2024 marks the 7th annual Willamette Valley Visitors Association Ornament Hunt in the Willamette National Forest and Umpqua National Forest. 

As of November 15, 2024, two hundred locally-crafted wooden ornaments were hidden along non-wilderness trails in the following ranger districts: Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie River and Middle Fork in the Willamette National Forest and Cottage Grove in the Umpqua National Forest for lucky hikers.

Hike-and-seekers can register the ornament they find online at willamettevalley.org/ornament for a chance to win the grand prize of a two-night getaway in the Willamette Valley.

Key Dates:

> Ornament Hunt Opens: Friday, November 15, 2024
> Ornament Hunt Closes: Dec 25, 2024
> Contest Winner chosen and alerted on January 25, 2024 or earlier

Fine specific trail information and start hunting. 

If exploring a trail to find an ornament isn’t your style, you may purchase these locally-crafted wooden ornaments, made by 20Leagues, at various locations throughout the Willamette Valley.

Here’s where you can find them:

> Eugene, Cascades and Coast Visitor Center (754 Olive Street, Eugene) 
> Travel Salem Visitors Center
> Albany Visitors Center
> Visit Corvallis Visitor Center

All proceeds will benefit Cascade Volunteers, a non-profit organization that supports trailkeepers and trail maintenance. Learn more at cascadevols.org. 

Beginning in 2021, the Willamette Valley Visitors Association began featuring a regional theme on the wooden ornament. This year a mountain biking scene highlights the diverse trails throughout both of these forests. Each ornament will also include a tag describing how to register for our grand prize, a two-day getaway to the Willamette Valley.

Please abide by Leave No Trace Principles. Once the contest closes, all remaining ornaments will be picked up by U.S. Forest Service professionals. There are guidelines that promote US Forest Service winter safety messages.

We encourage hikers to stay on designated trails and steer clear of the fire-affected areas as they explore the wider Willamette National Forest.