So, sticking around town for the holidays? And nothing to do? Think again.
For those who don’t mind getting dirty, the Eugene area offers some outstanding hiking trails. Closest to the University are the Ridgeline Trail, Spencer Butte and Alton Baker Park, all within 10 minutes from campus.
The Ridgeline Trail outlines the base of Spencer Butte and covers several miles of lush rolling terrain. Trail users include runners, hikers and dog-walkers, but occasionally mountain bikers and horses venture onto the trail.
Mountain bikers are technically confined to the easternmost portions of the trail, stretching from Fox Hollow to Baldy Peak.
Ridgeline’s taxing terrain provides a fairly challenging run or a good hike for a total of about 12 miles round trip. Beware of extremely muddy conditions after rainy weather.
Just up the road from the Ridgeline Trail and off Willamette Street is the main Spencer Butte parking lot. This hike (or run) is a 1.5 mile loop that offers 360-degree views of the Willamette Valley from the Coast Range to Mount Bachelor.
On a good day, trail users can see Mount Hood to the north, the entire Coast Range to the west with Mary’s Peak towering over the horizon, Diamond Peak, Willamette Pass, Mount Bachelor and more. On an overcast day, it’s difficult to see even downtown Eugene through the fog.
Venturing out the other direction from school, Alton Baker Park is a short jog across the Autzen footbridge. The park is chock full of barkdust running trails that form a 10-mile-plus trail system, also known as Pre’s Trail. This is named after Eugene running legend Steve Prefontaine.
He brought back the idea of barkdust trails after a trip to Finland in the early 1970s. The park is pretty much flat, but it treats users to the beauty of the Willamette River with lush vegetation along the banks. Some trails are paved, making inline skating and bicycling other trail-use alternatives.
For those with transportation, Mount Pisgah is a steep but beautiful trip. The parking area is adjacent to the Mount Pisgah Arboretum, which features native plants and herbs through a 0.7-mile interpretive walk. The hike to the top is three miles round trip. A word of caution regarding poison oak: It’s thick around the trail!
To get there, take I-5 south and take the 30th Avenue exit (#189), then double back across the highway and turn right onto Franklin Boulevard. Turn left onto Seavy Loop Road across the Coast Fork Willamette River bridge, then turn left again for 0.4 miles to the parking area.
Farther off, the Goodman Trail at milepost 21 on Highway 58, just beyond the town of Lowell and the Lookout Point Reservoir, is a beautiful hike.
Hikers can choose to continue beyond Goodman Creek toward Eagle’s Rest. That hike is 13.4 miles out and back all the way to Eagle’s Rest, while it’s four miles round trip to Goodman Creek. Don’t worry, there is no shame involved in turning back earlier.
Again, when the rains have been plentiful, this hike is rather soggy. The terrain is changing but mostly uphill on the way out, which makes for an easy return.
Another favorite of the Lowell area is Fall Creek, a 5.8-mile, fairly level round trip. This trail, too, is muddy when there’s rain, but the lush canopy provides some protection for trail users who get surprised by a shower.
To find this trail, take Highway 58 to Lowell, go over a covered bridge and left onto the Jasper Lowell Road. Continue across town 1.5 miles to another covered bridge. Turn right onto the North Shore Road before the bridge and follow this road for 11 miles. Park at a hiker sign just before the bridge by the Dolly Varden campground.
Another hike venturing off campus is the 3.4-mile loop at Shotgun Creek beyond the town of Marcola. This hike is also a muddy adventure.
The hiking trail is open to hikers, bikers and horses, but all-terrain vehicles and mud bikes frequently use other areas around the Shotgun Creek trail. Take I-105 bypassing Springfield to the 42nd Street Marcola exit, continue through Marcola and turn left three miles beyond the town at a sign for Shotgun Creek. Park by the trail head on the right and enjoy.
Finally, south of Cottage Grove and Dorena Lake is a gem of a trail named Brice Creek. This trail meanders up and down along the creek for a total elevation gain of 600 feet from the lower to the upper trail heads. It’s a good 11-mile run out and back past numerous waterfalls, changing vegetation ranging from ferns and firs to deciduous forests and grassy areas, and naked rocks by the creek’s water holes. These make fine swimming areas in the summer but may prove a tad cool this time of year. This trail is also open to mountain bikes and horses but closed to all motorized vehicles. To find the Brice Creek trail heads, take I-5 to Cottage Grove, follow signs to Dorena Lake and go beyond this for a total of 21.7 miles from the freeway. The first trail head is a mile past the Umpqua National Forest sign.
When planning the trip, always bring a map and a compass (if you know how to use it). Tools to bring along include a multi-tool such as a Leatherman knife, utensils, a blister kit and a first-aid kit.
Also, don’t underestimate the amount of food and water to bring. A hungry, dehydrated trail user can make poor choices. Underfueling can lead to irrational decisions and confusion.
Some tried-and-true alternatives are trail mixes (make your own from nuts, M&Ms, pretzels and almonds), granola bars, fresh or dried fruit and peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.
If you’re planning a longer trail adventure, a water-filtration device is imperative as well. Drinking water straight from the source is a no-no and can lead to severe stomach aches or illness.
However, hiking trips are not guaranteed to be rain-free, so pack and dress accordingly.
Good staples include Gore-Tex or similar membrane breathable shells, worn over a layer of fleece or a sweater.
Breathable fabrics such as polypropylene make the best layers because they don’t absorb moisture like cotton does. A cotton layer that holds moisture from sweat and condensation will feel cold and uncomfortable and detract from the adventure. The same goes for footwear. A Gore-Tex or similar boot doubled with good socks (not cotton) is a good choice.
Extra socks, shoes, a dry T-shirt and a towel left in the car for the trip home makes it that much more comfortable. A granola bar for the ride provides a little extra push to power the final leg of the trip.
All this said and prepared, the essence is still: happy trails!