Horse Rock Ridge

Area	Willamette Valley
Best time to visit	Mid-May through mid-June
Blooming Now	YES
Elevation	2250-2800 feet
Trail Info	0.7 miles one-way to the meadows, 300 feet elevation gain Additional 0.75 mile and 300 feet elevation gain to western edge of meadows
	PLANT LIST AVAILABLE
	WILDFLOWER SEARCH
	ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
	Hike information - Oregon Hikers Field Guide
Dogs	PROHIBITED. Please respect this location by leaving your dog at home.

NOTE: The blue marker indicates the trailhead.

Description

Located in the Coburg Hills between Eugene/Springfield and Crawfordsville, Horse Rock Ridge Research Natural Area (RNA) comprises 377 acres and is managed by the BLM. The RNA was established in 1995 to protect the best remaining example of a grassy treeless area. In 2001, the 62-acre Horse Rock Ridge Preserve (managed by The Nature Conservancy) was established directly adjacent to the RNA.

Horse Rock Ridge is recognized for its diversity of plant species, which include Willamette Valley plants as well as plants more often found in the montane zone of the Cascade Range. There are also several species that are normally only found east of the Cascade Range.

In addition to the wildflowers, on a clear day you will have wonderful views of Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters, as well as the top of Diamond Peak. Another bonus is that you will probably enjoy solitude. A "busy" day at Horse Rock Ridge generally means sharing it with half a dozen other people!

For more information, I encourage you to read the Kalmiopsis booklet and the Horse Rock Ridge RNA Guidebook.

Directions

Take Interstate 5 to Exit 216, then take Highway 228 east toward Brownsville. On the east side of the town of Crawfordsville (11 miles from I-5), turn right onto Brush Creek Road. Proceed 2.0 miles and turn right onto West Fork Brush Creek Road (don't let the "Dead End" sign fool you). After 1.6 miles and slightly after a "Road Ends 500 Feet" sign, fork uphill onto paved BLM Road 14-1-32. Be careful at this point because one of the residents has a dog that always "greets" passing vehicles by standing in the road.

Proceed uphill another 3.6 miles. When the road starts to go downhill again, watch for and take a hard right onto a gravel spur road. There is room for 5-6 cars. If necessary, park on the side of the paved road.

After parking, walk up the gravel road, carefully climb the boulder berm, and walk through the chain link fence. The meadows are 0.7 mile beyond the fence.

NOTE: Because it is very easy to pass the parking area, if you own a GPS you should set a waypoint for N 44 17.565 W 122 51.998.

Trip Reports

Date	Submitted by
05/15/2022	Greg Lief
Reports from previous years
05/04/2018	Greg Lief
06/12/2017	Greg Lief
05/20/2017	Greg Lief
05/08/2016	Greg Lief
05/24/2015	Greg Lief
05/09/2015	Greg Lief
06/07/2014	Greg Lief
05/26/2014	Greg Lief
06/10/2012	Greg Lief
06/26/2011	Greg Lief
05/03/2011	John Koenig
06/05/2010	Greg Lief
05/08/2010	Greg Lief
05/23/2009	Greg Lief
06/03/2007	Greg Lief
05/10/2007	Greg Lief

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Photo Gallery

Horse Rock Ridge meadow

Three Sisters view from Horse Rock Ridge

Monkeyflower meadow at Horse Rock Ridge

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'Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.' -- Gretel Ehrlich