I recently got to hike Mount Pisgah for the first time– It was a beautiful view from the top! I will say this is probably the hardest hike I have done in quite some time.. first I’m 4.5months pregnant and because I made the horrible decision to where light colored shoes… we chose to do a path we hadn’t done before!
While it was fun- this trail led us basically straight up hill the entire time, so this Mama had to take many breathers! Thanks to Gordy for being willing to stop every so often!
I wouldn’t change the hike that day for the world though, we had so much fun! But next time we head up we will take a different path- there are so many to choose from and hikes that make it accessible for all ages.
“Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a beautiful 209-acre (85-ha) nature preserve 5 miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Eugene. 8 miles (13 km) of all-weather trails. A variety of easy to moderate loop trails from 0.5 miles to 1.5 miles (0.3 km to 1.2 km) make the arboretum a great place for all ages and abilities to explore. The trails wind along the river through trees and wildflowers labeled to help visitors learn plant identification…Popular events include a Wildflower & Music Festival in May and a Mushroom Festival in October.”
What is offered just outside of downtown is pretty incredible!
Mount Pisgah is a hike rising 1,060 feet (320 m) above the surrounding Willamette Valley, to a maximum elevation of 1,531 feet (467 m). It was named after the biblical Mount Pisgah. This beautiful hike is situated between the Coast Fork and Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
“At the grassy summit area, a bronze sighting pedestal by sculptor Pete Helzer honors Jed Kesey, son of noted Oregon author Ken Kesey, who died in 1984 in a car accident at the age of 20 while on the University of Oregon wrestling team. The pedestal’s sides display bass reliefs of local fossils, and the top exhibits a relief map of the whole area. During the solstice, sunlight shines through the openings in the pedestal.”
Just south of the hike are the beautiful farmsteads and homes of Pleasant Hill, there is a beautiful Flower Farm just as you leave we always stop at!
On a clear day, you can see the Three Sisters and Diamond Peak.
One of my favorite things about hiking is seeing the view from the top! Gordy always laughs at me that we can’t just go on a walk through the forrest, that we have to see something… which is true for me! I like to have a goal to attain, a piece of Gods art to admire. Also, I’m a firm believer that a hike should not end with you having to go up hill…
There was a hike in Seattle we used to do quite often, 1 mile down to the beach which was fantastic but then we had to hike 1 mile back up and it was STEEP!
Hiking is so good for your body, mind, and soul! It is our goal to go 1 hike per week, weather permitting of course! I recently read that if you have over 10,000 steps per day on average you can increase your life expectancy. I don’t know about you but we are about to have 4 little Dixons running around and we need to make sure we can keep up and play Zone Defense.
On the next hike we are actually planning to take our oldest Sofie on the hike- she loves being outside and talks about going to the top of hills… so we are going to take her and let her experience it!
Happy Hiking!
The Arboretum is located at 34901 Frank Parrish Rd, Eugene, OR 97405. The park is tucked into the larger Lane County Park called the Howard Buford Recreation Area.
Directions to the park:
- From Interstate 5, Southbound: Take Exit 189. At the base of the off-ramp, turn right and head toward 30th Avenue. Make a left turn at the stop light at 30th Avenue and cross over the freeway. At the 4-way stop sign just past the overpass, turn left. Make a right turn onto Franklin Blvd at the Shell Station, and cross under the railroad bridge. Follow Franklin around a curve, then turn left on Seavey Loop Road. Continue for about 1.5 miles. Cross a short bridge over the river. Follow the right fork of the road into the Arboretum parking lot.
- From Interstate 5, Northbound: Take Exit 189. At the stop sign at the end of the offramp, go forward. Make a right turn onto Franklin Blvd at the Shell Station and cross under the railroad bridge. Follow Franklin around a curve, then turn left on Seavey Loop Road. Continue for about 1.5 miles. Cross a short bridge over the river. Follow the right fork of the road into the Arboretum parking lot.
- From South Eugene: Take 30th Avenue past Lane Community College. Cross the freeway overpass and turn left at the 4-way stop sign. Turn right after the Shell Station onto Franklin Blvd. Follow this road around a curve. Take the first left onto Seavey Loop Road. Continue straight about 1.5 miles to the Arboretum. Cross a short bridge over the river. Follow the right fork of the road into the Arboretum parking lot.
- From Springfield: Take Main Street west, crossing the river at Island Park. Take the first left after the bridge onto Franklin Blvd. (U-Haul is on the corner.) Follow Franklin South, turning left at the first light onto East Franklin Blvd. Continue on East Franklin and turn left just before the Shell Station. Follow this road about 1/3 mile. Take the first left onto Seavey Loop Road. Continue straight 1.5 miles to the Arboretum. Cross a short bridge over the river. Follow the right fork of the road into the Arboretum parking lot.
A Lane County Parks day pass or current annual pass must be displayed in all vehicles parked inside the park (Howard Buford Recreation Area).
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