Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,800.00 ft (548.64 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
10.40 mi (16.74 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

April 2019: Winter storms in February 2019 have created obstructions to the Eula Ridge Trail starting from the Hardesty junction that may make it difficult or impossible to follow. Be advised.

A mere 35-minute drive from Eugene, the South Willamette Trail provides a perfect opportunity for a moderate hike that can be tailored in length to suit one's aspirations. While the trail is open to horse and mountain bike riders, it is less frequented than other Oakridge-area trails, especially during weekdays.

Winding its way through old-growth forest, the trail is lush with a variety of ferns, including sword ferns, shield ferns, lady ferns, and several others. The trail is quite narrow close to the Eula Ridge Trailhead, and it opens up more as you approach the Goodman Creek Trailhead. Throughout the hike you'll cross many creeks via a variety of bridges, including an impressive moss-laden log bridge. The South Willamette Trail won't punish you with elevation gain like connected Eula Ridge and Hardesty trails. However, its ups and downs add significant cumulative elevation gain, making it a great conditioning hike for bigger adventures.

The South Willamette Trail offers several options for length. One can shorten the hike by leaving a second car, or even bicycle, at the Goodman Creek Trailhead or, for the truly adventurous, combine with the Hardesty and Eula Ridge Trails for a nearly 14-mile loop with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Short and long options. Ferns and forest foliage. Not as busy as surrounding trails.

Cons

Can be overgrown. Highway noise.

Trailhead Elevation

950.00 ft (289.56 m)

Features

Old-growth forest

Typically multi-day

No

Suitable for

Biking
Horseback

Location

Comments

04/28/2019
I attempted this hike beginning from the Eula Ridge junction on April 27, 2019. This trail is not passable at all in its current state. There is massive forest destruction from the winter storm of February 2019. After scrambling over and under downed trees and other forest debris every ten to twenty feet and losing and finding the trail multiple times, we eventually completely lost the trail about 1.5 miles in. This trail is frankly destroyed in its current state. There is no signage at the Eula Ridge or Hardesty trailheads indicating the the trail is not passable. It should not be open to the public for any purpose until extensive work is done to repair it.
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