Upside-Down Mountain
A nearly level hike scales a nearby peak
Mountain climbing is supposed to be steep, treeless and arduous. But not at Patterson Mountain, a forgotten peak half an hour’s drive from Eugene. The … Continue reading
Oregon Trails Archive
Historic Medicine
Hike to the North Umpqua’s pictographs and lookouts
You have to hike to see the ancient pictographs and historic fire lookouts of the North Umpqua. Prehistoric rock art is rare in western Oregon, … Continue reading
Big Trees and a Hot Soak
Hike an old-growth forest trail on the way to Terwilliger
Hot springs should be earned. A soak certainly seems more satisfying after a day of hiking. And I don’t think the quarter-mile trail to Terwilliger … Continue reading
Dune Episode
Hike the Coast’s Tallest Sands
When Frank Herbert wrote Dune he was a newspaper reporter in Florence, Oregon. The stark sand world that inspired his sci-fi classic is still orbiting … Continue reading
Where Eagles Rest
Hike to a lookout and shelter near Eugene
Despite Eugene’s tree-hugging reputation, there is no Wilderness Area within 50 miles — pretty much a record for Oregon cities. The best candidate to improve … Continue reading
An Ickenick Day in the Snow
Find spectacle, beauty and even humility on a gorgeous snowshoe hike in the Cascades
I hear you: You want a perfect day in the snow. You don’t want to have to drive far, and you don’t want to put … Continue reading
The Ponsler Way to Heceta Head
Who was Muriel O. Ponsler?
If you’re looking for a hike at the Oregon Coast, but don’t want to tramp the crowded trail to the Heceta Head lighthouse yet again, … Continue reading
Wild Iris Ridge
Scenic link in a Eugene loop trail?
Wild irises bloom in summer on this ridge overlooking west Eugene. The wide gravel path climbs through meadows, partly beneath a powerline, to a water … Continue reading
North Umpqua Waterfalls
Two hikes that are fun with kids
A wildfire in 2020 destroyed the waterfall trails of the North Umpqua River, right? Well, no. The jungly 1.3-mile path to Wolf Creek Falls didn’t burn … Continue reading
Blackberry Time
Make jelly, syrup and wine
When life gives you lemons, of course you should make lemonade. But in Oregon, you’re much more likely to get blackberries. After years of fighting … Continue reading