Trail Overview
Branching directly off the well-traveled Woodpecker Ridge Road - FS 2200040, FS 2200035 is a lightly traveled, unmaintained out-and-back dirt spur tucked away in the Willamette National Forest. The overall environment offers a striking journey through a landscape actively recovering from the historic 2020 Lionshead Fire, transitioning from surviving green timber into a dramatic, open hillside of silver, burned snags and a thriving, brushy understory. The public primarily uses this secluded route for quiet backcountry exploration and to access a beautifully large, flat clearing at the trail's terminus that rewards visitors with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ridges. As you push further in, nature is rapidly reclaiming the path, with thick brush, bright pink fireweed, and soft grasses heavily crowding the old, rocky roadbed.
Difficulty
This unmaintained, overgrown dirt-and-gravel spur is a solid Grade 3 due to tight clearances and prominent surface obstacles. The route features a handful of one-foot-tall earthen water bars, scattered small boulders, and several tight sections where large, cut logs stubbornly pinch the driving path. Because thick brush and low-hanging trees severely limit horizontal and vertical clearance—especially past the 0.7-mile mark—extra-wide or exceptionally tall rigs are not recommended. You must maintain a very slow, focused momentum and carefully pick your lines to safely straddle the deeper water bars and squeeze past the downed timber without sustaining undercarriage damage or heavy vehicle pinstriping.
