33.6
PDI
22.7 mi
DISTANCE
6,238 ft
GAINED
4.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ryan Taylor, Medford, OR
INTRO
Mt. Ashland via Wagner Creek Road is a 22.7-mile, 6,238-foot gravel climb in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon, finishing at 7,431 feet on the true summit of Mt. Ashland - not just the ski area or a roadside viewpoint. It's the longest gravel climb in Oregon and one of the hardest gravel bike climbs in the US, ranked #25 in the world on PJAMM's difficulty index.
This is one of three gravel routes up Mt. Ashland, and the one with its own personality: it starts on quiet pavement past ranches and farms northwest of Ashland, then turns to Forest Service gravel at mile 3.4 for the remainder of the climb. Unlike the other two routes, Wagner Creek Road never passes through the Mt. Ashland Ski Area - it has a more remote, backcountry feel start to finish - though all three routes share a brutal final mile that averages 10.3%.
The lower two-thirds is the crux: loose gravel mixed with washboard makes it hard to get out of the saddle without spinning a wheel, on stretches of double-digit grade. Around mile 18.3, Meridian Overlook offers a real payoff - Mt. Shasta, 50 miles south, and Grayback Mountain both visible on a clear day. There are no places to stop for water or food anywhere on the route.
Because it's unpaved Forest Service road at elevation, conditions vary by season - riders have found snow and downed trees on the upper 6,000-7,000 foot stretch as late as early June, and the road gets no winter maintenance. July through October is the reliable window.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. This climb's average grade is 4.7% net (1,869' start to 7,431' finish over 22.7 miles) - or roughly 6% if you exclude the descent included on the way to the summit. It's not evenly graded: the steepest 100 yards hits 14.2%, the steepest quarter-mile 12.7%, and the steepest full mile still averages 10.3%. That 10.3%-average mile is the final shared stretch all three Mt. Ashland gravel routes have in common.
The lower two-thirds carries most of the sustained double-digit sections - the steepest continuous 2.5 miles run 8.3% and the steepest 5 miles average 7.7% - before the grade eases through the middle third and ramps back up for the final approach to the summit weather dome.
See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the "Profile Tool" button above.
Roadway: The first 3.4 miles out of Talent are paved, then the road turns to unmaintained Forest Service gravel for the remaining ~19 miles to the summit. Surface is generally good through most of the gravel section, but the lower two-thirds mixes loose gravel with washboard, which makes standing to climb difficult without losing traction. This road gets no winter maintenance - snow and downed trees have blocked stretches above 6,000 feet as late as early June - so check current Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest road status before you go, especially outside the July-October window.
Traffic: Very light. This is a remote Forest Service road well off any through-route; most of what you'll see is other cyclists or an occasional forestry/recreation vehicle.
Parking: There's no formal trailhead lot - park along the shoulder near the start of Wagner Creek Road, about 7 miles northwest of Ashland just south of its junction with Anderson Creek Road, being mindful not to block driveways or gates in the residential stretch at the base.
Bring a gravel-capable bike with tire clearance for loose gravel and washboard - road tires are a bad idea on this one. Gear low enough to handle sustained double-digit grade without blowing up, especially through the lower two-thirds. There is no water or food available anywhere on the route, so carry everything you'll need for what can be a 3+ hour effort. Temperature swings are significant - riders have found it 90°F at the base and in the mid-40s at the summit on the same day - so pack layers for the descent.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Stage from Ashland or nearby Talent, both about 7 miles from the start of Wagner Creek Road. Ashland is a well-known base for the area (home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival) with plenty of lodging and food if you want to make a trip of it - Wagner Creek Road, NFR 2080, and the Loop Road route all finish at the same Mt. Ashland summit and can be combined into a strong multi-day gravel itinerary. Best window for riding is July through October, once the upper elevations are clear of snow.
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