Eugene’s highest point was bought with donations of $5 or less, and the hike up gains about 1,200 feet
Eugene’s highest point was paid for with five-dollar bills. In 1940, a community fundraising campaign that accepted contributions of $5 or less bought a major portion of Spencer Butte, and locals are still climbing it today.
The butte tops out at 2,058 feet, the high point of the city’s Ridgeline Trail system, with a bald summit that looks out over town, the Coast Range, and (on a clear day) the Cascades. Is it worth the sweat? Absolutely, and here’s how to pick the right way up.
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Pick your trailhead
Three trailheads feed the summit, and they trade distance for effort. The Spencer Butte Park trailhead is the shortest at a bit over 2 miles round trip. Fox Hollow runs roughly 4 to 4.5 miles, and the Willamette Street route is just over 5 miles.
The two longer routes each climb around 1,200 feet, which is why the hike earns a moderate rating. If you’re heading for the most popular trailhead, drive south on Willamette Street from 29th Avenue and look for the parking lot on your left at the Spencer Butte Park sign.
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What the climb feels like
The Fox Hollow approach winds through second-growth forest, mossy Douglas firs, and fern-covered slopes before the trees give way to rock. My pick is this one, since it runs a bit longer and quieter than the main trail.
Parts of the trail are steep and uneven, and roots and summit rocks get slippery, especially after rain. The final stretch is a short, steep rock scramble that isn’t technical but does want good footing, and recently installed stairs make that last push easier than it used to be.
The summit payoff
Up top, the rocky outcrop and open bald are a plant community that’s rare in the Willamette Valley. The city asks visitors to stick to the two designated summit trails to protect that habitat, and on the West Trail, to stay put on the path so the wildflowers can do their thing.
One heads-up before you lace up: rattlesnakes and poison oak both live here, so watch your step and keep to the trail. Pack water, wear shoes with real grip, and give yourself a couple of hours for the longer routes.
So which will it be, the short summit sprint or the mossy Fox Hollow route? Tell us which trailhead you’d pick.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, and lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone.
