Spencer Butte Loop Hike

Overview

The loop to the top of Spencer Butte, which dominates Eugene’s southern skyline, may seem simple on the face of it, but there are a few hazards to be aware of if you want to get the city’s best views. If you are doing the loop, it’s best to take the West Trail first, but this steep rocky path is very slick when wet, sometimes necessitating a scramble here and there. On a rainy day, hikers may want to opt for the more gently graded, newly refurbished (2015) Main Trail as a 2.2 mile out and back. In addition, Spencer Butte is a haven for poison oak from top to bottom, so mind your leaves of three! If this weren’t enough, the hill is home to some of the Willamette Valley’s last remaining rattlesnakes although you should count yourself very lucky if you happen to see one (The Butte’s native name is Champ-a-te, Kalapuyan for ‘rattlesnake’.). The reward at the top could just be an invigorating hike on a cloudy day, but on clear days, there are expansive views up the Willamette Valley, to the Fern Ridge Reservoir and the Coast Range, and also to the snowy tips of the Three Sisters. A longer hike to the top of Spencer Butte can be started at the Willamette Street Trailhead. You’ll follow the Ridgeline Trail to the Ridgeline-Spencer Butte Tie Trail Junction, and then head up to the summit. This outing is five miles round-trip (See the Ridgeline Trail Hike). Walk up the wide flight of steps to the trail kiosk, where you can pick up a map of the Ridgeline Trail system. The short steep West Trail departs on the left side of the kiosk. You’ll begin ascending under moss-draped big-leaf maples and tall Douglas-firs on a wide trail tread overlain with paving stones. Sword fern, trailing blackberry, and inside-out flower form the understory. Rise steeply in five switchbacks protected by rail-and-pole fencing. The path then ascends precipitously through a mossy boulder field to a meadow with views over the Spencer Creek drainage towards the Fern Ridge Reservoir. There is some serious braiding of the trail on this upper part o

Trail Stats

Photos

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