Rail Trail
- 1.0 mi
- round trip
- 2,524 ft
- climb
- 2,259 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Rail Trail is an easy hike in southern Oregon, about 1.7 miles from the town of Jacksonville. It is an out-and-back route of about 2.1 miles, with a high point of 2,259 feet and a low of 1,920 feet. The climb is modest: the trail gains about 332 feet from start to finish, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.6 miles, where the grade reaches 12 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ruch, Oregon, show May highs around 75°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. That station sits about 700 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The trail sits among a cluster of other short hikes. Ponderosa Snag Trail starts about 0.1 mile away, Siskiyou Trail about 0.2 mile, and Owl Hoot Trail and Halls of Manzanita Trail are each within about a mile.
Local outfitters
- Applegate Trail Rides16 mi away
- Ashland Family YMCA17 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Rail Trail
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
50° / 30°
Feb
55° / 31°
Mar
60° / 33°
Apr
65° / 36°
May
75° / 42°
Jun
82° / 47°
Jul
92° / 52°
Aug
91° / 51°
Sep
85° / 45°
Oct
72° / 38°
Nov
56° / 33°
Dec
49° / 30°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ruch, OR, 7 mi away at 1,550 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
