverse just below the lodge to the north. Stay on the road. Bikes are prohibited on the ski area slopes. The trail enters the forest just below the ski area boundary. From this point the blue markers leave off and the trail is easily followed down to Bull Gap.
The Bull Gap Trail can be incorporated into longer mountain bike loops or descents using Forest Road 2080 (Tolman Creek Road), or FR 2080200 and FR 2060.
Directions
From the Ashland Ranger Station:
Drive west on Highway 66 (Ashland Street), one block to Tolman Creek Road (stop light). Turn left and continue up Tolman Creek Road about 1 mile before crossing Siskiyou Boulevard. Continue up Tolman Creek Road another 15.6 miles, mostly good gravel road, to the trailhead at Bull Gap. Note that once Tolman Creek Road enters the National Forest it is designated as Forest Road 2080.
