There was no way we were coming to Tracktown and not going for a run. Of course, in my dreams it would have been in Hayward Field but I'm not a track star (that's my son). I'm a distance runner so outdoor on a gorgeous trail suits me perfectly! I knew I wanted to hit Pre's Trail and now I wish we'd gone more than once. This was such a lovely loop, I could have easily done it 3-4x. The longest distance is 4 miles. If you're a marathoner one loop isn't going to cut it for a majority of your needs but it's really nice out here. The trees were all changing colors, we spotted some gorgeous birds and I LOVE birds. It made my entire morning and I'm glad I got to experience it with my bestie. I've been cycling 300+ miles a week lately and it really felt good to get out of the saddle and move my legs in a different way. It's almost marathon training time for me, so getting out on Pre's Trail helped jump start my transition into incorporating my running back into my daily routine. If I lived nearby I'd be here daily for walks and runs. Beautiful park. read more

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First time visiting Alton Baker Park. I went this morning and it was empty with few people here. Lots of parking and picnic areas. The ponds are so cute! I love the structure of the bridge and the galaxy themed park. Very clean and walkable. Dog friendly with a large field. Dog park at the end by the native plant nursery by the duck stadium. read more

Alton Baker Park - Duck pond - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Alton Baker Park, named after one of the prior owners of the Eugene Guard newspaper (which of course morphed into the Register-Guard), is one of if not the largest park in the city. It's got a unique location along the banks of the Willamette River and is a very popular spot for activities, festivals, picnics, and just residents taking advantage of this lovely green space. Amongst the features of the park is the Cuthbert Amphitheater, which hosts concerts and events ranging from the Eugene Symphony to rock, folk, you name it. A newer section of the park is the Nobel Laureate Peace Park, which honors American winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. Pre's Trail is a favorite amongst runners, especially those who are fans or track stars themselves. And another "newer" area (from when I was a child, anyway) is the Whilamut Natural Area, the eastern part of the park; it's a passive area where the habit is being restored. Named in cooperation with the Kalapuya to honor the tribe upon which the park exists. As I mentioned, throughout the year you'll find various events happening in the park, like Art in the Vineyard and the Asian Celebration. There's parking here but when the big events are going on it can definitely be tricky. But if you want a beautiful walking path, a nice picnic, or just to feed the birds this is a great place for all three. read more

For the most part ABP is really great hub for all the options and trails making up the larger network of running and biking trails. Good events throughout the outdoor season (later Spring through fall). Restroom and picnic facilities. Natural wildlife of birds and other creatures. Only downside I might mention is the presence of many homeless or transient persons. For the most part these folks keep to themselves and are not threatening. What's a community to do? read more

I've been here really often! My first time was actually to visit a clothing swap that happened to also be on the same day as a Halloween marathon fundraiser, tons of people! It's usually very calm outside of events though, and bathrooms are always open even in the winter which is really nice. There's plenty of parking too, along with some really good walking trails that can get you very close to the river or in the trees. There's also a pedestrian bridge that spans over the river in the park. They've got benches along the paths too. The field is sometimes used for school aged childrens' sports and exercise, the field is pretty big, multiple groups could use it. There's also a sort of covered picnic shelter with tables, although when I last checked the drinking fountains weren't working (maybe the cold). This place has been a huge refuge for me, definitely recommend read more

Huge and well maintained park. It has pond , fall, island and everything. Birds Seans around and cycling dedicated lane. Biggest in Eugene. Although restrooms were closed. Definitely focus is the maintenance here since work was going on everywhere. read more

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We love this park.... squirrels, beautiful grass and running trails.... can't really ask for too much more but Alton Baker also has a dog park, community garden and thriving children's outdoor program. It's the number one reason we drive up Eugene and the first park we ever went to in Oregon. Sure it has some issues but what public place doesn't? Alton Baker will always hold a special place in my heart. read more

Alton Baker Park - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I've been to this park many time but have never done Pre's Trail. A four mile long running/walking trail that passes through Alton Baker, the University of Oregon football stadium, and the Cuthbert Amphitheater. This has become my favorite trail to visit on lazy Sunday mornings. I walk the trail with my dog and visit the large off leash dog park located about halfway into the trek. It's a very scenic and peaceful walk. Just keep your eyes out for the joggers. read more

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Come here to run Pre's Trail. You know you want to. Then go back home and brag. Some will be impressed, others will say "who" or even worse "what"? It's got some nice shaded areas but also a few hot sunny spots. We ran in summer so predict no hot spots in January. Decent length to avoid too much monotony but not feeling like a marathon when finished. "The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today is a good day to die". But you can also jog it. read more

Alton Baker Park - Pre-Pre's - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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During the day, this place is beautiful! The ducks are amazing. The people walking their dogs are friendly and always say hello. This is where I take my dog for his walks, and he looks forward to it every time! read more

Cool looking little park. Lot of wild life. The planetary display was actually pretty interesting. Kind of a mission to get to the last planet but you get the picture. read more

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$20 for public parking. Using the Walking bridge that go over the river was picture perfect. Trails were clean.

We were visiting from out of town and our hotel staff recommended we take a Lyft to the park for a nice relaxing afternoon. We took her advice and glad we did. This park was beautiful and well kept. There were bike trials, walking trails plenty of benches and rest stops along the park. People were still kind and socially distancing. We spent a couple hours walking around the parking taking pictures and enjoying the atmosphere. read more

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I've been coming to this park for years and I love it! Parking is free, a huge plus. It's great for parties, groups, picnics, pictures, wildlife, and just relaxing. They have a covered area for groups, or you can just find a nice space to set up a bbq with friends and family. I've gone to a birthday party where we barbecued hamburgers. I've done picnics with my husband, watching ducks and geese wander by. I used to feed the ducks with my parents as a kid, and see families doing it all the time. Brings back great memories. I've also had professional pictures taken here. It's fun, with all kinds of natural props for it, with a gorgeous background. It's a wonderful place to come with groups, your kids, or just your significant other. I will definitely keep returning here. read more

Parked at Alton Baker Dog park. Access to get in the water in parking lot. Easy water, great for practice with a new boards or Kayaks. Beautiful homes along the river. Great sunset views. read more

Alton Baker Park - Paddle boarding Easy water, great for beginners. - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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It's a great place for a stroll or a run or a bike ride. If none of that interests you, you can feed the ducks, throw a football, walk the dog, kayak. Set up a net and play volleyball. There's plenty for everyone. It's a great place to picnic with the family or sit by the river. There's a playground for the kids if they're interested. Parking is pretty easy. You can walk to downtown from here too. I spent a lot of time here when I lived in the area. read more

Alton Baker is a good place to relax or hook up to the trail system for walks or rides. With the pond and stream in the middle, there are birds to watch. The Eugene Solar System model starts here, with the sun and first few planets inside the park. read more

Alton Baker Park - Great Blue Heron - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Beautiful, spacious park for walking or riding bikes! There's a groomed trail along the river, as well as several duck ponds. The leaves are stunning in the fall! There's also a disc golf course ($3/person) as well as a dog park. The path abruptly ends in a hotel parking lot, which is a little confusing, but overall, a great place for outdoor rec! Loved it! read more

Alton Baker Park - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I really like Alton Baker Park. I want to do more exploring but I like the diversity of it being right on the river bike path, it has large green grassy areas that sometimes people host events on, a dog park, a pond with ducks and canoe rentals and a walking path. It's never overly crowded but on a nice day it does get busy. You have a view of the U of O stadium as well which is a nice photo op. You could spend most of the day here relaxing outside and soaking up those sun rays. It's basically in the middle of Eugene so it's easy to get to. Parking near the dog park can get full but there's a huge parking lot that never gets completely full unless there's an event. Now that the weather is beautiful you should go check it out! read more

Disc golf, runners, walkers, and birders unite! This is a beautiful park in the middle of Eugene. They have an 8-mike walking or running path. We walked the whole route. It was nice. There are a lot of birds along the slough and in the meadows and grass areas. The trees that line the waters give them good coverage as well. We saw a White American Robin in the park. A very rare sighting and maybe a once in a lifetime identification. As a birder I was stoked. Golden crowned sparrows, Wren's, as well as a black phoebe was spotted on the walk. There is a nice pond at the start of our walk that had an interesting variety of waterfowl. Some birds I had never seen before that probably stay year round. The park is well taken care of. There are some homeless living there but nothing unsafe. It was a beautiful day when we went there and enjoyed our time. read more

We love this park! It's huge, feels very safe, very dog friendly, lots of trails, and beautiful water features.

Eugene has a lot of great parks but when I think of the best one in town Alton Baker Park tops on the list. The park is so big and centrally located that it is easily accessible by everyone for better or worse. My top five reasons for liking this park are in order: (1) the Pre Trail is a great place to run, walk or stroll and connects nicely to the waterfront bikepaths (2) Cuthbert amphitheater is a great outdoor music venue (3) the Defazio Bridge is the best designed pedestrian bridge in the area (4) Duck pond is cool if slightly disgusting with canoe rentals to check out the rest of the park (5) lots of picnic tables and green space to have a picnic or celebrate a holiday read more

Alton Baker Park - photo from great website http://www.bridgemeister.com - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

We're so grateful for Alton Baker! After visiting several times last year, we were looking forward to becoming regulars after our move to Eugene. + Well marked running/biking trails + Dog friendly + Views of the river along the paved trail + Maps that list trail mileage We like to take our dog for a long walk on the more natural trails and then pop him in his jogging "car" so we can run. We miss several of our favorite parks in San Antonio, but Alton Baker eases the pain. ;) read more

Alton Baker Park - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I love it here. Tons of green space, plenty of parking, easy river access. Well maintained walking paths & clean bathrooms.

What a nice place to see. Lots of geese and ducks here. A great place to visit and have a lunch. If your ever in the area, a must see and get educated about our planets. read more

Alton Baker Park - Sitting at one of the spots geocaching. - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

This park stands on the site of a former city dump, filled with artifacts and hazardous chemicals from Eugene's early days. In this respect, I can say that perhaps more than any other park in Eugene, this place has experienced some MAJOR improvements over the years. If you haven't been to this plot of land in say.... 90 years or so, you really owe it to yourself to give it another shot. The smell is gone, the river is cleaner, you can catch a college football game next door, and this month they're even giving out free covid vaccines in that stadium next door. On the real though, Alton Baker is what park designers and city planners dream of. It is the crown jewel of the Eugene park system and a great place to sit out in the sun, play some volleyball, toss around a frisbee, and maybe even find a few pieces of depression-era glass dug up by a mole and placed in a pile for you to find on your adventure through the park. read more

Very nice park to take my dogs for a walk. The landscape is maintained. There are an abundance of parked RVs. Travelers or locals? I'm unsure. Seems to be a popular spot to park. read more

Beautiful to stroll with my dog. Loved fourth of July there also. Nice looking out on the river. However, saw bums hanging out by river with used needles. Need security walking these paths. Not a good look you know. read more

Great place for a run!! Free parking. Clean and well kept. We ran on the red packed wood trail which was amazing!! So well taken care of great for the joints! Wish I had this near my home. Also it wasn't crowded at all which was a complete surprise to me bc I ran during peak hours on Saturday. read more

VERY nice Eugene park. Every time I visit a large multi-use park where people are free to just "hang out" without being hassled I remember why it is I hate stupid Salem. This park is gigantic and stretched along the Willamette. There are numerous bike/walking paths, playgrounds, open spaces, and a huge disc golf course. If you have a disc lover in your home, dump them off at the course and explore this park. Oh, but be warned. The bathroom stalls are doorless. Pass. read more

I can't really speak for the "park" part of Alton Baker. I've only run through ABP on the trails. But man, those trails ... having been subjected to the overall nastiness of the Rogue River Greenway in southern Oregon -- the ABP trails are complete 180° turn from it. The running/walking trails are bark-lined and fantastically maintained. It's seriously heaven for your feet, particularly if you're a frequent pavement pounder like me. You also get to experience some scenic views of the Willamette River. The bike trails interconnect as well, although I haven't managed to partake in those yet. I was staying in downtown Eugene, and the ABP trails are an short, easy trek to get to. Trails like these make me so envious of runners who live in Eugene. Just knowing the one and only Pre once frequented these trails make it that much more of an experience. read more

This park is pretty much the centerpiece of the river trail system in Eugene. Whether you start there or just end up passing through it's pretty awesome and worth checking out if you've never been. Once spring and summer come around there are all kinds of actives throughout the park. Get out of the house and go explore the park and bike paths all around it. Oh yeah if you've got kids(or like to bird watch) they will probably love the geese and ducks. read more

What's not to like? Gorgeous grass, flowers, ducks, scenery, walkways.. it's so pretty it's revolting sometimes.. :) read more

Had the opportunity to check out Pre's Trail on two separate mornings. The trail is very well kept and a piece of running lore, could not pass up the chance to go for a slow run. read more

Alton Baker Park - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I love Alton Baker. This is easily your best location in town for running, biking, river floats, big group picnics, feeding the ducks, or walking your dog. The park is enormous and runs along the beautiful Willamette River. Some other activities you can do here: - See the new Nobel Peace Prize monument - Catch a concert at the amphitheater in summer (or sit outside on the grass and listen for free) - Rent kayaks or canoes - Catch a game at the Oregon Ducks football and baseball stadiums - Take your kids to the Science Factory and Planetarium - See the scaled model of the solar system (track down each planet) - Go geocaching - Use the BMX track - Let your dog go crazy in the off-leash areas Fun place to go with family and friends no matter what your age. read more

A beautiful urban park setting. You don't even realize how close you are to the businesses that are around you when you are in the park. A great place to destress during the workday or to spend some time with friends and family on the weekend. read more

I come here almost every day! Incredibly spacious, amazing scenery, nice variety of flora and fauna, it's the kind of park that I wish that I grew up near! read more

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Nice place to go when you just want to watch people feeding ducks, quite shady spots to sit or lay under a tree and catch up on yelp reviews. Plenty of benches and right along the Willamette river. There is an off leash dog park that gets very busy and needs to be expanded. Disc golf course, bike paths, foot paths and large ponds that allow for fishing and water fowl watching. Not supposed to feed the birds bread. Bring bird food instead. Feed stores sell it and usually have free samples. You can even get grubs. That's what i get for em. read more

One of the best places in eugene to go out on a fate. They have a pictoresque park with frisbee golf and duck so friendly they will come up to you. read more

Alton Baker Park - Parks Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

This park is split into two major sections. The west side is worth visiting if you plan to visit the disk golf course, Cuthbert Amphitheatre or Pre's Trail, a popular running spot envisioned by local (and late) Olympic competitor Steve Prefontaine. Otherwise skip it and visit the east part. The main attractions of this side are Nearby Nature, the beautiful river trails, two of the three big loops of Pre's Trail, and the Whilamut Natural Area, an area maintained with native plantings and a natural prairie habitat which happens to makes up the majority of the park. This is my favorite part, with several miles of paved paths to get a nature fix after work or on the weekend. Most of the parking is on the West side, which is also where much (but not all) of the homeless and vagrant population hangs out. The best way to get to the park is by bike or by foot. Visitors from Springfield can come from the river paths along Walnut St, visitors from the south can get over the river via the (west to east) DeFazio, Frohnmeyer (aka Autzen), and Knickerboker pedestrian bridges. On the North, use Leo Harris parkway, which has a couple of small parking lots on the park's edge. Not a great spot for kids, as used needles are often found by park staff. However, shodden adults will be fine. 4/10 for west side, 9/10 for east side. Round up because I just like it. Tl;dr: -west side sometimes feels unsafe, worth visiting for disk golf -east side is cleaner and more scenic -some car parking on west side and northern edge, but better to come by bike or by foot read more