Skinner Butte Park Elijah Bristow State Park Eugene Bike Trails McCredie Hot Springs

Alton Baker Park.

Eugene's largest developed park, Alton Baker Park's 400 acres are home to dozens of recreational features and facilities. Serving Eugene since 1959, the park is made up of two major areas, the more developed West Alton Baker Park, located east of the Ferry Street Bridge along the north bank of the Willamette River, and the 237-acre Whilamut Natural Area of East Alton Baker Park . The Ken Nielsen Gardens comprise a 20-acre site on the north bank of the Willamette River at the west end of the Park adjacent to the Ferry Street Bridge and the Defazio Pedestrian Bridge. Built in 1970 to provide scenic and recreational riverbank space, the gardens features a half-acre pond, extensive walkways, plazas, sculptures, and stabilized waterway shorelines. An alpine rock garden is situated near the parking lot, and a restroom was rebuilt in 2003.

Skinner Butte Park.

Skinner Butte Park is Eugene's oldest park, rich with history and recreational opportunities. Dedicated in 1914, Skinner Butte Park offers 100 acres of parkland along the Willamette River north of downtown Eugene, and includes Skinner Butte, the Columns climbing area, Campbell Senior Center, Lamb Cottage, a new community garden, acres of lawn and meadows, hiking trails, picnic areas, baseball/softball fields, play structures, public art, slides, swings, restrooms, benches and a community center. An extensive network of pedestrian trails exists on Skinner Butte and along the Willamette River that provide access to the summit and natural areas. A paved trail leads around the summit of Skinner Butte from the overlook parking area. From the west end of this path, a trail leads down the north side of the butte in long switchbacks towards the old picnic area near Cheshire Avenue. Another main trail leads from the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House up to the summit overlook. An informal foot path also winds along the banks of the river below the South Bank Bike Trail. The “Columns" is a designated public climbing area that offers numerous climbing routes of varying difficulty up a steep face of columnar basalt.

Skinner Butte Summit.

A popular attraction of Skinner Butte Park are the spectacular views from the Skinner Butte Summit overlook area. Know as Ya-Po-Ah (high up) by local Indians, Skinner Butte has an elevation of 681 feet. The Veteran's Memorial overlook, as well as a picnic area provides excellent views to the Three Sisters, downtown Eugene, the south hills, the Willamette River, Alton Baker Park, and the University of Oregon. A paved path loop leads west from the parking area to other panoramic vistas.  [Top]

Elijah Bristow State Park.

Elijah Bristow State Park - located on the Willamette River 17 miles southeast of Eugene - is comprised of 847 acres of scattered meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and white oak groves. Elijah Bristow has more than 10 miles of trail for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, which include a portion of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail. Salmon and steelhead trout abound during annual runs in the lower Willamette with fast-moving white water. Unique wildlife nesting and habitat areas fill the park's islands and sloughs. Channel Lake, a land-locked river channel that meanders through the park, and Lost Creek are home to a diverse community of plants and wildlife. Osprey, great blue heron, bald eagles and beaver live in the park, as well as threatened species, including the Western pond turtle and the Oregon chub. Elijah Bristow has three picnic areas, a large barbecue stand, and a separate equestrian staging area for local riding clubs. Naturalists, botanists and students love the park because of its diverse ecosystems. Visit www.oregonstateparks.org.

Hendricks Park.

Eugene's oldest city park, Hendricks Park offers 78 acres of parklands that include a mature forest, a world-renowned rhododendron garden , and a native plant garden . Laced with trails, the park is a haven for hikers, birder, and serenity seekers. Without leaving the city, visitors can retreat into nature, walking among 200-year old Douglas firs, ferns, and wildflowers, and over 6,000 varieties of rhododendrons. Hendricks Park's 12-acre rhododendron garden is nestled under a canopy of Oregon white oaks, where visitors meander walkways and sit among the beauty of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, and viburnums.  [Top]

Eugene Bike Trails.

Eugene is consistently rated as one of the top 10 communities in the country for cycling. The city sports over 53 miles of streets with bike lanes, 19 designated streets for bicycles, 25 off-street trails, and 6 bike bridges crossing the Willamette River. The Willamette Trail is an excellent 6-mile loop from Valley River Center to Autzen Stadium and back. Elijah Bristow State Park features over 10 miles of mountain bike trail, which includes a portion of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail. Skinner Butte's South Bank Bike Trail is a haven for cyclists and trail hoppers.

Pre's Trail.

Pre's Trail is a scenic path located within Alton Baker Park where you can follow the footsteps of legendary track star, Steve Prefontaine. The soft, bark-covered path offers running loops from 1 mile to 10 kilometers. You can connect to the Willamette River Recreation Corridor for a variety of excellent running options. Pre's Memorial, a plaque signifying the place where Prefontaine died, is located at the intersection of Birch and Skyine Boulevards.  [Top]

McCredie Hot Springs.

Located at 2,000-foot altitude, in the Willamette National Forest, McCredie Hot Springs is one of the most accessible hot springs in the world. McCredie is actually several hot springs - one large one that could easily hold 20 soakers and a few smaller ones that volunteers have expanded by digging them out. The mineral water that supplies the springs is quite hot but is cooled as it trickles into the soaking pools at the edge of the creek. Shallow pools, lined with rock and sand, are perfect for a morning or afternoon soak anytime of year. Despite proximity to the road and picnic area, the hot springs remain natural and woodsy which makes it seem remote and detached from civilization. Bathing suits are optional.

Terwillinger Hot Springs.

Located at Cougar Reservoir, Terwillinger (called Cougar Hot Springs) is the most popular hot spring in the Eugene area b ecause of its inviting natural beauty and accessibility. At 3,000 feet elevation, a series of four pools cascade down a slope in a lovely dense forest. The top pool is around 112° F, and the pools below get cooler as they descend to a swimming hole. Most of the pools have bedrock with gravel and sand at the bottom. Festoons of hanging moss and mammoth cedars and firs give the springs a magical quality. Near the University of Oregon, it is a natural gathering spot for students during the spring and fall, but is open all year. Most folks soak in the buff.  [Top]