It’s ice fishing season at the lakes of the Cascade Range, including at Fish Lake near Mount McLoughlin, where there’s been some large tiger trout caught.

“The big tigers aren’t often seen in the summer,” says Sarah Mosttler, owner of the Fish Lake Resort. “For some reason, it’s a fall and winter catch, mostly seen by ice fishermen. Fish Lake is known for them.”

Mosttler warns that lake ice is not uniform in thickness and that it’s important to ask about conditions. To check thickness, fishermen typically use a heavy metal bar called a spud bar to break through the ice or an auger to drill through it. Fishing holes in the ice must not be wider than a foot.

The resort rents augers, snow shoes, fishing gear, bait and sleds to haul gear. It offers cabins, RV spaces and a cafe with a warm fire. It’s located near mile marker 30 of Highway 140, about 39 miles from downtown Medford.

For more information, visit Fishlakeresort.net or call 541-949-8500.

It’s Kite Festival time at Lake of the Woods Resort

The Lake of the Woods Resort is scheduled to host its fifth annual Kite Festival Friday through Sunday, with highlights including food, music and fun activities on the lake ice. Kites will fly all three days.

The event kickoff and dinner is set for Friday. Bring your own kite or buy one at the marina.

For more information, visit Lakeofthewoodsresort.com or call 800-201-4194. The resort is at 950 Harriman Route, off of Highway 140, about 45 miles from Medford.

Help establish willow trees along Bear Creek

Help the Rogue River Watershed Council from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and on March 1 with willow staking along Bear Creek at Lynn Newbry Park in Talent. Willow staking is the planting of willow cuttings to grow trees that promote soil stabilization.

Bring work gloves and wear appropriate attire. Feel free to bring loppers or pruners. The March 1 event is geared toward families and children.

RSVP at buff.ly/4ilAh1v. Reach the watershed council at 541-423-6158.

SOU Outdoor Program hosts Banff film festival

The Southern Oregon University Outdoor Program will host its 14th annual Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour on Saturday and Sunday in the SOU Recital Hall, 450 S. Mountain Ave. in Ashland.

Each night will showcase a different selection of films focusing on a range of outdoor activities, including bicycle riding, skiing, climbing, conservation and personal challenges.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and movies start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 each night. To purchase them online, visit bit.ly/40Nd3t4.

Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts annual Bavarian Night

The Mt. Ashland Ski Area is hosting its annual Bavarian Night from 3-9 p.m. on Saturday., featuring a torchlight parade, fireworks, live music and a traditional Bavarian dinner. Proceeds benefit the Mt. Ashland Ski Patrol.

The ski area reopened Sunday after several days without power and water. For more information, visit mtashland.com.

Hike with Medford Parks and Recreation

Medford Parks and Recreation is offering hiking opportunities to adults 55 years and older, with the next trek set for Thursday to hike a moderately difficult 3-mile historical loop trail through Jacksonville’s Forest Park. Several other hikes in coming weeks are nearly full or full with wait lists.

Cost for the hikes is $18 for residents and $24 for non-residents. Participants meet at Rogue X, 901 Rossanley Drive, and take a van to the trailhead.

Hikes include Jackson Creek on Feb. 25, South Fork on March 4, Ti’Lomikh Falls on March 11, Roxy Ann Peak on March 18, Enchanted Forest on March 25, Provolt Recreation Area on April 8 and a dog-friendly hike on the Jacksonville Railway Trail on April 14.

For more information, visit bit.ly/3WJoNeZ or call 541-774-2400.

Josephine County hosts Search & Rescue Academy

Josephine County Search & Rescue is hosting its annual academy Feb. 18-March 15. Participants will learn survival, navigation and first aid skills and get hands-on experience with rescues.

To participate, visit bit.ly/4jIVlQ9 to fill out a volunteer application and visit bit.ly/4hjCVDU to sign up for the academy.

Cost for the academy is $55. For more information, call 541-474-5301.

Get the scoop on the state of the bioregion

Michael Dotson, executive director of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center in Ashland, is scheduled to give a “state of the bioregion” presentation online at 6 p.m. on Feb. 19.

He is set to discuss recent successes and upcoming challenges with public lands conservation and discuss KS Wild’s priorities during the Trump Administration. He’ll also discuss the organization’s ForestWatch and Rogue Riverkeeper programs.

To join the event, sign up at bit.ly/4aQAmXH. Reach KS Wild at 541-488-5789.

Climate group to host Community Conversation

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now is hosting a Community Conversation event from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Jacksonville Library, 340 West C St. in Jacksonville.

Participants can engage with like-minded people and help guide future activities of the organization. Food will be served.

RSVP to director@socan.eco.

Gardening for pollinators is subject of talk

The Siskiyou Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon is scheduled to host a presentation titled “Gardening for Bees, Butterflies and Birds” at its next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Southern Oregon University Science Building, Room 161.

The meeting will be in person as well as online, at bit.ly/npsotalks.

The presentation, by Dave Kollen, will be an introduction to native pollinators such as bees, butterflies and moths. Topics will include the essential roles they play in natural systems and food production systems.

Connect with community organizations at JoinFest

Learn about the power of connection and belonging on Feb. 20 when Rogue Community Health, AllCare Health and Rogue Community College host JoinFest, an event highlighting the importance of civic engagement and community connection.

The event, rescheduled from last week due to weather, is set for RCC’s Grants Pass campus, 3345 Redwood Highway. From 4-6 p.m., visit booths from local clubs and organizations. At 6 p.m., watch the documentary film “Join or Die,” an exploration of community engagement.

Rogue Community Health is a Jackson County health care provider. Register at roguecommunityhealth.org/joinfest/.

Extension Service hosts online series about wildfire

The Oregon State University Extension Service is hosting a continuing series of online presentations about wildfire in Oregon. The next presentation is Feb. 20, about forests in the Coast Range and Western Cascades.

Other sessions are Oregon’s dry forests, Feb. 27; Southwest Oregon forests, March 6; Eastside forests, March 13; sagebrush ecosystems, March 20 and oak savannahs and woodlands, March 27.

For more information and to register, visit blogs.oregonstate.edu/fireeco/.

Extension Service offers workshops on graywater, farms and trees

The Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center in Central Point is offering workshops about graywater, small farms and dying trees:

• Feb. 20, gardening with household graywater. Subjects include assessing your site, designing a system and building it. Cost is $15. Register at bit.ly/40Q9diN.

• March 3, exploring the small farm dream. Subjects include opportunities, objectives, finances, assessing resources and conducting market research. Cost is $60 per person or $75 for two farm partners. Register at bit.ly/3Qa1tn3.

• March 26, tree mortality in Jackson County. Subjects include causes, uses of dead trees and replanting. Register at bit.ly/4hJ6RJG.

For more information, call the center at 541-776-7371.

Mountain Club plans work parties, intern meetings

The Siskiyou Mountain Club has scheduled weekend work parties and three online meetings for summer interns:

• Learn about the club’s Wilderness Conservation Corps, a workforce of summer interns who trek into remote areas to restore trails, during online meetings set for 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, Feb. 27 and March 13.

Access the meetings at bit.ly/4gwlj6t. Use passcode 2025.

• Help clear brush, cut logs and clean up sites along the Illinois River Corridor on Sunday and Monday. Stay for the day or camp overnight.

• Help maintain the Osgood Ditch Trail in the southern Illinois Valley March 1-2. No previous experience is necessary.

• Backpack March 8-9 about 4 miles along the Illinois River National Recreation Trail to clean brush and logs.

For details, send an email to trevor@siskiyoumountainclub.org.

Road open to Shore Acres, Cape Arago state parks

The Cape Arago Highway, which provides vehicle access to Cape Arago and Shore Acres state parks near Coos Bay, has been repaired and reopened, after a landslide undercut the road and forced the parks to close to vehicles since early January.

The repairs included a new rock slope, pavement and drainage, according to a Feb. 10 announcement from Oregon State Parks. The work was done in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation, local contractors and Friends of Shore Acres.

ODFW offers hunter education classes

Hunter safety education courses are offered through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on March 8-9 and April 26-27 at Sportsman Park, 7407 Highland Ave., north of Grants Pass.

Focus of the classes is gun safety, ethics and responsibility. Equipment is provided. Cost is $10. Ages 9 and older may participate.

Register at bit.ly/4jLuFyl. For more information, contact Ronald Zeltvay, 541-660-3552.

Crater Lake rangers lead free snowshoe walks

Crater Lake National Park offers free ranger-guided snowshoe walks on weekends through April and also on weekdays during spring break, March 24-28.

They start at 1 p.m., last two hours and cover 1-2 miles over moderate to strenuous terrain. Participants must be at least 8 years old. Snowshoes are provided.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Separate groups tours might be available. Park entrance fee of $20 applies. Call 541-594-3100.

Join the Gold Hill Walking Club

Join the folks at the Gold Hill Library and their friends every Wednesday as they take a weekly neighborhood stroll. They begin at the library, 202 Dardanelles St., and take the path to and from the Gold Hill Sports Park.

The outing, which is for adults, is an opportunity to exercise outdoors while socializing with others. The club meets rain or shine.

For more information, call 541-855-1994.

Cities publish activity guides

Central Point, Ashland and Medford have published winter-spring recreational activity guides, including classes, events and outings. Check out the Central Point guide at bit.ly/42giLWN, Ashland’s guide at bit.ly/WinterSpringGuide2025 and Medford’s guide at playmedford.com.

Want to publicize your upcoming outdoors event for free? Send details to writer Shaun Hall at 541-761-6726 or shaunmichaelhall@gmail.com. Submissions about upcoming events are encouraged.