Woodpecker Ridge

Woodpecker Ridge is an easy out-and-back hike in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, within the Detroit Ranger District. The trail is about 1.6 miles long one way, and the total round trip is about 3.3 miles, with a climb of roughly 850 feet from the starting point at about 4,500 feet to the high point at about 5,000 feet. The steepest part comes early, with a stretch of about 27% grade at roughly 0.3 miles. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail, which makes it an option for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Santiam Junction weather station run from highs near 76°F in July and August to lows around 42°F. That station sits about 1,300 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Pamelia Lake and Whitewater Creek are both about a mile and a half away, and Riverside Campground is about 4 miles off.