Alton Baker Park Location

Alton Baker Park

Location: Ferry St. Bridge along River 

Alton Baker Park, Eugene’s largest developed park, is home to dozens of recreational features and facilities serving the City of Eugene since 1959.  The park is made up of two major areas, the more developed West Alton Baker Park, and the 237-acre Whilamut Natural Area of East

West Alton Baker Park Developed Area
Located immediately east of the Ferry Street Bridge along the north bank of the Willamette River, this portion of Alton Baker Park has had a long history of development, first under the jurisdiction of Lane County Parks Department, and more recently under the jurisdiction of the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division.  The original 20 acre parcel was purchased by Lane County in 1881, however most of the park land was acquired by Lane County Parks between 1959 and 1964.  The current size of the park is approximately 400 acres.

Whilamut Natural Area

The eastern section of Alton Baker Park, now officially known as the Whilamut Natural Area, provides many key features to Eugene’s riverfront park system, including a linkage to Springfield by way of riverside bike paths and open space.  Covering 237 acres of riverfront open space dedicated for passive recreation and habitat restoration, the Whilamut Natural Area is the focus of many recent conservation and restoration efforts.  Countless volunteer hours have been invested in the park to restore natural habitat by removing invasive vegetation, planting natives, educating the public and helping to direct future management of the park.

These volunteer efforts have most recently resulted in a name amendment for East Alton Baker Park.  The East Alton Baker Park Citizen Planning Committee (CPC), initiated the re-naming of the park to Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park.  The name (pronounced “wheel-a-moot) was chosen in collaboration with the Komemma Cultural Protection Association of the Kalapuya Tribe.  Whilamut is a Kalapuya word which means “where the river ripples and runs fast”. 

For more information: Alton Baker Park

Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a 209-acre living tree museum. Its riverside trails, quiet paths through evergreen forests, water garden teeming with life, bright wildflower meadows, and open views across oak savannas delight all ages. Located within Lane County's Howard Buford Recreation Area, the Arboretum lies between the Coast Fork of the Willamette River and the slopes of Mount Pisgah.

Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a non-profit organization dedicated to a mission of maintaining Pacific Northwest plant communities, offering environmental education programs for all ages, and providing facilities for the public enjoyment of its carefully restored and maintained site.

The Arboretum is dependent upon memberships, donations, and volunteers for its support and survival. You are welcome to visit and enjoy the Arboretum any day from dawn to dusk. Admission is free, but we hope you feel moved to join our family of supporters by making a donation or becoming a member.

Office Manager, Katura Reynolds For more information: Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
34901 Frank Parrish Rd.
Eugene, OR 97405 Birding Mount Pisgah

Phone [phone] [e-mail]

The Saturday Market

at 8^th and Oak
The Market has become a meeting place for the whole community; it is where one meets friends, takes visitors, passes petitions, in addition, of course, to buying birthday and Christmas presents, and so on, non-profit community groups are able to disseminate information with free booth space provided. Quality entertainment has become much more of a focal point for bringing local residents back time and again.

Craft demonstrations are becoming more a part of weekly attractions as the market strives towards providing an ongoing educational experience as well. The Market has had some influence on statewide legislation regarding the sale of baked goods. Members of the staff and the Board have been invited to talk to classes at the University of Oregon about various aspects of the market which concerns them, and the Market has been the subject of numerous high school and college term papers and architectural projects. In Eugene the Saturday Market is now an institution.

The Market enters casually into conversations: "I bought it at the Saturday Market;" "See you at the Saturday Market;" and (to a newcomer) "Have you been to the Saturday Market?" We think the Market has been good for our town and feel sure it could be good for others.

For more information:

Saturday Market

Fern Ridge Reservoir

Fern Ridge Wildlife Area - Bird Watching

Fern Ridge Wildlife Area surrounds Fern Ridge Reservoir and is located five miles west of Eugene on either side of Hwy. 126. Cantrell Road borders the area on the south. Access points are located around the perimeter of Fern Ridge Reservoir with parking areas, canoe access sites and parks providing lake and wildlife area access.

These birding areas cover most habitat types that are easily accessible. There are additional access points surrounding the project that also provide excellent wildlife viewing and birding opportunities. Please note any regulatory signs, as some units may have seasonal closures in effect to protect wintering waterfowl.

Kirk Park/Pond - North of the parking lot on the west end of Kirk Pond is a road bordered by the outlet canal and a small pond. On the north side of the pond a trail leads east into an old orchard and a large mixed woods area with much undergrowth. The east end of Kirk Park is a good place to find wrentits and many other songbirds. Pied-billed grebes and wood ducks and diving ducks are often found on Kirk Pond adjacent to Clear Lake Road. Bonapare's gulls can be found feeding in the outlet canal in late October and early November.

West End of Dam, Orchard Point Park and Shore Lane - These locations are great for searching the open water and shore of the west. Gulls, great egrets, and migrating and wintering waterbirds can be seen from here in the proper season. The birds are usually some distance away, so bring a scope or binoculars. Bald eagles are often seen from here in winter along with cormorants and western grebes. During the winter, morning and evening flights of waterfowl provide spectacular viewing opportunities as flocks of ducks, geese, and swans enter and depart the area.

Royal Avenue - Drive to the west end of the road and park along the road away from the gate. Acorn woodpeckers are fairly common in the large oaks east of the gate. In the immediate vicinity of the gate are tall shrubs, shrubby fields, and grasslands. This area is excellent for sparrows. West of the gate, the road leads into canary grass and cattail marsh, and eventually into bulrush. Virginia rail, sora, American bittern, mallard, American coot, Canada geese, pied-billed grebes, common yellowthroat, white-tailed kite, marsh wren, short eared owl, and northern harrier are birds that can be seen here. During the winter and during water level decline one can walk beyond the vegetation area to the mudflat expanse exposed at low pool. Old gravel roads provide access to Gibson Island during low pool conditions, however boots are recommended for this lengthy hike.

Fisher Butte Parking Lot - Just west of Fisher Road is a gated gravel road heading north from 126 (West 11th) towards Fisher Butte. A marked trail leads the hiker down the road through wet low prarie and flooded impoundment areas. During the winter winter one can see concentrations of waterfowl, shrikes, raptors, and large flocks of sparrows. Winter waterfowl viewing is best in morning and evening. Canada geese using the area from November through April include dusky Canada geese. The planted cropland areas are provided exclusively for wildlife food crops. Please be aware that this unit is frequented by waterfowl hunters in the fall, and winter closures may be in effect. The parking areas provides viewing year-round.

Nielson Road and Cantrell Road - Two parking areas are found along this stretch of road. The cropland and moist soil units adjacent to the parking lots are excellent for all kinds of wintering waterfowl. Raptors, sparrows, shrikes, goldfinches, and blackbirds are also common. Late in the season, wintering flocks of waterfowl, including swans, can often be found in the wet grass fields adjacent to the roads. Please note that waterfowl hunters may be present in the fall, and winter waterfowl and raptor viewing from the parking areas can be amazing, particularly near dusk.

Coyote Creek - Park on either side of the Coyote Creek bridge where it crosses on Cantrell Road. On the east side, a nature trail leads through the riparian woodland where wood ducks and a variety of woodland species can be found along the creek and near the exposed treeline. On the west side of Coyote Creek is a picnic area and canoe access site. The waterway provides meandering access to the lake leading through wood duck habitat and out to the lake near osprey nests and purple martin colonies. At reservoir full-pool creek is excellent for flat-water canoeing, however Coyote Creek is not navigable from mid-October through March because of high flows and dangerous currents. Please check for regulatory signs that may indicate winter closures.

Perkins Peninsula Park - This park is located on a small peninsula that offers and excellent view of the reservoir in the summer and mudflats in the winter. This is also a good place to view osprey nests and marsh to the east and west. There are large oaks, apple trees, willows, pines, and Douglas-fir which are good places to find migrant passerines. A boardwalk leads out into a marshy bay on the west side of the park. Picnic tables and restrooms are available. The park is closed to motor vehicles during winter months but remains open year-round for foot traffic.

Hwy 126 (West 11th) viewing area - West of Perkins Peninsula Park (2/3 mi) is a pullout on the north side of the highway overlooking the lake. Yellow-headed blackbirds nest here and purple martins can be observed using the nest boxes on snags visible from here. Both species breed at other locations on the lake but these areas generally are inaccessible except by boat. American coots, great egrets, redwinged blackbirds, and a variety of waterfowl are frequently visible from this site.

Zuwalt Park - Several parking areas are located along Jeans Road providing access. A variety of habitats are available here: marsh, grasslands, shrubs, willows, mixed hardwoods, and Douglas fir, as well as the lake shoreline. Pileated woodpeckers utilize the older stands of firs towards the north end of this unit and wild turkeys may be seen n this vicinity.

Long Tom River - Applegate Unit - Located half way between Veneta and Elmira on Territorial Road is a parking lot on the east side of the road. Canoe access to the Long Tom River is provided here, as well as trail access for hiking along the river and through the woodlands and open meadows. Canoeing down the main river channel provides access to the lake. The old river channel that forks to the left shortly downstream from the access point meanders through a dense woodland understory. Log jams may present some difficulty on the channels. Wood ducks, turkeys, osprey, and thrushes may be found in this area.

Applegate Unit - North Elmira Site - Immediately north of Elmira on the east side of Territorial Road is a parking area that provides access to wildlife lands. A wide area of open and woodland habitats are present here as well as hiking access to the Long Tom River channels. Great blue herons forage in the shallow swales near the lake and marsh wrens and red-winged blackbirds can be found in the cattail marshes during the summer. Snipe can be observed in the wet grasslands during the winter months.

Address and Phone

Fern Ridge Wildlife Area

26969 Cantrell Road
Eugene, OR 97402
[phone]
For more information: Fern Ridge Reservoir

Birding Fern Ridge

Birding Maps and Sites

Bicycling in Eugene

For more than 30 years bicycling has been an important part of our community.  With the help of energetic bicycling advocates and a supportive City Council, bicycling has become part of Eugene's great lifestyle.

Bicycling is fun and convenient due to a well-coordinated system of bikeways in Eugene.  The system includes 30 miles of off-street paths, 89 miles of on-street bicycle lanes, and 5 bicycle/pedestrian bridges spanning the Willamette River.  Recent additions include the "Blue Lane" on River Road and the completion of the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail System.

Eugene's bikeways connect to Springfield's bicycle system and to bikeways in metropolitan Lane County.  We encourage everyone, residents and visitors, to try bicycling in and around Eugene.  Remember the new Oregon helmet laws that apply to bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and skates.  Also, you may want to review the Oregon laws that pertain to motorized scooters.

City Biking and Forest Trails

For more information about bicycling in Eugene, contact the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, Lee Shoemaker at [phone].

For More Information: Bicycling in Eugene Eugene Bike Map

Public Transportation

Call Lane Transit District for Additional Route Information

541-687-5555




Routes from the University









The Breeze

e

The Breeze shuttle serves the University of Oregon, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Eugene Station, the Amtrak Station, 5th Street Public Market, Alton Baker Park, Country Club Road, Willagillespie Road, and Valley River Center.



For More Information:

Lane Transit District

Downtown Eugene Walking Tour

152 W. 5th Avenue

Eugene, OR 97401
[phone]


Weekdays 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The second store in Paul's far reaching Empire, the 5th street store is conveniently located across the railroad tracks from Skinner Butte Park in the Farmer's Union Market Place. We share the historic building complex with Allan Brothers Cafe, The Ruby Chasm and Down to Earth Home and Garden.

Hybrid or Cross Bicycle Tandem Bicycle Trailer or Trail-a-bike Car Trunk Rack (2 Bikes) Road Bikes

$20 $35 $10   $5

$25 $40 $10   $5 Call 6th Street for rates

Other Locations:
152 W. 5th [phone]

2480 Alder Street [phone]

234 W. 6th [phone]

3870 W. 11th [phone]

For more information:

http://www.bicycleway.com/

BRING Recycling

reduce reuse recycle rethink
This is a designer’s paradise!










Cabinets, Canning Jars, Doors, Carpet, Electircal Boxes, Hardware, Roofing, Tile, Glass, Tools, Antiques, Lighting, Paneling, Plumbing, Plywood, Furniture







Planet Improvement Center

4
Bring Your Imagination!

446 Franklin Boulevard

Eugene, Oregon 97403

Located in Glenwood (between Eugene & Springfield)

[phone]

For More Information: http://www.bringrecycling.org