LINN COUNTY, Ore. — Hidden just off Highway 20 in Linn County, the Walton Ranch Interpretive Trail is an easy stop that doesn’t ask much of visitors — and, this time of year, might even give a little something back.

The short trail sits along the highway in the Willamette National Forest, with a small parking area and a trailhead that’s hard to miss. From there, it’s an easy quarter-mile walk up a gentle hill on a well-maintained path, ending at a viewing platform with a peaceful forest overlook. It’s the kind of place where you can stretch your legs without committing to a long hike.

And in December, it comes with a twist.

Through Dec. 20, the Walton Ranch trail is one of 20 locations taking part in the eighth annual Willamette Valley Ornament Hunt. Volunteers with Cascade Volunteers h

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