Spectacular Pompadour Bluff near Ashland is the site of four upcoming, easy hikes hosted by the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy as part of its annual spring hike series.

Other hikes in coming weeks are scheduled for Jacksonville Woodlands, Vesper Meadows near Howard Prairie Lake, and at the organization’s 352-acre Rogue River Preserve near Eagle Point.

The hikes are free, but registration is required. A limited number of slots are available. If hikes are full, there’s a waiting list.

The conservancy acquired the 55-acre Pompadour Bluff property in 2021. It’s known as the Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff, named after the donors.

The bluff, which offers a spectacular view from its distinctive rocky summit, is located in the Cascade foothills about a half-mile northeast of Ashland Municipal Airport, off of Dead Indian Memorial Road.

Kristi Mergenthaler, stewardship director for the conservancy, visited the bluff Wednesday, where early spring wildflowers colored the scene and meadowlarks greeted visitors with song.

“Such a beautiful song,” Mergenthaler said. “People will see a lot of beauty.”

Turkey vultures and hawks frequent the property. Some of the hawks have babies.

“They’re very vocal,” Mergenthaler said of the birds.

Recent trail work has provided a more gentle ascent of the distinctive landform, giving visitors a wide, flat, safe and easy walking path.

“The view of southern Bear Creek Valley is unbelievable, one of a kind,” Mergenthaler said.

There’s no need to any longer hike cross-country, where rattlers might be hiding. The property generally is not accessible to the public, except during hikes, events and educational visits.

“These hikes are a way to bring people in,” Mergenthaler said.

By limiting public access, breeding birds are respected and disturbances are minimized.

“We also want to respect the neighbors,” she said.

Founded in 1978, the Ashland-based Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is a regional nonprofit land trust that works with landowners to create conservation easements to protect lands in perpetuity. More than 12,840 acres have been protected across the Rogue River region.

A key holding of the organization is its Rogue River Preserve, purchased in 2017, at 646 Rogue River Drive, Eagle Point. It features forests, meadows and two miles of riverfront. Among the upcoming hikes, on June 3, are guided and self-guided hikes at the preserve.

Other upcoming hikes hosted by SOLC include:

• Explore Pompadour Bluff, 3-5 p.m., April 26, May 3, May 17.

• Jacksonville Woodlands history tour, 9 a.m. to noon, June 18.

• Birding at Pompadour Bluff, 8-11 a.m., May 27.

• Walk and work at Vesper Meadows in the Cascade Mountains, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 23.

• Open Lands Day at the Rogue River Preserve near Eagle Point, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 3, with guided and self-guided hikes and presentations about beetles and bees.

The hikes are free, but space is limited and registration is required. Register online at landconserve.org. For more information, call 541-482-3069 or email events@landconserve.org.