Canoeing Ashland OR

“August is laughing across the sky
Laughing while paddle, canoe and I,
Drift, drift,
Where the hills uplift
On either sides of the current swift”

– My Paddle Sings, E. Pauline Johnson

Paddling peacefully in one of the world’s most beautiful regions is a fantastic way to spend a day. Here are some nearby lakes where you can “drift where the hills uplift”.

Applegate Lake

Applegate Lake is located in the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest about a one hour drive from Ashland and is beautiful spot to paddle, explore and soak up the beauty of the surrounding nature. The lake is roughly 18 miles in circumference, features a 10 mile per hour speed limit and is a reservoir created by the Corps of Engineers along the Applegate River.

Directions: From central Ashland, head northwest on Lithia Way, which will merge with N. Main St./OR-99 just North of the center of town. Follow OR-99 about 9.2 miles, then turn left onto S Stage Rd. Continue 3.4 miles and turn right to stay on S Stage Rd. After .3 miles you’ll turn left to stay on S Stage Rd. into the town of Jacksonville. Continue through town and follow signs to OR-238/Medford-Provolt Highway. Continue for about 7.8 miles and take a left onto Upper Applegate Rd. Follow this road 15.6 miles to the road entrance to Applegate Lake Hart-Tish Park. There is a small daily parking fee.

Emigrant Lake

Emigrant Lake, just a brief fifteen minutes from downtown Ashland, offers convenience and delightful views of the surrounding mountains and Pilot Rock. Emigrant Lake County Park offers a wide range of amenities for your visit, including restrooms, food concession, campsites, an RV Park, water slides and much more.

Hyatt Lake

Situated in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Hyatt Lake provides an excellent option for a canoe ride as there is a 10 miles an hour speed limit on the lake. The shore length of this reservoir is approximately seven and a half miles. Visitors to this lake may see a wide range of wildlife, including but not limited to bald and golden eagles, osprey, owls, Peregrin falcons, deer, and otter. Mt. McLoughlin stands in the distance for paddlers to behold. Campers Cove Restaurant and Store offer kayak and canoe rentals.

Directions: From downtown Ashland, head southeast on Siskiyou Blvd. Take a left onto Ashland Street and follow it past the freeway entrances and curve to the right (Ashland St. becomes OR-66/Greensprings Hwy). After crossing the highway you’ll follow Highway 66 nearly seventeen miles where you’ll turn left onto E Hyatt Lake Rd. Continue 3 miles and turn right onto E. Hyatt Lake Rd. where you’ll enter Hyatt Lake Recreation Area. There is a $3 per vehicle parking fee.

Howard Prairie Lake

Amongst the fir and pine forests of the Cascade Mountains lays Howard Prairie Lake. It is located only about 2 miles from Hyatt Lake and therefore offers some of the same wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities and scenic splendor. Howard Prairie Lake has roughly twice the surface area of Hyatt Lake, so while it doesn’t offer the same boat speed limit as Hyatt Lake it does offer a larger lake to explore.

Directions: From downtown Ashland, head southeast on Siskiyou Blvd. Take a left onto Ashland Street and follow it past the freeway entrances and curve to the right (Ashland St. becomes OR-66/Greensprings Hwy). After passing the I-5 you’ll cover about .7 of a mile, then turn left onto Dead Indian Memorial Rd. Continue 17 miles and take a right onto Hyatt Prairie Rd. Take Hyatt Prairie Rd. about 3.3 miles, and turn left where you will enter to the Howard Prairie Lake Resort. There is a $4 daily parking fee per vehicle.

Outdoor Recreation Safety Note: Please be sure to read our safety note on our Outdoor Recreation home page.