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    Spencer Butte

    4.7 (55 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    Cat T.

    pretty good trail, lots of people so i felt safe enough to finish the hike after sunset

    Hiking in the rain (on Saturday) :-)
    Shawn T.

    City of Eugene COVID-19 guidelines: "Practice social distancing in our natural areas by slowing down and being alert for other trail users, avoiding crowded trailheads, and keeping dogs on-leash." Yes, this trail is very popular! There are portable bathroom at the start of the trail head. Dog friendly trail must be leashed. Please pickup your dog mess and take it with you, seriously. The hiking path has built in rock stairs. Trail near the top has been widen and easier to walk up. Great area to just take all the surrounding beauty this area offers. Be careful not to touch those nasty poison oaks along the trails. Especially hiking the summit areas. Oh, if you bring food to eat at the top please take your trash with you. Help keep Oregon trails beautiful for everyone!

    Sunset
    Joanna B.

    This hike is much much steeper than I imagined. Even as a hiker, it was hard on my quads and my lungs. Be prepared for fast elevation gain. Bring water, and a sweater if you're going to be up for the sunset. With that said, one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Once the sun did set, you could see all the lights in the city which is one of my favorite views in the world. Also bring a flash light, as it is very dark on the way down without one.

    Cody M.

    Spencer's Butte is a great hike takes less than an hour. I like the views here as they are mostly agricultural at the top. The hike itself is made mostly of switch backs on a well maintained trail going up the butte. The parking lot is surveilled and paved. No parking fees and has potty potty's on sight. It can get rather busy during the lunch hours but still plenty of space. The path is well covered by tree canopy so on a hotter day this hike would still be pleasant. My 4 year old and 8 year old did this hike with my wife and I just fine. The only down side is that people tend to little Ron this hike for some reason. Had to pick some things up last time we were there. All in all good quick easy hike.

    Kristy W.

    I had not gone hiking here in many years because I was afraid of an old knee injury from skiing when I was younger. I always remembered the gorgeous views from the top. I am impressed with the new renovations they have done such as the new steps up by the top. That is a great bonus. What a great work out, and you get the beautiful scenery with it!

    K G.

    We decided to take the 1 mile hike to the top. The trail is well maintained with signs now to socially distance. The trees keep this trail nice and cool for almost all of the trail. It is better to go early in the morning since it was not crowded when we went. Their are several sets of stairs that lead to the top. The trail is also dog friendly. The views from the top are very nice. The 1000 ft incline produced a great workout. You can bring lunch or pack for a picnic to enjoy once you get to the top.

    Luke S.

    I'm not the biggest fan of hiking. My girlfriend on the other hand may actually be the biggest fan of hiking. She loves hiking more than any sports team I'll ever love. When we visited Eugene, I felt like it was only right that I take her to the only hiking spot I knew there. What I like about Spencer's Butte, besides the fact that it sounds like Spencer's Butt, is that it doesn't feel like a hike. It's relatively short and when you get to the top, it's beautiful. We went on a rainy day, which in Eugene it would have been odd if it was any other day. When we got to the top, the view completely outweighed my inability to feel my hands or toes. I hope that in the future, all other hikes can model themselves after this hike because then I would love hiking.

    John B.

    This is a great place to hike considering the proximity to Eugene. The summit at the top is a great payoff to this steep hike with panorama views of Eugene, Springfield, the Coastal Range, the Cascades as well as the rugged terrain to the south. The beginning of the trail at Spencer Butte Park is well signed and the map provides a good overview of how the trail will curl around the butte. I do not like the shorter trail to the top as it is incredibly steep and suggest that it only be taken on the way up as it is easy to lose one's footing on the way down. As far as the the longer 1.08 mile trail, it gains ground less rapidly, so it's easier to look around on the way and take in your surroundings. Right before the treeline to the top the trail gets really rocky and it's hard to keep track of the trail, even though they have markers periodically embedded in the rock. I was really close to giving this five stars, particularly since there is no use fee and it would be easy to incorporate a hike up the trail in some sort of workout regimen. What detracts from it is the overly steep shorter trail, and the poor signage in the rocky area. Most people will opt to start a hike at Spencer Butte Park itself, however I would urge hikers looking for something a little more challenging to start at the Willamette Street trailhead. It starts out in a fairly open area, but rapidly gets secluded (for the most part) and makes for a 5 mile round trip. The numerous other starting points for trails that ultimately leads to Spencer Butte is impressive, and keeps it fresh for locals that frequently want to take a hike close to home. I highly recommend bringing out of town friends and family on this short hike and they will be amazed at the view they are rewarded with at the top!

    Great views!
    Bill D.

    This place was packed a couple of weekends ago! A nice, sunny day in the middle of Winter. Plenty of friendly folks, kids and dogs getting in some great views and exercise. I really believe this is easier to climb than Mount Pisgah even though it's elevation is higher. I usually park at the far lot on Willamette Street (The Spencer Butte Park parking lot). There are other trails but I've always enjoyed going up the back side and the views on the way up to the West and South are great! Up to it? Give it a go!

    Bryan B.

    This is as good as it gets when it comes to hiking in Eugene, this trail gets the heart pumping at the end of the hike up the hill you're presenting with some breathtaking views. The first thing that comes to mind since you're in Oregon is "Lewis & Clark", even though they didn't come near Eugene on their way to the pacific but you can imagine they experienced similar views during the Oregon part of their journey. Definitely worth checking out and on a nice day bring some water since it's a pretty steep hike at certain points and you're likely to start craving a drink. I'd recommend bringing a book & camera as well since it's a great place to chill and read while taking the odd snapshot of the view. Can't wait to hike this trail next time I'm in Eugene.

    Lori G.

    Spencer Butte was one of the first hikes we took after settling into Eugene. We heard rave reviews before we left and weren't disappointed! + Dog friendly + Well marked trails w/mileage + 2 trailheads (Fox Hollow & Spencer Butte) + Great cardio workout to reach the very top + Beautiful views of Eugene We all had a great time hiking to the top of Spencer Butte and will be back often. We'd love to take a picnic lunch and enjoy it while taking in the view.

    Donna D.

    We are in love with the park!!! The view from the summit is incredible. We take the difficult route up and the easier one down. Coming from San Diego we really appreciate the greenery and lush landscape. We will be back next year,

    View

    Love it every time! We are blessed to live less than 5 minutes from the base. Both sides are enjoyable hikes. The harder side is indeed harder. Nearing the top there are a few hand over foot climbing spots. Lots of fun with our dog as well.

    So green!

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    Ask the Community - Spencer Butte

    Review Highlights - Spencer Butte

    My friend and I started at Ridgeline Trail and it was about 1000 ft elevation from the start of the trail.

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    Hendricks Park - Entrance to Park

    Hendricks Park

    (38 reviews)

    A Beautiful Return to a Place Full of Nature and History…read more Both my wife and I had visited this spot before when we lived in the area, so with a little time to spare before lunch nearby, we decided to revisit it with her son and daughter-in-law. Nestled on a forested butte just east of the University of Oregon in Eugene, this area is absolutely stunning. The rhododendron garden is especially beautiful, offering a peaceful and scenic escape that feels tucked away from the city. Beyond its natural beauty, the area is steeped in history. One of the most notable connections is to Steve Prefontaine--a legendary runner and seven-time NCAA champion for Oregon. He trained in and around Hendricks Park and tragically passed away in a car accident on a winding road just below the park. His legacy lives on not only in the running world but also in the early success of Nike, where he became the brand's first sponsored athlete and helped elevate it to global prominence. Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or just looking for a quiet place to explore, this area is well worth a visit.

    Hendricks Park is one of those places that I knew was around town, but never visited until after I…read moremoved away and came back to visit. I grew up in the Cal Young area or Santa Clara, so I wasn't very often in this part of town and though Eugene isn't a huge city, you can easily not hit other areas of town. Hendricks Park is the oldest park in the city. It's mostly known as a rhododendron garden, but it has native plants as well. There are trails throughout for you to explore the place. It's really peaceful and beautiful when the weather is nice, and you'll forget you're in the city.

    Skinner's Butte Park - Willamette River

    Skinner's Butte Park

    (15 reviews)

    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!

    Spencer Butte - hiking - Updated May 2026

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