| Spencer's Butte Date - Various Length - 2 miles Location - Eugene, OR |
Spencer’s Butte rises above southern Eugene to an elevation
of 2,052 feet and is one of the town’s most prominent
landmarks. The wooded hill is quite steep and holds a number
of trails that link into a system of hiking paths extending for
more than fifteen miles. Many people enjoy hiking on Spencer’s
Butte and it is not uncommon to find the trail full of hikers on
nice weekends. Still, it is possible to find solitude on Spencer’s
Butte by heading up in the off season and on rainy days.
Views are incredible from the top of the Butte in all directions
with much of Eugene and Springfield visible. On clear days the
high peaks of the Cascades can be seen from South Sister to
Mt Hood, the broken hills of the Coast Range stand out, and
the broad Willamette Valley stretches away to the north.
Unfortunately, the fabulous views are often obscured in the
summer by the rather pervasive smog that tends to accumulate
over Eugene and along the I 5 corridor to the east. Anyone in
denial about the poor air quality in the valley need only hike to
the top of Spencer’s Butte in the summer and gaze out at the
yellow and brown haze the hangs like a curse over our homes.
of 2,052 feet and is one of the town’s most prominent
landmarks. The wooded hill is quite steep and holds a number
of trails that link into a system of hiking paths extending for
more than fifteen miles. Many people enjoy hiking on Spencer’s
Butte and it is not uncommon to find the trail full of hikers on
nice weekends. Still, it is possible to find solitude on Spencer’s
Butte by heading up in the off season and on rainy days.
Views are incredible from the top of the Butte in all directions
with much of Eugene and Springfield visible. On clear days the
high peaks of the Cascades can be seen from South Sister to
Mt Hood, the broken hills of the Coast Range stand out, and
the broad Willamette Valley stretches away to the north.
Unfortunately, the fabulous views are often obscured in the
summer by the rather pervasive smog that tends to accumulate
over Eugene and along the I 5 corridor to the east. Anyone in
denial about the poor air quality in the valley need only hike to
the top of Spencer’s Butte in the summer and gaze out at the
yellow and brown haze the hangs like a curse over our homes.
Spencer’s Butte was one of the first walks that Michelle and I did
when we arrived in town. I will always remember thinking that the
relatively small Douglas Fir growing on the side of Spencer’s
were huge, but this was before I got to see any of Oregon’s world
famous old growth. Still, any hike on Spencer’s is interesting as a
variety of trees and plants grow and the views are really nice.
One nice thing about the walk is that the barren top of the butte
often rises above the thick wintertime fog that can settle in the
valley and obscure the sun for days at a time. It is always really
nice to emerge from the dense vapors just below the summit to
be treated to blue skies and sun while the people in town have to
deal with slate gray yet again. The top of the fog bank often
looks like a blanket and you can really get a sense of isolation as
you stand in the sun and have unrestricted views in all directions
with the area’s other taller point also poking above the thick
clouds.
Spencer’s Butte is part of the Ridgeline Trail System, over twelve
miles of multi use trails with parts open to hiking and mountain
biking. The town had the foresight to set aside tracts of land here
as early as 1937 with additional acquisitions over the years that
have grown the park to over 1000 acres. The corridor of forest
land provides a greenway for wildlife and helps separate the city
from the surrounding country. Thanks to this foresight excellent
forested paths are within walking distance of downtown Eugene.
These paths are respected and well maintained and stand as an
example for other communities.
when we arrived in town. I will always remember thinking that the
relatively small Douglas Fir growing on the side of Spencer’s
were huge, but this was before I got to see any of Oregon’s world
famous old growth. Still, any hike on Spencer’s is interesting as a
variety of trees and plants grow and the views are really nice.
One nice thing about the walk is that the barren top of the butte
often rises above the thick wintertime fog that can settle in the
valley and obscure the sun for days at a time. It is always really
nice to emerge from the dense vapors just below the summit to
be treated to blue skies and sun while the people in town have to
deal with slate gray yet again. The top of the fog bank often
looks like a blanket and you can really get a sense of isolation as
you stand in the sun and have unrestricted views in all directions
with the area’s other taller point also poking above the thick
clouds.
Spencer’s Butte is part of the Ridgeline Trail System, over twelve
miles of multi use trails with parts open to hiking and mountain
biking. The town had the foresight to set aside tracts of land here
as early as 1937 with additional acquisitions over the years that
have grown the park to over 1000 acres. The corridor of forest
land provides a greenway for wildlife and helps separate the city
from the surrounding country. Thanks to this foresight excellent
forested paths are within walking distance of downtown Eugene.
These paths are respected and well maintained and stand as an
example for other communities.
Thick fog blankets the valley while the summit of Spencer's Butte stands in the sun on a warm
February day.
February day.
White Oak trees in the fog make for an other worldly setting.
Middie appreciated the steep walk, the thousands of smells, and the sunshine on this hike to
the top of Spencer's Butte.
the top of Spencer's Butte.
With the valley's pollution trapped under a thick layer of fog the skies above were crystal clear
and the high Cascades stood out looking close enough to touch.
and the high Cascades stood out looking close enough to touch.
Fog laps at the summit of Spencer's Butte with the tallest peaks of the Coast Range visible in
the distance.
the distance.
Even the hazy summertime views from the butte are pretty impressive.
Michelle and I enjoy the top of the butte shortly after moving to Eugene in August of 2006.
Fern Ridge Reservoir and the Coast Range on a clear late August day.
Ghost like Douglas Fir stand out in the fog as sun burns through near the
top of Spencer's Butte.
top of Spencer's Butte.
Valley fog tries to overtake the summit which stands just high enough to
be in the brilliant sun on this February day.
be in the brilliant sun on this February day.
The tall antennae in the south hills of Eugene rise above the thick valley fog.
Michelle near the top of Spencer's Butte on a warm summer day.