Hiking

The area is blessed with a variety of hikes that can be reached without too much effort. Although having access to a vehicle would help, the local bus service will also take you fairly close to some of these locations.

Mt Pisgah

You can take a couple of hours or all day over this hike. It is more like a road than a trail to the 1,500-ft summit, and it is fairly steep, but you can detour off onto many side trails that will get you to the same place eventually. The view from the summit is excellent, if you ignore the power lines that straddle the mountain.

At Mt Pisgah's base there is an arboretum that has many well-cared-for trails. In spring, the wildflowers make this an especially pretty place to take a stroll.

Spencer's Butte

Easily visible from anywhere in Eugene, 2,054-ft Spencer's Butte is a great hike with 360-degree views of the Willamette Valley and, on a clear day, even the Three Sisters. Because of its proximity to Eugene, it is fairly busy, especially in summer. No trip to Eugene would be complete without a hike up "the Butte".

Skinner's Butte

This hike is great to get your bearings if you are a first-time visitor to Eugene. Accessible from East 3rd Avenue, you can see the town laid out before you. It's a nice place to watch a sunset; however, it is also popular with teenage couples looking for privacy, so take a flashlight and start yelling your "daughter's" name for some extra fun.

Mt June

Usually inaccessible due to snow from December to April, Mt June is a short but steep hike to a 4,618-ft summit. You will definitely need a car to get to this trailhead, but the views from the top are fantastic. There are a couple of other hikes nearby to stretch the trip into a full day.

Shortly into the Mt June trail, you can turn off onto the Sawtooth Trail, that leads to a round-trip hike of nearly 10 miles that includes the 100-ft climb of Sawtooth Rock and views from Hardesty Mountain.

Driving to Mt June, you could easily have missed the small sign indicating a trail to Eagle's Rest. It is easier to spot on the way back, a couple of miles after the sign directing you to Mt June. Eagle's Rest is only about 2 miles round-trip and gives great views of June and the "Lost Valley".

Shotgun Creek

If uphill isn't your thing, or it is winter and you don't mind the rain, then try this 3½ mile trail. It is about half an hour from Eugene and has a picnic area.