Tidbits Mountain Proposed Wild & Scenic Willamette National Forest Rivers Highlights Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 4.5 miles RT Starting elevation/elevation gain: 4,070 ft / 1,000 ft Season: Best wildflowers in summer, access dependent on snow Restrooms: None at trailhead Permit: No parking fee or permit required Consider picking up sandwiches and beer to go from Claim 52 Kitchen or Falling Sky Brewing or Deli in Chandra LeGue Eugene on the way, or after you're all worn out. Hike Description Tidbits Mountain is an ancient ridge dividing the South Santiam River drainage to the north, the Calapooia River to the west, and the McKenzie River watershed to the south. The trail has something for everyone: huge trees, wildflowers, and spectacular views. It’s part of a 5,300-acre unprotected roadless area, an island in a fragmented landscape of roads and old clearcuts.The trail traverses and climbs the southwestern slope toward the ridge of Tidbits Mountain, and passes through a Douglas-fir forest, with trees five feet in diameter, over a multilayered understory of vine maple, Pacific yew, rhododendrons, huckleberries, and many woodland wildflowers. As you gain elevation, large snags and a mix of noble fir and silver fir enter the forest. At the ridgetop junction at 1.5 miles, turn left. The trail switches aspect to follow the north side of the ridge here, and the forest is markedly different, with silver fir and mountain hemlock. You can also expect to find remnant patches of snow and early spring wildflowers on this colder slope well into July, depending on the snow year. Small rocky openings showcase wildflowers, rocky mountain maple, and Alaska yellow-cedar. As the trail skirts below the crumbling peak of Tidbits Mountain, it crosses two large rocky debris fields where you can take in the views of Mount Jefferson and the interesting rock formations of this old volcano. A half mile past the trail junction you’ll come to another. Turn sharply left and uphill to complete the last, quite steep 0.2 mile to the rocky outcropping just below the proper summit of Tidbits Mountain. Up here, you’ll find shrubby junipers, with views in every direction of Mount Jefferson, the Three Sisters, Diamond Peak, and alpine wildflowers. Directions Don't forget to download or bring a map! From Eugene or Springfield, follow Oregon Route 126 east up the McKenzie River. About 44 miles past Springfield, and just past the Christmas store, turn left onto Blue River Road (Forest Road 15) at a sign for Blue River Reservoir. Drive 4.8 miles on this paved road, staying to the left where FR 1506 goes off to the right at the Lookout Boat Site. Just after a one-lane bridge, the road forks and turns to gravel. Stay to the left onto FR 1509. Follow this good gravel road a winding 8.4 miles into the Tidbits Creek basin, where you catch glimpses of Tidbits Mountain. Turn left onto very steep FR 877 at a hiker trailhead sign. Parking, but not much, is a quarter mile up this road. Let Senator Wyden know you support Take protecting roadless areas and old-growth forests Senator Wyden like at Tidbits Mountain, and that you'd love to see streams originating here - like Blue River, the www.wyden.senate.gov/ Action Calapooia River, and the South Santiam River - contact/email-ron protected as Wild & Scenic Rivers..