One of my favorite things to do is hike and I’ve traveled all over the state to do this, sometimes driving for hours to get to a trailhead. Of course, we can’t always devote an entire day just to hike up a cool mountain, so I’m always on the lookout for closer options. Well, if you live in the Eugene-Springfield area, you have to check out Mount Pisgah (although I’m willing to bet you already know about it, since it’s so great!)
Mount Pisgah is one of those great bang-for-your-buck hikes, since it’s only a 15 minute drive from Eugene. True, it’s not the highest mountain you’ve ever been on (the summit sits at 1,531 feet), but when you get to the top you’ll have amazing 360 degree views that let you see the sprawling Willamette Valley and even as far as Three Sisters on a clear day! Plus, although the hike itself isn’t very long with the most popular route at 2.8 miles roundtrip, it has over 1,000 feet of elevation gain so it’s sure to get your heart pumping. You can also run up the trail for a real workout!
The entire hike is gorgeous no matter what time of year you go, and you’ll find diverse plant life including beautiful meadows, oak groves, and woodlands. There are actually several interweaving trails on and around Mount Pisgah so you always can extend your hike if you want to get in more steps or just spend more time in the area. We recommend taking the short spur trail over to Swing Hill (so called because there’s a picturesque swing tied to an old oak tree) that you’ll find about half a mile up the main trail.
The trail, though steep, is well graded and mostly gravel so even on a wet day (of which there are a lot!) you won’t have to worry about slipping and sliding in the mud. Up at the top there’s a bench where you can rest and take in the view. There’s also a very cool relief map at the top that's made of a huge hunk of bronze and shows the topography of the land so you know what you’re looking at. Interesting fact: the bronze sculpture was made to honor the life of Jed Kesey, the son of the famous Oregon author Ken Kesey who lived in the Pleasant Hill area below Mount Pisgah.
Although the trail is on the shorter side you should still dress appropriately, especially if it’s hot out. There’s not a ton of tree cover, so wear your hat and sunscreen on a sunny day. A final word of caution: poison oak and ticks abound in this area, so be on the lookout. The poison oak is especially bad in the late spring and summer, but ticks are around all year. If you stick to the trail you should be fine, but be mindful of kids or dogs that may inadvertently stray off-trail.
Getting There
The trailhead is located in the Howard Buford Recreation Area, which is also home to an amazing arboretum that you should check out along with the small visitors center either before or after your hike. There’s an easy 1.3 mile loop hike that takes you around the arboretum where you can see their great collection of trees. You can even rent out the barn here for special occasions like weddings!
From Eugene, you’ll get on I-5 south, then take Exit 189. From here, take a right on McVay Highway/Hwy 225, a left on 30th which takes you across the freeway, then a left on Franklin Blvd. At the Shell Station, take a right on Franklin Blvd E and then a final left onto Seavey Loop Rd which will take you all the way to the recreation area. There’s a huge parking lot at the trailhead, so you won’t have any trouble finding a spot, but there is a $5 parking fee unless you have a Lane County Parks Pass.
