Ahhhh, summer.
Stuck in classes? Well, you can simply burn your books and head for the hills. The Eugene area has much to offer to outdoor enthusiasts.

Eugene
Inside the city limits are several parks and trails for mountain bikers, runners and hikers. Alton Baker Park, next to Autzen Stadium, offers miles of bark dust running trails with little elevation gain.
But if you happen to like challenging elevations, the Ridgeline Trail system surrounding Spencer Butte on South Willamette Street has opportunities for all sorts of up-and-down outdoor activities. The easternmost trail portion — with sections steep enough to put all of a bike’s gears to good use — is almost exclusively used by mountain bikers, who are banned from the middle and longer portions of the trail.
The middle portion of the trail, from Fox Hollow to Willamette, is a decent option for trail runners looking for a hilly challenge, while short enough for speed work and intervals.
The far west portion of the trail is not heavily traveled and offers a quiet and shaded hiking experience.
Steeper terrain faces those who scale Spencer Butte. The trailhead is just half a mile from the Ridgeline Trail parking area on South Willamette. The trail itself climbs steeply and provides a four-mile round-trip hike. This trail is off-limits to mountain bikers.

Outside Eugene
If you’re looking for somewhere to hike but need to get out of Eugene, Dexter Reservoir on Highway 58 is a relatively flat park with about three miles of trails. However, this park can be crowded in the summer as it also serves as a day-camp area.
Farther east on Highway 58, about 30 to 40 minutes from Eugene, the Goodman Creek Trail offers two possibilities. Hikers can jaunt 7.5 miles to Eagle’s Rest or take a steep climb up the closer butte. About a quarter mile into the hike, a trail junction guides users to the different options.
If you choose to approach Eagle’s Rest, watch out for mountain bikers descending the trail. The trail travels through rolling terrain for the first three to four miles until it crosses Goodman Creek, where it climbs rapidly toward Eagle’s Rest and becomes too steep to bike. The trail eventually joins the Hardesty Mountain Trail that starts at the trailhead for Mount June, also off Highway 58 but farther west. With a shuttle, this is a good way to avoid the out-and-back nature of the Goodman Creek Trail.

Overnight

For those with reliable transportation and a day or two to spend, Central Oregon and the playgrounds of the high desert are two to three hours east of Eugene.
Smith Rock, about 30 miles north of Bend on Highway 97, attracts climbers, hikers and mountain bikers year-round. There are nearly 1,000 known rock-climbing routes at Smith Rock, ranging in difficulty from level 4 to 5.12.
With a desert climate and mostly sunny weather, Smith Rock is dry even when the Cascades are soggy or snowed over.
Heavy use of Smith Rock has forced park officials to create and enforce an elaborate set of user rules and regulations, as well as collect day-use fees.
Not a climber? Fly fishers are attracted to the pristine Metolius River, just east of Santiam Pass on Highway 126. The area features a trail that meanders along the river, which provides fishers with excellent river access. When not too heavily used, this is a welcome alternative to the commercial feel of hatcheries.
Among many other Central Oregon highlights, the Three Sisters Wilderness, with its sparkling lakes and blooming alpine meadows rising from the tree line, should attract mountaineers, campers and day hikers alike.
The South Sister — the third-tallest peak in Oregon at 10,358 feet — is a 5.5-mile hike that is easy for the inexperienced hiker. The Middle and North Sisters and Broken Top are more technical to scale and require mountaineering gear. Still, solo mountaineers have ascended all these peaks in one day.
When traveling in the back country, everyone should carry enough gear to survive bad weather and unexpected experiences, no matter how short or long the trip is. Necessary gear includes: extra food and water, a first-aid kit, matches in a sealed container, warm clothes, a rain coat, a water filter or purifier, topographic maps, a compass and a can opener.
All vehicles, as well as mountain bikes and motor boats, are off-limits in wilderness areas. Users need to buy trail passes, which are available at any ranger station, all U.S. Forest Service stations and at several sporting-goods stores.