The Conde Creek Loop is one of the harder rides the club will run each year. It is very similar to the Cedar Flats/Deer Creek Loop in that it is generally a rolling/flat ride with one very steep climb accounting for most of the work. That climb is Conde Creek Rd, a single lane Forest Service road that climbs from roughly 2200 feet to 5200 in about 11 miles. That makes it sound hard enough, but consider that the first 2000 feet of climbing are in 4.8 miles: a lung busting 8% average with long stretches of 10% - not for the faint of heart. The climb does ease up after reaching 4200 feet, only climbing 1000 feet in the next 6 miles - Rides may start from Medford, Ashland or Phoenix or all of the above and meet mid-ride. The ride is beautiful. It rolls through the lush Valley of the S.Fork Little Butte Creek as its walls steepen into a deep gorge. It climbs dramatically up out of the canyon to the Dead Indian Plateau and once you catch your breath, it's back down the exciting descent of Dead Indian Memorial Rd into Ashland. On clear days you'll get direct views of Mt. McLoughlin, Brown Mountain and the peaks of the Mountain Lake Wilderness. The descent of Dead Indian is great fun on a bike and offers some of the best views of Siskiyous that you'll get anywhere.

There are many alternate routes between Ashland and Medford, but for this ride, it's best to ride Main St and Eagle Mill and follow the "Orchard's Route" to Fern Valley Rd. Proceed to N. Phoenix Rd, Foothill Rd, Kershaw Rd & Hwy 140 where you will head east for 10 miles. Turn right at Lake Creek Rd, continue thru Lake Creek and you'll gradually climb for another 10 miles. Immediately following a fire station sign, there is a poorly marked right turn onto Conde Creek Rd which immediately crosses S.Fork Little Butte Creek and begins climbing steeply out of the canyon. There is a sign indicating a road closure, but unless snow blocks the road, the road will be open. Continue with the pavement until it meets Dead Indian Memorial Rd near the summit, turn right and return to Ashland.

Other pages on the site outline the possible routes between Medford and Ashland in more detail, but for this ride, it's best to ride Main st and the bike path thru Ashland to Talent Ave. & Colver Rd. Proceed to N. Phoenix Rd, Foothill Rd, Kershaw Rd & Hwy 140 where you will go head east for 10 miles. Turn right at Lake Creek Rd, continue thru Lake Creek gradually climb for another 10 miles. Right at a fire station sign, there is a poorly marked right turn onto Conde Creek Rd which immediately crosses S.Fork Little Butte Creek and begins climbing steeply out of the canyon. There is a sign indicating a road closure, but unless snow blocks the road, the road will be open. Continue with the pavement until it meets Dead Indian Memorial Rd near the summit, turn right and return to Ashland. As always, click on the map for a detailed view of the route.

Traffic is going to depend greatly on location. Obviously, between Medford and Ashland, there may be traffic depending on the route you choose. Hwy 140 can be very busy but has a 10 foot shoulder and has recently been repaved (not chipseal.) Lake Creek, Conde Creek and Dead Indian will have virtually no traffic most days. The only complaint you could have about this ride is the chipseal on Conde Creek - and the views should make that worthwhile.