The Best Hiking in Eugene Oregon: Three Classic Trails You Shouldn’t Miss

View of Spencer Butte and South Eugene from Skinner Butte.

Hiking in Eugene Oregon is built around accessible, well-kept trails that deliver real payoff without requiring a full day in the backcountry. If you’re visiting the area or looking for a manageable but rewarding adventure, three spots steal the show: Ridgeline Trail, Spencer Butte, and Mount Pisgah. All three give you clean views, varied terrain, plenty of room to hike at your own pace and less than a 15-minute drive from downtown.

Ridgeline Trail

Ridgeline Trail in late October.

Eugene’s Ridgeline system stitches together a series of forested hills that wrap around the city’s south end. You can connect segments for a long day or pick a single trailhead for a quick out-and-back. Expect rolling terrain, steady climbs, and pockets of big city views.

Popular Ridgeline Trailheads:

• Blanton Trailhead — Blanton Rd, Eugene, OR

• South Willamette Trailhead — 85219 South Willamette St, Eugene, OR

• Martin Street Trailhead — Martin St & Fox Hollow Rd, Eugene, OR

• Baldy Hill / Spring Blvd Trailhead — Spring Blvd & 57th Ave, Eugene, OR

• Spencer Butte North Trailhead (Ridgeline connection) — 85219 Willamette St, Eugene, OR

  
  

Parking is free at every trailhead, but each lot is small — usually 10–15 spaces. Most days you’ll find a spot without trouble, but on sunny weekends things fill fast. Show up before 9 a.m. and you’ll have no issues.

Spencer Butte

Sunset view looking West from the Spencer Butte Summit

If Eugene has a signature hike, this is it. Spencer Butte tops out at 2,058 feet and gives you a sweeping panorama of the entire valley — on a clear day you can see from the Coast Range to the Cascades. The main route is short and steep. The Fox Hollow approach is longer with switchbacks. Either way, the summit payoff is hard to beat.

There are multiple ways up depending on how hard you want to push:

Spencer Butte Trailheads:

• Main Spencer Butte Trailhead — 85389 Willamette St, Eugene, OR

• Fox Hollow Trailhead — Fox Hollow Rd & Dillard Rd

• South Ridgeline / 52nd Ave Trailhead — 52nd Ave & Willamette St

Parking is free at all trailheads, with the largest lot at the main Spencer Butte trailhead. As with any popular outdoor area, avoid leaving valuables in your car — break-ins have happened.

Mount Pisgah (Howard Buford Recreation Area)

Open meadows in the backcountry of Mount Pisgah.

Pisgah’s summit trail is one of the most popular hikes in Lane County. It’s a steady climb with open meadows, oak savanna, and the Willamette River running below. On top, you get a 360° view stretching from the Middle Fork to the Coburg Hills. Most visitors go straight for the summit trail, but the network spreads across 5,000+ acres with lots of side routes, wildflower pockets, and quieter loops.

Mount Pisgah Trailheads:

• Main Arboretum Trailhead (Summit Route) — 34901 Frank Parrish Rd, Eugene, OR

• North Trailhead — Seavey Loop Rd (near Buford Park North Entrance)

• South Meadow/West Boundary Access — Frank Parrish Rd area connectors

Parking at Mount Pisgah requires a $5 day pass or a Lane County Parks annual pass. You can pay at the card-only kiosk at the main trailhead or through the Lane County Parks Passport Parking App. If you visit often, the $40 annual pass is the better deal, and the $5 day pass works at every Lane County park. 

Final Thoughts on Hiking in Eugene Oregon

Eugene’s trail network hits a sweet spot: approachable, scenic, and close to town. If you want a local-guided experience that keeps things easy, comfortable, and well-paced, Best Oregon Tours offers curated outings that highlight the region’s most scenic routes.

If you’re craving something more challenging — longer mileage, steeper climbs, or mountaineering-style trips — the long-running nonprofit Obsidians Eugene hosts year-round group hikes and climbs led by experienced local volunteers. It’s a solid option for hikers who want to push a little farther.