Location: Just half a mile south of Triangle lake, about 50 minutes from Eugene. A parking lot will be located on the right, and a trail down to the rock slides will be across the street.

Google Maps: Eugene to Triangle Lake Rock Water Slides

Activities:

Swimming: The uppermost pool offers a small swimming hole of moderate temperature with a warmer wading pool located below the rock water slide.

Cliff jumping: On the far side of the uppermost pool, highlighted by dangling ropes, are two accessible jumps at roughly 25 and 35 feet. Careful, the climb is more treacherous than the jump and the rocks are usually slippery.

Natural Rock Waterslide: Below the uppermost pool is the famous “Slide Rock”, 100ft. of fun, slippery, natural rock sliding!

Warnings: Cliff jumping and natural rock slides are inherently dangerous and slippery, please use caution at all times.

Time involved: Half-day/Full day

Adventure specifics: The rockslides are located in a ravine and receive direct sunlight for a limited portion of the day.  Plan your trip around the sun’s highest point; noon to 3p.m. won’t disappoint. Bring a flotation device of some sort if you want to slide and avoid the road rash. Stores are lacking near by, so bring food and water if you plan to stay for any length of time.

Maps and Resources:

BLM Brochure and Map for Lake Creek Falls

What to bring: Swim gear, towel, flotation devices, water, food.

Amenities: A bathroom is available at the parking lot.

Best times to go: Noon-4pm/sun’s highest points of the day. – Slide Rock is best visited in the summer months when the creek flows are lower and the weather is wam.

Other adventures near by: Triangle lake

Tamolitch Pool, known by many as Blue Pool due to its brilliant aquamarine water, is a rewarding destination along the McKenzie River Trail. (Photo By: Andrea Niemiec)

The Trailhead: The trail to Tamolitch Pool (near Blue River, Oregon) leaves from a trail head a few hundred yards off of Highway 126, and is a four mile loop along part of the popular 26-mile-long McKenzie River Trail. For the first mile or so the trail winds through cedar and hemlock forests and runs parallel to the river. The trail then climbs approximately 200 feet in elevation as it crosses a moss-covered lava bed for the second mile, and the McKenzie River rushes far below at the base of the basalt cliffs.

After approximately 2 miles the trail reaches the pool, and hikers have a nice vantage point from the top of a cliff; bring a lunch to eat while you sit and enjoy the view.

Location: Google Maps From Eugene

From Eugene or Springfield, take Highway 126 east for approximately 65 miles. From the highway will be visible the small EWEB power station at the upper end of Trailbridge Reservoir; turn left onto the unmarked road that serves the power station (this road is 14 miles east of the small community of McKenzie Bridge). Cross the bridge and turn to your right. Approximately half a mile down the gravel road you will see the signs for the trail head. While the trail has a high volume of traffic during the warmest months of the year, the view of the pool is worth the extra company.

Adventures Nearby: Sahalie Falls, Koosah Falls, Trail Bridge Reservoir/Campground, Clear Lake

Find more photos and information on this post at Andrea’s Blog – Shoestring Traveler

Location: North bank of the Willamette River smack dab in the middle of Eugene.
Click Here for a Google Maps Link

Activities:

Running:
Alton Baker is best knonw for it’s miles of paved and dirt running trails, which is convenient since it’s located in Track Town USA. The most famous of which is Pre’s Trail, a classic compressed wood chip and bark trail, modeled after the cross country trails that Steve Prefontaine ran on in Europe. Another prominent trail is the river trail that follows the banks of the Willamette on both sides.

Check out the  Alton Baker Park Map for a detailed look at the running trails associated with Alton Baker.

Fishing:
The many ponds and canals of Alton Baker park are regularly stocked with rainbow trout for your fishing pleasures. They provide the perfect setting for both beginner and experienced anglers alike. It’s not uncommon to limit out on trout or catch a nice summer Stealhead in the waters of Alton Baker Park. Click Here to see when Alton Baker was most recently stocked with fish.

Biking/BMX:
Whether you’re looking for a leisurely ride along the river or some intense BMX action, Alton Baker Park has you covered. The BMX Track can be found near Autzen Stadium off of Leo Harris Parkway

Parks/Gardens:
Alton Baker is home to numerous gardens, wildflowers, and unique ecological zones.

Swimming:
During the hot summer months the banks of the Willamette provide some great swimming opportunities. Poke around the shore to find a nice place to wade, but BE CAREFUL! The water can be swift and COLD!

Time Involved: As much time as you want.

Park Activities: Running, picnicking, biking, BMX track (located near Autzen Stadium), duck ponds, gardens, dog park.

Best Times to Go: Any day of the year, I find nice, sunny days to be the best.

General Comments: Alton Baker is a great place to spend nice day outside. In the summer you can tan on the edge of the Willamette and even go swimming if it’s hot enough. On especially hot days you’ll often see people floating down the river on tubes or inflatable mattresses.

Links to External Sites:
Alton Baker Park Map
Youtube Video of the Park
More General Information

Other Adventures Nearby: Spencer Butte, Skinner’s Butte

Feel free to post more information on Alton Baker Below! I update this regularly.

Location: Hendricks Park is located just south of Eugene and UO at Summit and Skyline Dr. It is about a 10-15 minutes walk from the UO campus. Click here for a Google Maps Link

Adventure Specifics Hendricks is full of paved, dirt, and gravel paths to enjoy and explore. None of the trails in Hendricks are difficult and they are all very well maintained. Anyone can visit Hendricks park and most of the park is accessible by vehicle with 40 parking spots in various locations. Check out the links below for more information.

Warnings: The trails can get a bit muddy and slippery during the rainy season.

Amenities: There are restroom facilities located in the Rhododendron garden and across the street near the huge stand of firs.

Best Times to Go: Hendricks is beautiful year round, but when the flowers bloom in the Spring and early Summer it’s one of the best places to visit in Eugene.

General Comments: Hendricks is great a place for a short afternoon hike, a leisurely stroll through the woods, or a picnic on a gorgeous day. Be sure to check out the Rhododendron garden and the views of downtown Eugene. Check out the links below for more information on what Hendricks Park has to offer.

Links to External Sites:
Friends of Hendricks Park – Information
South Eugene Parks – Information
Hendricks Park Map – Opens a PDF Map

Other Adventures Nearby: Skinner’s Butte, Spencers Butte

Location:
Willamette Trail Head (Google Maps) – Longest of the trails to the top – Just over 6 miles round trip if you follow the main path – 52nd and Willamette St
South Willamette Trail Head (Google Map) – Shortest of the trails to the top – Just over two miles round trip if you take the easiest route – 85401 South Willamette St
Fox Hollow Trail Head (Google Maps) – Slightly shorter than the Willamette trail head – Fox Hollow and Christensen Rd

Each Google Maps Link starts from the center of Eugene and takes you directly to the Trailhead.

Time Involved: 1 to 6 hours depending on how much time you want to spend and the trail head you take. From the Willamette trail head a round trip to the top and back with a short stop for scenic viewing only takes a few hours; this hike is about 5 miles round trip.

Adventure Specifics:
Check the links at the bottom of this post for more information on Spencer Butte Hikes including maps and parking information.

Warnings:
-DO NOT leave belongings in your car. There are no benches on the park trails and the trails can be pretty muddy during the wet season. The rocks near the summit can be slippery as well.

What to Bring: Hiking/Tennis shoes, water, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Amenities: Trail markers at major intersections

Best Times to Go: Spencer Butte is hike-able year round but it can get pretty hectic during the rainy/cold season.

General Comments: Spencer Butte is one of my favorite hikes/areas. It is a must for anyone who visits Eugene. The trails are well maintained, wide enough for a group hike, and the butte (peak) itself is perfect for a nice picnic.

Links to External Sites:

Maps and Information – PDF Format – Zoom in to see the best map
http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_267688_0_0_18/SpencerButte-web.pdf

General Information
http://www.planeteugene.com/spencersbutte.htm

Link to the Ridgeline Trail System in Eugene
http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=677&PageID=1652

Other Adventures Nearby: Skinners Butte

Location: Wildwood is located about 45 minutes outside Eugene, Oregon or 25 minutes outside Cottage Grove, Oregon. Google Maps – Eugene to Wildwood Click Here for the Map

Time Involved: All day or just an afternoon. I usually spend a few hours here just relaxing and swimming on a hot summers day.

Adventure Specifics:
Cliff Diving – There are a few points where you can jump off the cliffs into the swimming hole itself. The main one is a little to the left of the main falls (standing at the top). Be sure to check the depth before you jump.
Swimming -The water at Wildwood is relatively cold year round and usually only maxes out in the low-mid 70′s even during the hot summer months.
Hiking – This area is fun to explore and there are a few trails here and there.

Warnings: This swimming hole is VERY dangerous at high flows. Also, the runoff area by the falls is extremely dangerous as well. Do not swim directly beneath the falls. There is a small cave underwater and behind the falls that you can become trapped in. The rocks to the swimming hole entrance are also fairly slippery. DO NOT try to go down the waterfall.

What to Bring: Bathing Suit, Sun Screen, Tennis Shoes, Water shoes for climbing rocks, etc.

Amenities: Picnic Tables, Porta-A-Potty

Best Times to Go: Summer and Early Fall before the rains arrive.

General Comments: Wildwood is a great place to cool off in the summer. On extremely hot weekends the area can get pretty crowded though. The swimming hole is just over 20ft. deep.

Other Adventures Nearby: Bohemian Mining Country

Wildwood Falls at 410 cfs. Paddler: Cory Lescher