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Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT

Photo gallery for Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT

main living room and dining room, kitchen is to the left, stairs and balcony
View to of mountain ranges to west from our 40 acres on Siskiyou Summit.
Looking to Mt Shasta from our southern viewpoint, along one of our land's trails
On the Siskiyou Summit, we look out to Trinity Alps, Marble Mtns, and Siskiyous
Historic Old Siskiyou Road is our driveway now, and kids' "bike path."

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8436.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Hot tub
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Ashland, OR
  • Place, Tashi Choling Buddhist Center
  • Place, Mount Ashland Ski Area
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Place, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Airport, Medford, OR (MFR-Rogue Valley Intl.)
    ‪39 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Master bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Studio bedroom

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Study bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

downstairs bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

upstairs bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT

Beautiful, large architectural home nestled in the Siskiyou/Cascade Mountain forests of Southern Oregon. About 15 minutes to downtown Ashland, 20 minutes to Mt. Ashland Ski Area and alpine hiking, and a three minute walk from the front door to the Pacific Crest Trail with meadows, forest and ridges looking out to many mountain ranges. This home is a peaceful, quiet, and beautiful getaway: close enough to Ashland to be convenient, yet surrounded by old forest and mountains and right on top of Siskiyou Summit. You'll the way the natural light floods the house with s feeling of being out in nature even when you're inside! Features fully equipped kitchen and dining (both formal and informal), two large, open living rooms, large sun room and two-person Ofuro hot tub overlooking the forest, 2-car garage, seasonal Swedish sauna house, and walking trails. For children, If you would like a full-size crib and high chair, please let us know. Kids call it 'the adventure house' and there is plenty of room to play indoors and out. Outdoor play structure, paved drive for bikes, lots of nature to explore.

Concerns: We don't have any bears or mountain lions in this neck of the woods, so an evening stroll to watch the sunset is quite safe. We are above the elevations where poison oak grows. No one has ever gotten a tick on them, not even ourselves when we are doing work on the land. If ever needed, it takes the ambulance 10 minutes to arrive at the house (really!).
Families and couples often spend weeks here, working remotely and enjoying nature during all the seasons. Professional companies have also found it a beautiful place for a work retreat (usually renting the log house as well). We have excellent Starlink satellite internet and cell phone reception is always very good. Callahan's Resaturant is a mile away, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner is you'd like easy access to a nearby dining.
The town of Ashland is home to the renowned Shakespeare Festival. Smaller theater companies are also quite good. Being a thriving "tourist town," restaurants are outstanding, nearly mind-boggling in number and variety, making exploration fun.
Children really enjoy the ScienceWorks Museum, Lithia Park and Wildlife Images. Children also enjoy riding their bikes (and little training bikes) on our long paved driveway, catching frogs by the pond, having 38 acres to explore safely. Sledding and building ice caves in the winter is fun! We recently built a big play structure with swings, slides, a little kitchen, etc.
Also in the Rogue Valley are many wineries and wine country tours. The Britt Festival, Rogue Valley Symphony, and smaller venues (such as a few of the wineries), provide a wide choice of music performances.
Rafting companies offer their usual adventures (in season) on the Rogue River. Noah's River Adventures is conveniently based out of Ashland. Mountain bikers enjoy the trails that connect from the top of Mt Ashland down to the town (often using Ashland Mtn Adventures bike shuttle service). The surrounding mountains, lakes and rivers provide manifold opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming and exploring.
Seven Pacific Crest trailheads literally surround us. One is a hop, skip and jump from the house. The trailhead for Pilot Rock is a few minutes' drive. Thankfully, not that many people come up to walk or run. On the weekends there may be three cars parked at a trailhead and during the week almost no one. Mt Ashland's alpine forest road and PCT trailheads are accessible by foot and car from about May through mid-November.
Many opportunities exist for winter sports. For alpine skiers and snowboarders, we have Mt Ashland Ski Area (20 minute drive) and Mt Shasta Ski Park (1.5 hour drive). For x-country skiers and snowshoeing, a multitude of choices which I'm happy to share with you (and the maps you might need). For back-country skiers the areas behind Mt Ashland offer endless ridges and bowls, Mt McLoughlin and Mt Shasta provide interesting terrain as well. And there's good old sledding with your kids from the house and also up on the mountain. We are lift/lodging partners with Mt Ashland Ski Area, so you can purchase lift vouchers from us while you are here.

During all the seasons, our homestead is a good place to find comfort, relaxation, great outdoor exercise and inspiration in the midst of beautiful old forests and meadows and mountains. Whether you are looking for a retreat or a time with family and friends, you can settle in and enjoy. And... kids can play freely and there's plenty of room to roam!

The space
The homestead is located on the Siskiyou Summit just south of Ashland. The 38 acres of forest (unlogged) are the site of the historic old wagon (and early automobile) road, now our driveway, crossing the summit from Oregon to California. This has been our family home since 1982, and we've been caring for this peaceful land ever since.
We are part of the bird flyway and our forest is home to thousands of birds. Twenty to thirty different bird species can be heard in one sitting on the deck or by the pond. We had a wonderful event last spring when two baby Great Gray owls hatched and the family is still here. Animals are primarily deer, squirrels and fox.
On the property there are three houses (the Log House, the Forest House, and the Pond House), all far enough away from one another to be private and secluded.
We live permanently on the property with our dog, Kellen, in the Pond House. We enjoy meeting people and will be available if you need anything during your stay. The Log House will also be rented at times, has a separate driveway and parking area with forest in between. The house has a key pad entrance so you can check in if we're not home when you arrive. The garage door also has a keypad. The central heating and air conditioning is adjustable to your comfort. Many guests like to enjoy a fire in the wood stove on cool evenings. All details for getting to the house, getting into the house, using the WiFi, house rules, and everything else will be available to you upon booking in a detailed itinerary section.

Guest access
Guests will have access to the Forest House, the seasonal sauna, the gazebo, the pond, and the entire property. EV charger is available on request ($10 per charge).

Other things to note
Our dog, a medium-sized McNab, is very friendly. If you feel uncomfortable around dogs, please let us know and we can adjust to you.
Also, please note that the sauna is readily available during sauna season (October through mid-May). It is an additional $25 for a sauna. Let us know ahead of time and we will help you get it fired up.

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Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children love this "adventure house" and forest
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Events

No events allowed
Please talk with me first about the kind of event
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Friendly with people and other dogs, not dominant.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
If you need to smoke, take a walk along drive
No smoking or vaping in the house, or near entrances and windows, including marijuana. Keep marijuana in your car and not in the house.
Dogs must be quiet, very friendly with people and other dogs, trained to stay off furniture/beds, not dominant. Never leave dog in house alone.
Events: talk with me to see if it is something that would work well here, such as a work conference, family gathering, or small wedding.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Please talk with me first about the kind of event
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Ashland

Located in Ashland, this holiday home is in the mountains. Comer Ski Lift and Windsor Ski Lift are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and North Mountain Park. Travelling with kids? Consider ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum and Shasta Dachshunds. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Ashland, OR

What's nearby

  • Emigrant Lake - 12 min drive - 11.3 km
  • Southern Oregon University - 16 min drive - 21.2 km
  • Mount Ashland Ski Area - 17 min drive - 14.2 km
  • Oregon Shakespeare Festival - 20 min drive - 24.3 km
  • Lithia Park - 22 min drive - 24.3 km

Getting around

  • Medford, OR (MFR-Rogue Valley Intl.) - 36 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Callahan's Mountain Lodge - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪J's Cantina - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Mt Ashland Homestead, Ashland 10m, 40 ridgetop acres old forest, right by PCT located?

Offering ski-in/ski-out access, this holiday home in Ashland is in the mountains, steps from Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and close to winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and sledging. Emigrant Lake and Tashi Choling Buddhist Center are also within 9 miles (15 km).

About the host

Hosted by Micheline Wessler

Host profile image
Hi, I'm Micheline. At present, I spend my time caring for this piece of mountain land and its three homes that my two sons and extended family love so well.
I love long backpacking trips, hiking, skiing, reading, friends and a good conversation. I've been co-director of Stillpoint Foundation (with Gia-fu Feng), cultural anthropologist, teacher/assoc. professor, and landscaper/horticulturalist.
I look forward to getting to know you!

Why they chose this property

Our parents bought this Oregon property in 1981. They wanted to return to their home state for retirement, having grown up in Portland and being descendants of generations of our family making their homes and founding towns in Oregon. We are hoping that by sharing two of the homes on the property as vacation and retreat rentals, we will be able to keep this family homestead for more generations to come.

This home was designed by my parents, Dan and Jen Wessler, and built by Steve Snure and crew in 1985. The log house was built by myself and my now ex-husband Christian Burchard. The pond house was built by my sister and her husband. The homestead quickly became a gathering place for many friends and family throughout the years.

In truth, the land is far more important than the homes we built on it. It is part of the Klamath Knot, which is the only place in North America where four mountain ranges converge and one of the few places on the continent with such immense biological diversity. It is a crossing place not only of mountains and plants and trees, but also for many birds and animals. In spring the forest is a cacophony of bird songs from thousands of birds happy to return. Many Native American tribes used this crossing place on their way to and from the healing waters of the upper Rogue Valley. White settlers followed their trail as they too crossed over this pass, until it became a stage road, then an automobile road. The remnant of this road is our driveway. On the path to the southern viewpoint, one can see the shell of a very old automobile and the remains of the four-seater outhouse, the roundabout and spring that were part of the stopover here at the top of the pass.

So now, we continue to take care of this small piece of land, help the forest be healthy, and it gives us a beautiful place to live and share.

What makes this property unique

Walk right down the grassy path a few minutes and be on a beautiful section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Perfect for hiking and trail running (and skiing and snowshoeing in winter), it rises gradually through forest and meadow to the top of a ridge with views of the western mountain ranges, and eventually to Pilot Rock. And it's right outside the front door!

Because we are right on the summit, on the western side of the land one can find great places to watch the sun go down behind the Marble Mountains and the Trinity Alps. One can sit on the deck, work on your laptop and watch the birds. Or sit in the sun room looking out through the trees, with a cup of tea and a good book. (Perhaps even better, soak in the two person ofuro hot tub and watch the moon and stars). It is as if one were in a glass enclosed tree house in the middle of a forest of huge old trees. Or sleep on the futon there and watch the night sky, be wakened by the sun. Walk out along our road to watch the sun setting behind the distant mountain ranges.
Come home from a day out on the snow and hop into a hot cedar sauna. Listen to the low roar of the fire. Run out to cool down in the snow on the sauna house deck, moonlight making it sparkle.

We are lucky to have very good water coming from our well. Nothing is above us, so the water comes up pure and delicious tasting. If you fill the ofuro hot tub, the water will be a very light blue, like spring water.

A short 20 minute drive brings one to the top of Mt. Ashland, great hiking, skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking as well. In spring and summer there is an explosion of wildflowers. Another short drive in to town brings all the choices of entertainment, great restaurants, music and theatre. Gather with family and friends for a special time together, spending time in the outdoors and enjoying what Ashland has to offer. Or completely take a break from town and city life and immerse yourself in nature for awhile.

Languages:

English, German, Spanish

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