Brown Mountain
Located between Highway 140 and Dead Indian Memorial Road, Brown Mountain lays just South of Mt. McLoughlin. While there are trails all over the mountain, on it's South side there resides a shelter and some Nordic trails. Access to the shelter and the southern trails is from the Pederson Sno-Park. This is an unofficial Sno-Park located at the intersection of Dead Indian Memorial Road and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The county plows the road wider at this point providing parking for the trails. North from the Pederson Sno-Park, a 1.8 mile marked section of the PCT leads to the Brown Mountain Shelter. A map and compass allows for further exploration of this area. In our Resources & Links section, there is a link to a map with a couple Nordic trails on it.
Terrain
Brown Mountain is a cinder cone on top of a shield volcano. It reaches a high of 7,311 ft. While the summit has little vegetation, the lower mountain is covered with old growth forest. By the Pederson Sno-Park, the terrain is gentle and rolling. The trails mostly meander through the forests around the base of the mountain.
Skill Level:
Intermediate - Advanced
Directions & Map:
- From the Ashland Outdoor Store, head Southeast on Siskiyou Blvd/Hwy 99.
- Turn Left onto Highway 66/Ashland St. Follow this past the interstate and around a right curve heading out of town.
- Turn Left onto Dead Indian Memorial Road. Continue on Dead Indian Memorial Road for approx 27.1 miles.
- At this point, the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Dead Indian Memorial Road. The County plows the road wider here for parking by the road.
Recommended Equipment
- Day Pack (15L-35L)
- Layers
- Gloves
- Hat
- Active layer - soft shell or fleece
- Insulating layer - down or synthetic fill jacket
- Hard Shell pant and top
- First Aid Kit
- Backcountry repair kit
- Basic emergency/overnight kit
- Small foam pad for breaks
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Camera
Food & Water
For water, 2L-3L per person for a day trip is recommended. As for food, several small snacks throughout the day are recommended. Big meals are fun but bog you down. Small snacks allow for a continual flow of energy to your body. For your snacks, try to balance sugars, fats, proteins, and carbs so your body is continually fueled. This helps reduce crashes in energy during the day.
Additional Info
- Trailhead Lat/Long: 42° 17' 36.03" N x 122° 16' 16.41" W
- Trailhead elevation: 5400ft
Resources & Links
- AOS Cross-Country Rental Info
- Southern Oregon Nordic Club
- Brown Mountain Ski Map
- Travel Oregon Pederson Sno-Park Info
Weather
Click Here for the NOAA weather forcast for this area.
