We love to stay active. When Gordy and I first were dating (and it has continued on through our marriage) we constantly would go on hikes! When we were living in Seattle, we bought a book that had hikes ranked from easy to hard. We had a book of all the Waterfalls in the PNW. It was originally our goal to go through the books and see them all.
While things have changed a bit and we haven’t been on all these hikes we have gone on more than I can count!
These hikes have been some of our best memories. We have seen beautiful views, met wonderful people, discussed our life and the blessings we have, set goals, and get quality time to reconnect.
Living in Eugene, we have some wonderful opportunities to go on incredible hikes right here in the City. It’s absolutely amazing to be able to wake up and say “hey want to go for a hike in an hour?”. When we lived in Seattle, while it was close to beautiful hikes, we typically had to plan things out a bit more.
The Hike
Spencer’s Butte is one of our favorites, and the summit is visible from downtown Eugene(summit of Spencer Butte stands at 2,058 feet (627 meters), the hike up is gorgeous and the view from the top is one for the books! It is described in the National Geodetic Survey as “a prominent timbered butte with a bare rocky summit”!
When you get to Spencer Butte Park, you can choose from several different hiking trails to reach the summit– each one is just as beautiful as the next. The hike is not too long just under 2miles and worth every out-of-breath moment (coming from a pregnant mama who hiked this at 4.5 months)! There are some stone steps at the last part of the hike that really work those leg muscles.
History
I recently learned the “Spencer Butte is
named after Eugene Skinner’s uncle, Spencer Fullerton Baird, who was a prominent American naturalist and the first curator of the Smithsonian Institution. In 1913, the City of Eugene purchased the land for a park, and it has been a beloved recreational area ever since.” Eugene has some pretty unique history when you start to get curious!
Spencer’s Butte offers an amazing outdoor experience in the heart of Eugene, with stunning views, beautiful forrest, and a rich history that make it a beloved destination for locals and visitors. A hike that is surely to be repeated!
Directions from downtown Eugene:
From downtown Eugene (11th and Willamette), drive south on Willamette Street for 4.8 miles. Turn left for Spencer Butte Park, and go 0.1 miles to the large paved parking area.
From I5:
Drive I-5 south, and take Exit 189 for 30th Avenue and South Eugene. After exiting, turn right for 30th Avenue And Lane Community College. In 0.6 miles, make a right turn onto 30th Avenue for Lane Community College. Go 3.1 miles on 30th, and turn left onto Hilyard Street. After 0.3 miles, turn right onto 33rd Avenue. Stay on 33rd for 0.5 miles before making a left turn onto Willamette Street. Proceed 2.9 miles on Willamette before turning left for Spencer Butte Park. Drive 0.1 miles to the large paved parking area.
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