Bunchgrass Ridge
​Hike details:
Mileage: 6.25 miles round trip w/ 1,300 ft. elevation gain (to viewpoint at Big Bunchgrass)
11.6 miles round trip w/ 2,800 ft. elevation gain (to viewpoint at Bunchgrass Ridge)
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 43 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (to viewpoint at Big Bunchgrass)
5 hours 2 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (to viewpoint at Bunchgrass Ridge)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, moderate on summer weekends (mainly lots of mountain bikers)
Highest elevation: 5,880 ft. Lowest elevation: 5,200 ft.
General location: 24 miles east of Oakridge - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: June through November
(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
Possible dangers: N/A - there have been cougar sightings on this trail in the last two years, but cougars are pretty much everywhere you hike in Oregon.
11.6 miles round trip w/ 2,800 ft. elevation gain (to viewpoint at Bunchgrass Ridge)
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 43 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (to viewpoint at Big Bunchgrass)
5 hours 2 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (to viewpoint at Bunchgrass Ridge)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, moderate on summer weekends (mainly lots of mountain bikers)
Highest elevation: 5,880 ft. Lowest elevation: 5,200 ft.
General location: 24 miles east of Oakridge - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: June through November
(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
Possible dangers: N/A - there have been cougar sightings on this trail in the last two years, but cougars are pretty much everywhere you hike in Oregon.
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(trailhead parking area)
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Description:
The Bunchgrass Ridge Trail is a section of the Eugene to Crest Trail, which connects Waldo Lake to Lowell. This section 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 sections, the shorter sections are popular with day hikers as well, especially when the wildflowers are blooming. The section from Waldo Lake (Betty Lake trailhead) to Oakridge is a total of 29 miles and would be a great 1-2 night backpacking trip option.
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 during the hot dry summer and fire danger is high.
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 during the hot dry summer and fire danger is high.
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Because the Bunchgrass Ridge Trail is a part of the Eugene to Crest Trail system, on the trail signs you will not only see Bunchgrass Ridge Trail, but 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 blooming the hillside, such as bear grass, fireweed, California corn lily and many more!
(example of trail along the steep hillside)
(Diamond Peak)
After 1.4 miles the trail continues to traverse 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 the hike at the lower trailhead if you want to make it shorter, however this trailhead doesn't receive as much use and it takes you on a very steep sketchy road that doesn't get maintained much. At the trail junction you will stay to the right and continue going uphill.
(Diamond Peak, Verdun Rock, Hells Half Acre and Mount David Douglas)
(beginning of bear grass bloom in mid-June)
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(bear grass in November)
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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 Bunchgrass Ridge if you wanted to make this 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.
(rocky viewpoint)
(panorama from the top of Big Bunchgrass)
The high point 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 tip of the Three Sisters and Mount Jefferson and of course all of the hills, valleys and ridges in between. If you want to keep the hike to 6.25 miles, you would head back from this viewpoint. If you want to hike a total of 11.6 miles, you will continue on the Eugene to Crest Trail to the other Bunchgrass Ridge viewpoint. This second viewpoint is actually at a lower elevation than the first viewpoint, but because of the different angle it is at, you can see Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters much better. It is also a bigger viewpoint with great spots to sit and truly enjoy this stunning view.
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(Fuji Mountain and the Twins in the distance)
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(Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters peaking up over the ridge)
Keep in mind that if you want to go to the second viewpoint, you are not only signing up for more mileage, but also a lot more elevation gain. The high point of this ridgeline is just shortly after the first viewpoint at 5,880 feet so from here, the trail takes you steeply downhill via 7 short switchbacks through an old burn scar that offers absolutely no shade. After going down to 5,200 feet the trail meanders along this lower ridgeline for 0.9 miles, then the trail dips down once again all the way to 5,000 feet where you will come to a little saddle. Here you will see a lush meadow full of wildflowers that bloom in mid-June. From here it is 0.6 miles to the second Bunchgrass Ridge viewpoint and you will gain 495 feet of elevation. This rocky viewpoint is absolutely incredible and gives you 360 degree views. The views of Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters and Broken Top are absolutely amazing from here, as well as the view of Diamond Peak and the entire Bunchgrass Ridge that you just hiked.
(trail heading downhill via switchbacks - picture by Jeremy Henricks)
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(5,000 foot wildflower saddle - picture by Jeremy Henricks)
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Bunchgrass Ridge is a vastly underrated hike in the Oakridge area and it offers wildflowers, epic views and some decent elevation gain if you're looking for it. You can choose to make this a moderate level hike by making your end point the first viewpoint, or you can choose the more difficult hike option by continuing on to the second viewpoint. Whichever you choose, you will love this hike as it is a wonderful place to be in the summer and fall.
(second Bunchgrass Ridge viewpoint - picture by Jeremy Henricks)
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(Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters from the second Bunchgrass Ridge viewpoint)
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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 unless otherwise marked 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.