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    Thurston Hills Natural Area

    4.7 (3 reviews)

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    1 year ago

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    Hendricks Park

    Hendricks Park

    4.9
    (38 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    A Beautiful Return to a Place Full of Nature and History…read more Both my wife and I had visited this spot before when we lived in the area, so with a little time to spare before lunch nearby, we decided to revisit it with her son and daughter-in-law. Nestled on a forested butte just east of the University of Oregon in Eugene, this area is absolutely stunning. The rhododendron garden is especially beautiful, offering a peaceful and scenic escape that feels tucked away from the city. Beyond its natural beauty, the area is steeped in history. One of the most notable connections is to Steve Prefontaine--a legendary runner and seven-time NCAA champion for Oregon. He trained in and around Hendricks Park and tragically passed away in a car accident on a winding road just below the park. His legacy lives on not only in the running world but also in the early success of Nike, where he became the brand's first sponsored athlete and helped elevate it to global prominence. Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or just looking for a quiet place to explore, this area is well worth a visit.

    Hendricks Park is one of those places that I knew was around town, but never visited until after I…read moremoved away and came back to visit. I grew up in the Cal Young area or Santa Clara, so I wasn't very often in this part of town and though Eugene isn't a huge city, you can easily not hit other areas of town. Hendricks Park is the oldest park in the city. It's mostly known as a rhododendron garden, but it has native plants as well. There are trails throughout for you to explore the place. It's really peaceful and beautiful when the weather is nice, and you'll forget you're in the city.

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    Hendricks Park
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    Alton Baker Park

    Alton Baker Park

    4.6
    (52 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    I've been here really often! My first time was actually to visit a clothing swap that happened to…read morealso be on the same day as a Halloween marathon fundraiser, tons of people! It's usually very calm outside of events though, and bathrooms are always open even in the winter which is really nice. There's plenty of parking too, along with some really good walking trails that can get you very close to the river or in the trees. There's also a pedestrian bridge that spans over the river in the park. They've got benches along the paths too. The field is sometimes used for school aged childrens' sports and exercise, the field is pretty big, multiple groups could use it. There's also a sort of covered picnic shelter with tables, although when I last checked the drinking fountains weren't working (maybe the cold). This place has been a huge refuge for me, definitely recommend

    I don't review many parks, but felt ABP deserved some mention. ABP is like the "Central Park" of…read moreEugene. It is huuuuge and has so many walking/biking paths, ponds, artwork, gardens, and many places to explore. You can definitely get lost and feel away from the city here. I loved that it runs along the river and has nooks to explore. The path goes across the bridge and has amazing views at the top. There's a fun little pathway to the island and it was cool to be able to go onto the island and be that much closer to the ducks and geese. Everywhere you go has something interesting. It was also extremely clean. The park is large enough to disperse the crowd, allowing privacy. We were able to let our dog offleash to run around for a bit. Just keep in mind there are a lot of people and dogs walking around, though. Around under the bridge, we did see some sketchy folks. Be careful not to lean on the railings because there were tons of webs AND the owner of those webs! I'm talking about a spider in between almost every railing. Parking was easy. We mapped it to ABP and it took us to a free parking lot with a lot of empty spaces. Overall, the park was a great escape from the city. Sunsets are so beautiful with the reflections and serene sound of the water.

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    Alton Baker Park
    Duck pond
    Duck pond
    Alton Baker Park

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    Thurston Hills Natural Area - parks - Updated June 2026

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