Eugene is home to many of the nation’s best runners. One will often pass members of the University of Oregon Cross Country and Track & Field teams on a run, along with members of OTC (Oregon Track Club) Elite. Eugene is well-known for the former U of O star Steve Prefontaine, who once held five American track records from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters. It is only right that with this illustrious history, there are many great running routes in Eugene.
Each area described can either be run by itself or connected with the other areas; Eugene is a running-friendly city, there are many soft barkchip trails in Eugene, and it is easy to get around.
Hendricks Park / Adidas Amazon Trail / Rexius Trail / Ridgeline Trail System
The Hendricks Park area is located east of the University, and running in Hendricks Park is perfect for a hilly training run. There are many ways to get to the actual park section of it; head uphill to the east, and you will likely find it. The park is covered with towering pine trees that provide quietude and shade. Throughout the park, there are narrow, meandering footpaths, and longer trails as well. It is worth time simply exploring the park, trying to find all of its little secrets. It is also nice running along the roads; Hendricks Park has some of the most interesting houses in Eugene. There are long, gradual hills and short, steep hills.
Amazon Trail is located south of Eugene near 24th and Hilyard. It is a well-known barkchip trail in Eugene, composed of loops. The main loop (the big exterior loop) is one mile around. The northern main loop (circumscribing the wooded area) is one kilometer around. There are ¼ mile markers and 100 meter markers along the trail. It is therefore perfect for interval training.
The South Eugene high school track is close by and is often open.
Rexius Trail starts south of Amazon Trail around 28th Street. It is an extremely soft cedar chip trail—perhaps the softest thing one will ever run on, besides sand— that forms a 3.5 mile loop along a narrow creek.
The Ridgeline Trail system can be entered from various points including Dillard Road, Blanton Road, Willamette Street, and Fox Hollow Road. It can also be entered on Martin Street (where the Rexius Trail ends). The dirt trails (often muddy) run along a ridge that overlooks a wooded bottom, with a high forest canopy overhead. These trails are often steep, as they climb hundreds of feet up to high peak. One trail leads up to the 2054-foot Spencer’s Butte, the highest point in Willamette Valley's southern end.
Great Places to Run in Eugene: Part I deals with running around the University of Oregon and running around North Eugene & the Springfield Area.
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