Mt. Ashland, just north of the California border, is halfway between San Francisco and Portland, just 8 miles off Interstate 5. The runs and lifts are named after Shakespeare plays and characters, with Balcony and Upper Balcony (at 7,500 feet) overlooking them all. The day lodge is Elizabethan, naturally. There are some excellent bump runs, but Mt. Ashland's specialty is a cirque, a giant glacial bowl that is corniced, steep, and demanding. Double-black stuff. With four chairlifts, two of which serve the higher elevations, and only 1,150 feet of vertical drop, a casual observer might consider Mt. Ashland less than challenging. As the locals say, "It skis a lot bigger than it looks."

No lodging available at the area. All accommodations in Ashland, 18 miles away, and Medford, 28 miles away. Camper facilities available in Ashland and Medford.

Cross country terrain adjacent to snowplay areas nearby; snowboarding rentals and lessons available.