Joe's Peak Trail

The remote feeling in an old-growth forest is the highlight of Joe’s Peak Trail. Located in the Willamette National Forest, the roughly 5-mile long out-and-back trail follows switchbacks up to the peak, where the solitude and beauty of the forest make up for the lack of view.

The trail winds along the small creek, making many switchbacks over a lot of elevation gain. Sections of the trail are overgrown but still passable. Most of the trail is shaded by all of the tall trees. About mile in there are some large boulders that appear to be balanced just right. Near mile 1.75 the trail crosses a Forest Service road and continues on to the summit, where the trees have grown tall enough to block out most of the view. The small section to the northeast that is open provides a glimpse of the surrounding valley and far off peaks. The trail is open to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

The trailhead parking area is near a bridge crossing the South Fork Winberry Creek. There is plenty of space for parking, but there are no other amenities.