Although Oregon’s weather can come off as wildly unpredictable, the last few weeks of spring term are typically favored with sunshine. When people need to get away from campus on sunny weekends, the surrounding countryside on the outskirts of Eugene offers plenty of entertainment.
Michael Wilburn, UO Outdoor Program trip initiator advocate, recommended a number of great outdoor activities to escape campus and enjoy Oregon. With most attractions less than an hour away from campus, it’s hard to pass up visiting one of these natural spots.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Michael+Wilburn@@
“The place I particularly enjoy myself is Brice Creek,” Wilburn said. “It’s this gorgeous trail that follows a lot of white water.”
Brice Creek Trail is one of the most enticing outdoor activities, offering a relatively easy 3.5- to 10-mile hike. A short drive from campus, the hike offers an interesting trail that follows the bank of Brice Creek. Also used as a spot for experienced kayakers, the Brice Creek Trail offers great views of raging white water and the kayakers who attempt to conquer them. The hike also provides an always-interesting surrounding of old growth forests and interesting rock formations. The biggest draw of the hike is the 2.5-mile side loop that takes hikers to the large Upper Trestle Creek Falls and a later detour of the lower Misty Grotto Falls.
Leaving the Oregon forest and heading to the coast leads to another great outdoor option. The large sand dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area are large rolling hills that look like something out of an African desert. Without a marker trail, participants can simply wander; climbing to the top of the dunes as a way to get a great view of the coast or meandering through the sand.
“You can get out to the center of those and literally see nothing but dunes,” Wilburn said. “It is a pretty cool experience to think you’re in Oregon and in such a unique area.”
Near Florence is a short hike that leads up to the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It’s an easy mile that is perfect for a relaxing walk with amazing views.
For those not wanting to hike, Wildwood Falls County Park offers a natural swimming playground that’s perfect for warm spring days. A short drive from Eugene, the park is located on the Row River. Small 16- to 17-foot waterfalls and cliffs surround a open area of shallow water. It’s easy to spend an entire day exploring the area.
“It’s a prime swimming hole when the weather warms up to do some cliff jumping,” Wilburn said.
If time isn’t an issue and the entire weekend is free, camping away from campus typically works as the best way to enjoy the weather and outdoors for an extended period of time. One of the best opportunities to find a suitable campground is heading up the Fall Creek Reservoir. With multiple campsites, the one that is the most appealing is the Bedrock Campground. There are plenty of water activities and hiking in the area and the campground is a great way to relax in the outdoor surrounding.
Other activities to consider include fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, taking a drive to the hot springs and going to the Enchanted Forest theme park.
Fortunately, this short list isn’t the only options for getting away from Eugene and enjoying nature. If you are interested in more activities, stop by the UO Outdoor Program in the basement of the EMU to get more information on outdoor activities around Eugene.