The Wasabi trail in the Ashland watershed.

A “spicy” new mountain bike trail called Wasabi is a long-awaited addition to Ashland’s growing network of trails because it caters to beginners.

“Wasabi is a spicy green substance. We wanted a green (beginner) trail, but because of the steepness, we knew it would be a little spicier than most other green trails out there,” said Leslie Eldridge, chairwoman of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Trails subcommittee.

Riders on Saturday were invited to enjoy the new trail and at the bottom find representatives from Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission.

The trail is near the Lower Wonder trailhead and parking lot, close to the Granite Street swimming reservoir in Lithia Park. 

For mountain bikers in general, the attraction to the Ashland watershed is its consistently steep grade, Eldridge said. The challenging trails and downhill runs are part of the fun — for experienced riders. Trails where families can take their kids and beginner riders can learn the sport were nearly nonexistent, she said.

“The challenge is that lean, the steepness of the watershed. The goal is to find those low-angled areas where people can bring their kids out,” she said of the search for more green trails.

She estimated it was three years ago that the Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association created a plan for sustainable mountain bike trail expansion. The sport was growing in popularity beyond what the previous trail system could accommodate.

The APRC trails subcommittee was created to help strike that balance, and in response to a rumbling frustration from mountain bike groups asking APRC, “How do we get trails modified or new ones created. What is the process and who do we talk to?” Eldridge said.

The answer to the question is the new subcommittee and its process to keep the trails growing and responsive to riders. The subcommittee itself has expanded, Eldridge said, to focus beyond mountain biking and ensure trails are inclusive and enjoyable for all kinds of outdoor activities.

Mountain biking, however, is the hot sport of the moment, she said, and will hopefully become a new avenue for the city to diversify its tourism-based economy — while still respecting and protecting the local ecology.

“Mountain biking is kind of blowing up in Ashland,” she said.

For a map of the new trail, visit travelashland.com/ashland-map-guide