Big Bunchgrass Ridge
Hike Details:
Mileage: 6.25 miles out and back w/ 1,300 ft. elevation gain (the entire Bunchgrass Ridge Trail is 25 miles from end to end connecting Oakridge to Waldo Lake).
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 43 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, moderate on summer weekends (mainly lots of mountain bikers)
General location: 24 miles east of Oakridge - Willamette National Forest
Suggested seasons: Late spring, summer, fall
(Best time to go is in mid to late June when the wildflowers are blooming).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: No
Trail allows: Dogs on leash, mountain biking, camping
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 43 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, moderate on summer weekends (mainly lots of mountain bikers)
General location: 24 miles east of Oakridge - Willamette National Forest
Suggested seasons: Late spring, summer, fall
(Best time to go is in mid to late June when the wildflowers are blooming).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: No
Trail allows: Dogs on leash, mountain biking, camping
Description:
The entire Bunchgrass Ridge Trail is 25 miles from end to end connecting Oakridge to Waldo Lake. It is primarily used for summer and early fall mountain biking, but because there are so many trailheads along the whole trail where you can access different parts, the shorter sections are popular with day hikers. The entire 25 mile route would be a great 1 night backpacking trip option!
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The trailhead is relatively easy to find. Keep an eye out for the trail sign on your left and a very large pull-out on the right where there is room for about 8 cars to park. The parking pull-out area does have some grass growing, so please do not park on the grass if it is long and the fire danger is high.
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The Bunchgrass Ridge Trail is a part of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail system (a series of trails that connect together where you can hike from Eugene all the way to the PCT), so on the trail signs you will not only see Bunchgrass Ridge Trail, you will also frequently see the blue and white circular Eugene to Pacific Crest emblem. The first 1.4 miles of the hike take you mostly through a forest, with short spurts that cross steep wildflower meadows. During the month of June and early July, you will find gorgeous flowers along this trail such as bear grass, fireweed, California corn lily and many more!
After 1.4 miles the trail continues to traverse the large open meadows, and you will see some amazing views of Diamond Peak in the distance and the steep hills in the foreground are Verdun Rock, Hells Half Acre and Mount David Douglas. At 2.4 miles you will come to a trail split. The trail going downhill to the left is the trail that comes up from the lower trailhead. You can start this hike there if you want to make it shorter. You will stay to the right and continue going uphill.
(Diamond Peak, Verdun Rock, Hells Half Acre and Mount David Douglas)
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At around 3 miles you will see a post with bright ribbon tied to it and an orange diamond. This is where the Bunchgrass Ridge Trail continues on to the west if you wanted to continue on to Little Bunchgrass if you wanted to make the hike longer, and this is also where you can head up to the rocky viewpoint area of Big Bunchgrass. You can see the rocks that you are heading towards from the marker post. From here it is just 0.2 miles to the top.
The top of Big Bunchgrass is at 5,700 ft. and from there you will get some awesome views of Diamond Peak, Fuji Mountain, Maiden Peak, the Twins, the Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson and of course all of the hills, valleys and ridges in between.
(panorama from the top of Big Bunchgrass)
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(Fuji Mountain and the Twins in the distance)
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(Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters peaking up over the ridge)
Overall, this is a great hike near Oakridge with spectacular views and wildflowers! It is rated moderate because of the mileage and elevation gain, but also because of the trail itself. The trail is in great condition since it is maintained for mountain biking, but because the hillsides are at such a steep angle, the trail is a bit off camber. This can create some strain on knees and ankles for those with preexisting conditions.
(dried California corn lily in mid-November)
Directions:
From Eugene
- Drive OR-58 east through the town of Oakridge for a total of 50.6 miles. Right after passing underneath a train trestle, turn left onto Eagle Creek Rd/NF-5883. Stay on this gravel road for 6.2 miles, then turn right onto NF-5883 for 0.4 miles. Continue straight onto NF-379 until you see the large turn out on your right. (Total of 65.8 miles)
- Drive US-97 south for 46.9 miles. In the town of Crescent, turn right onto Crescent Rd/Crescent Cutoff Rd. and stay on this road for 12 miles until you T into OR-58. Turn right and stay on OR-58 west for a total of 22.1 miles. Turn right onto Eagle Creek Rd/NF-5883. Stay on this gravel road for 6.2 miles, then turn right onto NF-5883 for 0.4 miles. Continue straight onto NF-379 until you see the large turn out on your right. (Total of 89.2 miles)
- It is a total of 127 miles via Eugene.
- It is a total of 170 miles via Eugene.
- It is a total of 159 miles via Eugene.
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense.
Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.
Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.