The Willamette Valley Visitors Association has kicked off its eighth annual Ornament Hunt, hiding 200 locally crafted wooden ornaments along non-wilderness trails in the Willamette National Forest. This year’s ornament features a Pacific tree frog and seasonal mushrooms, highlighting the region’s forest biodiversity.
Beginning Nov. 21, hikers can search trails in the Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie River and Middle Fork ranger districts. Anyone who finds an ornament can register it online for a chance to win a two-day getaway in the Willamette Valley.
Organizers remind hikers to stay on marked trails, where all ornaments are hidden, and to follow Leave No Trace principles while exploring. More experienced hikers can venture farther down the paths, leaving accessible ornaments for beginners. Participants are also asked to take only one ornament per household so more people have a chance to find one.
For those who don’t find an ornament on the trail, additional ones are available for purchase at visitor centers in Salem, Albany and Corvallis, as well as online in limited quantities. Proceeds benefit Cascade Volunteers, a nonprofit that supports trail keepers and maintenance efforts throughout the forest.
Trail information, accessibility guides and clues will be posted throughout December at willamettevalley.org/ornament and on social media accounts @gowillamettevalley and @willametteNF.
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