Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
One of the West's most underrated national park units, this 114,000-acre swath of wilderness preserves a diverse landscape of towering volcanic mountains, arid high desert, and fertile river valley. Follow Highway 66 east from Ashland to access some of the monument's best hikes, which include a 3-mile round-trip jaunt up to Hobart Bluff, a 4-mile round-trip climb to the observation tower atop Soda Mountain, and a 2.8-mile round-trip trek to Pilot Rock, an ancient volcanic plug. A long section of the Pacific Crest Trail also passes through the monument, including an easy section around Hyatt Lake, a pristine reservoir that's popular for kayaking, trout fishing, and camping. Not far from the lake, Green Springs Inn & Cabins offers rustic but beautifully situated accommodations; adjacent to it is a BLM contact station where rangers can supply maps and advice on what to see in this rugged section of southern Oregon.
