The Tumble Ridge Trail has changed a lot since the first time I hiked it ten years ago.
The trail, which starts just off Highway 22 in Detroit, was once a densely forested green tunnel that climbed steeply into the mountains with only a few views here and there.
Today, the same path is a wide-open showcase of Mount Jefferson, the city of Detroit and the reservoir below. The 2020 Labor Day wildfires torched these mountains and what’s left makes for a fascinating hike on a clear winter day.
My hike was just a taste of the full trail system: an easy to moderate 4.5-mile hike with a 1,500-foot climb to some nice views of Jeffy and Detroit Lake. There’s more adventure for those prepared for rough trails and snow.
Favorite route
Tumble Ridge/Creek Trail trailhead, which begins in Detroit in Willamette National Forest.
The Tumble Creek and Tumble Ridge trails begin right on the Detroit side of Highway 22, just before the Detroit District ranger station.
The full hike is approximately 5 miles one way and a very steep 3,000 feet to the top of Dome Rock. It has long been a popular training hike for those planning to climb the high mountains later in the season.
However, the quick and easy access also allows for a shorter afternoon outing for those who live nearby and even potential Salem residents.
Winter hiking
In winter you can make the walk as adventurous as you want. Normally (but not always) the bottom of the trail will be clear of snow or there will be only limited snowfall for the first few miles before you enter snow zones that are very much a “at your own risk” proposition. I’ve only hiked the top of Dome Rock in the snow-free months, so I can’t vouch for the higher elevations in winter. But I would like to know what a winter climb is like for everyone who has done it.
Hike along the creek to the view of Mount Jefferson
The Tumble Creek Trail follows Tumble Creek for a short distance before reaching the Tumble Ridge Trail in Detroit in Willamette National Forest.
The walk described here is quite easy by Tumble standards. For me it was a quick escape from the fog on a weekday afternoon in true solitude.
From the trailhead, the hike passes a gate and follows Tumble Creek through the forest for a pleasant 0.4 mile. Then a clear but not officially unmarked path shoots off to the right and the long trek up begins.
One thing to note at the start of the hike is that the severity of the burns from the wildfires is not bad: the fire cleared the ground but left most of the trees alive. However, as you climb higher, the fire burns hotter and most of the trees are dead.
The Labor Day wildfires burned the Tumble Ridge Trail in varying degrees of severity in 2020.
Ignore a trail that branches off a bit to the right, Tumble Ridge Trail. It leads to the grounds of the Forest Service Ranger Station.
The big difference now is how open the views are. Views of Mount Jefferson greet you just a short distance away and remain for almost the entire route. Likewise, there are views of the city of Detroit, the reservoir and the sound from Highway 22.
The downside to the trail is that there are many fallen trees strewn across the trail, which means you have to climb on and around numerous tree trunks, making things more difficult.
Easier to reach destinations
The Tumble Ridge Trail offers beautiful views of Mount Jefferson.
If you’re like me and short on time, there are two destinations that are easy enough to get to.
There is a large clearing and breathtaking views of Mount Jefferson, about 2 miles and 1,000 feet of climbing from the trailhead. That makes for a digestible 3.6 mile hike.
There are more views the higher you go, including the most famous view of Detroit Lake at mile 3.7 (7.5 miles round trip) and a 1,500-foot climb from the trailhead.
Eventually you’ll reach snow and you’ll probably need snowshoes to continue. So walk or travel as far as you feel comfortable, enjoy the views and the solitude.
What about the upper trailhead?
The upper trailhead of Tumble Ridge is just off French Creek Road and you can skip much of the climb. I have used this trailhead in the past when hiking Dome Rock and backpacking with my young daughters at Tumble Lake. However, the road has remained closed since the fires. There was hope it would reopen this year, but that didn’t happen and Forest Service officials hope it will open early next spring or summer.
Tumble Creek/Ridge Trail
The Tumble Ridge Trail offers beautiful views of Mount Jefferson.
In a nutshell: Detroit area trail that climbs steeply uphill to views of Mount Jefferson and eventually likely snow.
Distances: 16km round trip, 900m climb to Dome Rock summit (very difficult); 4.7 miles round trip, 1,500 feet of climbing to the Detroit Lake viewpoint; 5.6 miles round trip, 1,000 feet of climbing to the Mount Jefferson viewpoint.
What you need to know: There are numerous fallen trees along the trail that make hiking difficult. The higher you go, the more likely you are to encounter snow, which also puts you at risk of falling or losing track.
Trail head: The trailhead is located on the Detroit side of Highway 22, just south of the Detroit Ranger Station.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and hosts the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him at X at @ZachsORoutdoors.
This article originally appeared in Salem Statesman Journal: See the breathtaking view of Mount Jefferson on Tumble Ridge Trail
