It's the Annual Willamette Valley Ornament Hunt

Where To Find Ornaments | Winter Safety | Planning Tips

It’s time once again for one of our most beloved traditions: the eighth annual Willamette Valley Ornament Hunt, taking place across the Willamette National Forest.

Between November 21 and Dec. 20, 2025, two hundred locally-crafted wooden ornaments will be hidden along roughly 20 trails—where eagle-eyed hikers can seek them out and register to win this year’s grand prize, which includes a two-night getaway in the Willamette Valley.

Here’s where to find an ornament—and how to have fun this holiday season:

Where to Find an Ornament

Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Ornament Hunt! The event has ended, and we hope you had fun and made lasting memories! Check back in November 2026, when we'll unveil the trails for next year's search!

Ornaments on the Trails

Before you lace up your boots and head to the trail, please check our trail lists to ensure ornaments still remain on your chosen trail.

We update our website throughout the Ornament Hunt based on which ornaments are registered for the grand-prize giveaway. So when you find your ornament, please be sure to register so we can inform other hunters!

Also, please note that we make every effort to ensure our website and trail list are accurate and updated, and our volunteers do their best to see whether ornaments remain on various trails. Good luck and happy hunting!

Be Ready For Winter

Before heading out:

Make sure to wear layers so you stay comfortable
Check the National Weather Service for updated forecasts
Research road conditions with the Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck tool.

Note that Forest Service roads and trailhead parking areas are not plowed—so if they're not passable or are unreachable, do not park along busy roads or highways.

More Winter Safety Tips

Tips For Having Fun and Staying Safe

At last, it’s time to find your ornament. Here are a few guidelines for your search:

We’ve placed ornaments all along trails—at eye level or lower—but never in places that require you to go off trail. Stay on marked trails at all times.
Veteran hikers should look for ornaments further along trails so less experienced visitors can grab more easily accessible ornaments.
Be sure to leave no trace to stay safe, protect our forests, and have the best possible experience.
Amenities, such as drinking water and restrooms, may not be available or maintained at your desired trailheads; be prepared for a self-supported trip when searching for an ornament.
Please take one ornament per household so fellow hikers can claim their own.
Share your adventure with us on social media by using the following hashtags: #FindYourOrnament, #FindYourTrail, #pnwonderland, and #willamettenationalforest

Curious to learn more? Check out our Ornament Hunt FAQ, which contains tips, resources, and answers to common questions.

Support Our National Forests

This winter, we'd love for you to support the folks who make the Willamette National Forest such a magical place to play all year long.

If able, please consider supporting organizations such as the nonprofit Cascade Volunteers (which lays the ornaments for this hunt and performs trail maintenance throughout the year) or the National Forest Foundation (which preserves and protects national forests across the United States).

For more information, read the sweepstakes rules for the Willamette Valley Ornament Hunt.

The Willamette Valley Visitors Association works to leave no trace in the outdoors and encourages all ornament hunters to do the same. All 200 ornaments have been tagged, and any remaining after the hunt concludes will be picked up by volunteers as soon as possible.