I don't review many parks, but felt ABP deserved some mention. ABP is like the "Central Park" of…read moreEugene. It is huuuuge and has so many walking/biking paths, ponds, artwork, gardens, and many places to explore. You can definitely get lost and feel away from the city here. I loved that it runs along the river and has nooks to explore. The path goes across the bridge and has amazing views at the top. There's a fun little pathway to the island and it was cool to be able to go onto the island and be that much closer to the ducks and geese. Everywhere you go has something interesting. It was also extremely clean. The park is large enough to disperse the crowd, allowing privacy. We were able to let our dog offleash to run around for a bit. Just keep in mind there are a lot of people and dogs walking around, though. Around under the bridge, we did see some sketchy folks. Be careful not to lean on the railings because there were tons of webs AND the owner of those webs! I'm talking about a spider in between almost every railing. Parking was easy. We mapped it to ABP and it took us to a free parking lot with a lot of empty spaces. Overall, the park was a great escape from the city. Sunsets are so beautiful with the reflections and serene sound of the water.

There was no way we were coming to Tracktown and not going for a run. Of course, in my dreams it…read morewould 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.

Skinner (not Skinner's) Butte Park is the the location of the homestead of Eugene's founder, named…read moreEugene Skinner, and is one of the city's oldest parks. It's a large park right on the banks of the Willamette River and offers a variety of activities. There's the playground, RiverView Discovery Village, which is fairly large and has some pretty cool. It has various structures for kids to play on and around, representing storefronts, a stagecoach, and so on. There's the typical slides and swings and stuff that you'll find at a playground as well. They also have a "splash pad", which is a circular pipe sticking out of the ground about 10 feet, but it does spray so I guess it's something. The park fronts the river, and although the playground is not immediately on the bank of the river it's close enough that you'll want to keep a close watch on your children (every year there are tragedies along the Willamette). There is no fencing or anything around the playground, which seems like a no-brainer in this location but I guess not, and that's why I give the three-star rating instead of four. It's just a really nerve-wracking park especially for parents of small children. There could be more picnic tables around the playground... there's at least three, but that may be it. There's lots of green space for folks to spread out on the grass as well, which several people were doing whilst we were here celebrating my daughter's birthday. There was a drum circle that showed up about 20 minutes before we left as well and that was kinda cool. Part of the general park area are the Columns, remnants of a basalt quarry that existed for a few decades in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is a pretty popular spot for rock climbing. It's a short distance from the playground area. I went with a class as a middle schooler and was not too keen on climbing myself. Then there's the titular Butte, which one can hike to the top or drive. I've never hiked up myself, but the drive is sometimes closed to traffic when fires are a concern. There are biking trails, a community garden, and the Campbell Senior Center is on the eastern edge of the park as well. There are bathrooms here, and although I didn't go into them my sister and friend did and apparently they're kinda weird--no doors on the stalls. I suppose that must be some sort of safety measure? It's fairly odd, regardless. There's a fairly decent sized parking lot to the east of the playground as well, and parking along the southern end of the park (at the base of the Butte).

It's always a nice time at Skinner's Butte Park no matter what time of year it is. A little colder…read moreon the path by the river, but still a breath of fresh air!

Five stars for Spencer's Butte! It's absolutely breathtaking up there. Steep enough to get your…read moreheart racing and leave you glistening, but mercifully short so you don't drag through miles of misery. Winding through lush greens, the trail gifts you sweeping panoramas at every turn. And that summit, oh, it's postcard perfect, three sixty bliss that'll recharge your soul. Towering peaks hug you tight, like nature's own fortress, yet its spitting distance from Eugene urban escape turned wilderness wonderland. If panoramic payoffs without epic treks are your jam, this spot delivers pure gold.

Well, I'm an idiot and I took my 8 and 11 year olds up the hard way because they were so full of…read moreenergy. TERRIBLE mistake. It was slippery and way too dangerous for kids. That's on me. I would say that on a dryer day, that level of excitement would be perfect for someone younger than 40, but older than 15. It was beautiful. I just wish there had been more of a warning.

Every trip, we try to go on a few hikes and this year one we chose was Skinner's Butte in Eugene…read more It's easy to get to with plenty of free parking in the parks surrounding it. There are easy walking paths and multiple trails going up and down different sides. It was a cloudy day, but pleasant for walking. At the top are different lookout points with benches, picnic tables, etc., perfect for great views as you explore the area. The most fun part was the natural climbing wall on the one side. It has its own dedicated lot as well. Portions are closed, but most have permanent fixture points for climbing rope. Definitely a fun free activity if you're into climbing. This is a great free and active activity on your next trip here.

Great experience I visited this place its like a adventure jungle and we can go with partner family…read moreand friends

Really great experience, plenty of trails offering woods, water, and field views. Uncrowded,…read moreplentiful parking. Very dog-friendly. An undersung gem.

Cute little park at the end of a peninsula in Veneta. Nice trail and super quiet. Lots of large…read moretrees and water access makes this a great hike. Small hike though so don't expect a long trail. Never see anyone here.

This park is really pretty and overlooked by a lot of Eugenians simply because it resides literally…read morea few blocks into springfield. It's well-maintained, has nice picnic benches to sit on, and great views of the Willamette. Oh, which also means it's a great place to get in for tubing if you're headed down river to Alton Baker.

A free garden with a wide variety of roses. We went there mid morning and there were quite a few…read morevolunteers tending to the grounds. They also have some dahlia and a few plants that I've never seen before (I had to look these up). Lots of happy bees here too. Some shaded tables if you want to hang out for a while. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Wow, I love this place and I'm so happy to have found it during my stay in Eugene…read more What a beautiful, wholesome yet exciting spot! This is indeed too free things to do in town. It is very well maintained and I enjoyed seeing so much variety there. Easy to visit as there are enough parking spot in the lot.

Even if you don't go on the trail itself, it's still beautiful. You can walk straight down from the…read moreparking lot toward the water, and the view from the bottom is breathtaking. I've been back many times throughout the year, and it's amazing to see the landscape naturally changing so drastically. In the early-mid summer, the bugs start to go crazy, so going in the spring or fall is best for a calm climate. You can see all sorts of wildlife from birds and cool plants, to even little red salamanders. Which live in multitudes in the water (but don't touch them, oil from human hands can hurt salamanders & newts). There are also cool rock formations when you walk a little upstream, from quartz deposits to sheer cliffs. Such a cool place, and you don't have to walk far to see the great views.

Nice rolling hills trail through the trees, make it as long or as short as you wish. If you follow…read morethe directions of the previous review, the Hardesty trail will eventually lead you to a rarely travelled gravel road. From there its about 3 miles downhill back to the parking lot, or roughly a 9 mile loop. Several chances to cross the stream, pick some blackberries and plenty of sunlight and shade through the canopy. On occasion you will see other hikers, (horseback) riders or mountain bikers. Most exercise good wilderness etiquette, but be mindful of the weekend warriors without a bike bell. Ground bees in some spots, so be vigilant when stepping off the trail. One pit toilet in the parking lot, and no garbage cans, so (obviously) pack out your water bottles and snack wrappers. Overall a beautiful, relaxing hike on a well maintained trail and well worth the drive from Eugene.