Ashland’s Lithia Park was designed by the man behind Golden Gate Park, and October is when it shows off

Southern Oregon has a park with big-city pedigree, and it sits two minutes from a theater district. Lithia Park in Ashland was laid out by John McLaren, the landscape architect who also designed San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. In October, with maples and ginkgos turning along the creek, you can see why they hired him.

It started small. In 1892 the land was just eight acres set aside for a Chautauqua gathering, and McLaren came on in 1914 to turn it into something worth crossing the state for. The park was dedicated in 1916 and now stretches across nearly 100 acres on both sides of Ashland Creek.

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Start where the park does, by the water

Walk in from the plaza and the creek does the talking. Ashland Creek runs straight through the middle, and the paths follow it uphill past stone bridges and shaded benches. The lower duck pond came first, built in 1910 on the site of an old flour mill, with a waterfall feeding it.

Here’s the part that gives the park its name. A spring discovered in 1907 turned out to be rich in lithium, and Ashland voted a bond in 1914 to pipe that water into the park. The Lithia water fountain and the Butler-Perozzi Fountain are both part of McLaren’s original plan and still stand today.

Wander uphill for the fall color

My pick for the best stretch is the Japanese Garden. It has koi, a little waterfall, rocky paths and a mix of maples and ginkgos, and it’s at its most photogenic right when the leaves start to turn. Skip the midday rush if you can, because the light is better and the paths are quieter early or late.

Keep climbing and you’ll pass the Upper Duck Pond, Sycamore Grove and the Rose Garden. The paths are a mix of paved and dirt, so there’s a route for almost any pace. Want to keep going? The trails continue south toward the swimming reservoir at the park’s south end.

Pair it with the rest of Ashland

The park runs right alongside downtown, so a creekside walk slides easily into dinner and a theater night. The Elizabethan Stage sits at the park’s edge, and the plaza is a short stroll from the entrance. If you’re building a longer weekend, our guide to the best things to do in Ashland fills in the rest.

One heads-up for dog owners: pets aren’t allowed in Lithia Park, with the exception of service dogs. Leave the pup at the hotel and give yourself an hour or two to wander.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.

Which would you choose first, the Japanese Garden or the creekside paths at sunset? Tell us in the comments.

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