It’s time to get off the couch and go on a hike. So grab a pair of sturdy shoes and a dog if you’ve got one and check out these four local hiking spots around Eugene. And whether you’re going on a hiking adventure by yourself or with you’re bring a friend, be sure to bring enough water.
Spencer Butte
Jeff Nicholson and his daughter Camryn pose for a picture on the top of Spencer Butte. (Turner Maxwell/Emerald)
A local landmark, Spencer Butte — commonly known as ‘the butte’— has several hiking trails leading to the top and are all part of the Ridgeline Trail System. With a peak elevation of 2,055 feet, hikers can get a 360-degree view atop the treeless summit. Starting from the main parking lot, the main trail is only a 700-foot climb and is slightly more than a mile long. Spencer Butte is a 15-minute drive from campus and if you don’t know where it is here’s a tip: it’s the tallest point visible when looking south from the UO campus.
Skinner Butte
The view of downtown Eugene and of Spencer Butte from the top Skinner Butte on June 28. (Turner Maxwell/Emerald)
Skinner Butte is the perfect location for a spontaneous afternoon hike. The butte is covered equally with trees and local history — it’s named after Eugene Skinner, the city’s founder. Peaking at a drivable 682 feet, — approximately 200 feet above 5th Street Market — Skinner Butte is a great spot to view the city during the day and even better at night. Atop the butte is a war memorial and a few warn-down dirt paths that lead to a giant yellow painted “O” emblem that can be seen from the air and certain parts of the city. Not as visible as the “O” is the green-painted “Big E” symbolizing the former Eugene High School — now South Eugene High School. Both of these emblems have been a part of Skinner Butte since the early 20th century.
Hendricks Park
Donated benches are scattered among the trails in the Hendricks rhododendron garden. (Turner Maxwell/Emerald)
Almost completely covered by trees, Hendricks is a local favorite hiking spot. The entire park is practically in the shade of 200 year-old Douglas firs that cover Eugene’s oldest city park. Within the Hendricks Park’s 80 acres is the well-known rhododendron garden and a native plant garden. Visitors can walk among more than 6,000 varieties of rhododendrons and other ornamental plants. Just a mile away from the heart of campus, Hendricks is a perfect spot for students seeking the tranquility of Mother Nature.
Mount Pisgah
This isn’t your typical hiking spot.
Mt. Pisgah is 17 miles of well kept hiking trails and 2,363 acres of good ol’ Oregon country and a mountain peaking at 1,531 feet above sea level. The Howard Buford Recreation Area is the largest of Lane County’s 73 parks. But all of these trails don’t lead to the top at Mount Pisgah — hikers can find their way to the Mount Pisgah Arboretum – a 210 acre living tree museum containing a variety of plant communities and seven miles of hiking trails. Or if you’re looking to get your feet wet and cool off, hikers are welcomed to jump in the Middle Forks river that flows around the base of Mount Pisgah. The arboretum is a quick 20 minutes of driving from the UO campus.