By The New Era
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA) has launched its seventh annual Ornament Hunt throughout the region and on non-wilderness trails of the Willamette National Forest and the Umpqua National Forest.
As many as 200 locally crafted wooden ornaments were hidden along non-wilderness trails for lucky hikers to find in the following ranger districts: Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie River, and Middle Fork on the Willamette National Forest, and Cottage Grove on the Umpqua National Forest.
Each year, WVVA chooses a unique theme for the Ornament Hunt that celebrates a special aspect of the Willamette Valley. This year it is on the theme of mountain biking.
WVVA plans to highlight accessible trails throughout the season, including six mountain biking destinations that underwent adaptive rider assessments in June, conducted by The UNPavement and C2 Recreation with support from WVVA, Visit Corvallis, and Travel Lane County. By making these opportunities available, WVVA hopes to empower everyone to experience the joy and adventure the Willamette Valley has to offer.
“This year, we’re proud to include other trail users, like mountain bikers, throughout the Willamette and Umpqua National forests,” said Tori Middelstadt, WVVA’s new executive director. “We also want to highlight our ongoing efforts to make the region’s hiking and mountain biking trails more accessible so that all visitors, regardless of their ability, have the opportunity to enjoy them.”
The tradition was born in 2018 when the Willamette National Forest provided the Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. from the Sweet Home district. With all eyes on the Willamette Valley, the hike-and-seek hunt was created to encourage locals and travelers to connect with public lands and increase outdoor recreation activities. Each ornament found includes instructions on how to register to win a grand prize, which is a two-day getaway to the Willamette Valley.
WVVA is also offering a limited number of additional ornaments that will be available for purchase at local tourism offices throughout the Willamette Valley. All proceeds will benefit Cascade Volunteers, a nonprofit organization that supports trail keepers and trail maintenance, and their work within the Willamette National Forest. Funds raised will support the organization’s mission of public land stewardship and help Cascade Volunteers supply tools and helmets to assist with maintenance efforts over the coming seasons. Learn more at https://cascadevols.org/.
The Ornament Hunt not only provides a hiking opportunity, but participants are also encouraged to go Christmas tree hunting. Register for a permit before taking home the perfect tree, straight from the Willamette National Forest. Learn more at https://bit.ly/wvhunt.
Additional volunteer efforts this year have allowed for the identification of trails and trailheads throughout the forests for those with varied abilities. Specific trail information and helpful guides to finding the best trail different abilities can be found at: https://www.willamettevalley.org/ornament.
“Our goal has always been to create an inclusive outdoor experience, and this year’s Ornament Hunt reflects that commitment,” said Augusta Stockman, WVVA’s destination development coordinator. “With the introduction of select trails and trailheads with accessibility information and detailed guides, we’re ensuring that all adventurers, whether using wheelchairs, strollers, or other equipment, can confidently explore our region. This year, we’re especially excited to feature mountain biking-themed ornaments, celebrating our region’s ongoing efforts to make these trails more accessible.”
Participants venturing into the forest are asked to abide by “Take Care Out There and Leave No Trace” principles. WVVA and the forest service encourage hikers to plan ahead and take a look at winter safety tips, which can be found at https://bit.ly/wntr.
The WVVA website, https://willamettevalley.org/ornament, will serve as the hub for ornament hunt details and where to register an ornament to win the grand prize.
This article first appeared in The New Era Newspaper Co and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.