Spencer Butte
Stats
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 Miles there and back, or 1.5 mile loop
Elevation: 800 Feet
Open: All year
Good for: Day Hiking, kids, dogs
Usage: Heavily travled
Accessibility: Honda Civic
Quick take
Spencer Butte is an easy, beautiful, and close to home adventure, that will have you coming back time and time again.
Introduction
Now we come to Eugene’s most iconic hike. At just over 2,000 feet, Spencer Butte towers over the Southern Willamette Valley, making it the area’s most recognizable landmark. If you are new to Eugene, or haven’t gotten into hiking yet, this is the perfect place to start adventuring in Oregon. You don't have to be in excellent shape to make the easy two mile (round trip) to the top, and the trailhead is only 12 minutes from downtown. Even with its proximity to the city, Spencer Butte provides the illusion of being deep in the woods. That, and the 360 degree view from the top, are what make this hike so awesome.
One Mountain, Two Hikes
Tourist trail
The standard route up Spencer Butte goes to the right of the map at the trailhead. This trail offers a fairly easy ascent, and the city’s routine maintenance makes for sure footing even when it gets wet. With that in mind this trail is perfect for people who are still new to hiking, children, and older hikers. It is also a great option for experienced hikers who want to have a more relaxed outing.
Locals trail
Taking a left from the parking lot leads to the Butte’s road less traveled. This route climbs the same 800 feet as the more common trail, but does so in half a mile instead of one. Combining that steep slope with muddy patches and slick rocks, makes this an ill advised option for casual hikers. On the flip side, Tessa and I enjoy the decreased traffic, since it gives us the illusion that we are on one of our more rural adventures. The intense slope also makes for an excellent lower body workout, it’s a great way to train for more strenuous hikes without leaving the city.
A note on the name: The peak is commonly referred to as Spencer's Butte, but the actual name is Spencer Butte. There are a couple conflicting stories about the origin of the name, but none of them involve a Spencer actually owning the butte.
Different types of Spencer Butte hikes to try
The classic Spencer Butte experience involves hiking in the middle of the day with the sun shining down. There’s no denying that this makes for a pleasant little trek, but perfect conditions also lead to overcrowding in the parking lot, and at the peak. Fortunately there are alternatives for people with a greater sense of adventure:
Sunrise and sunset
Hiking the Butte is a fantastic way to start or end the day, the top offers an unparalleled view of sunrises and sunsets. For these journeys, make sure to budget plenty of time to get to the top before the sun arrives or disappears. Also remember to bring a camera to capture the colorful sky, and a flashlight to make it up/down since the forested trail can be very dark.
In a light storm
We don’t recommend that you hike the Butte during an electrical storm (see our Mink Lake post for our feelings on lightning) or that you go up during hurricane force winds. However, a little rain isn’t so bad, and comes with the benefit of scaring away most casual visitors. On some days, when the clouds are particularly low, you can enjoy the surreal experience of hiking above them to the Butte’s sunny peak. As a word of advice though, make sure to bring appropriate attire on stormy days. Waterproof clothing for the rain, and a good pair of hiking boots for the mud, are both a must.
After snow has fallen
On the rare occasions that Eugene gets snow, Spencer Butte can be a wondrous place. Just be wary of conditions on the road to the trailhead, and tread carefully the slicker snow covered sections of the trail to the top.
What to bring
Many people hike the Butte every day without a pack or water, but we gently recommend against that. Even this close to town an injury, or stepping off trail, can result in a search and rescue situation (it happens more than you would think).
- Good shoes: Running shoes work well in the summer, but hiking boots are suggested in the rainy season.
- Water: The two mile trip is doable without water, but it is still a good idea to stay hydrated while hiking. A water bladder in your pack or a bottle in your hand will do nicely.
- Flashlights: A source of light is a must for sunrise and sunset hikes, but also a good idea for late day hikes. Sometimes trips go longer than expected, and the woods get dark very fast.
- Backpack: Wearing a (loaded) pack while hiking Spencer Butte is an excellent way to train for longer trips.
Driving Directions
From 29th and Willamette St head south for 3.3 miles before turning left into the trailhead parking lot. As a pro tip, even on busy days there are usually a couple spots available close to the stairway that marks the start of the trail.