Biking the cares away in Eugene/Springfield
Area offers rural tours,
vineyard, forests, parks
With work, school and all of
the social activities going on in
Eugene this summer, it’s easy to
forget that there’s another world
beyond those surrounding hills.
But when the city gets hot,
crowded and noisy, and
claustrophobia sets in, it’s nice
to know that escape is just a
short bicycle spin away. A
cyclist with some time and a lit
tle energy can leave the city
behind for quieter, more
peaceful settings.
Bicycling is an ideal way to
take in the rural areas. The pace
is slow enough to enjoy the sur
roundings, while exercise,
economy and energy efficiency
are thrown into the package.
Eugene-Springfield is
bordered in all four directions
with rural landscape, which
makes it an excellent stage for
trips, from short day rides to ex
tended tours. The coast lies on
ly 60 miles to the west and the
Cascade Mountains 50 miles to
the east, with the Coast Range,
forests and river valleys nestled
between.
For those uninitiated to the
delights of cycling outside the
city, it can be difficult to gather
the motivation to go exploring.
One of the secrets to getting out
f
there is to have a destination in
mind.
The best way to discover
routes is to talk to other cyclists
in the area. Several bicycle
shops and groups (see related
article) in Eugene are happy to
make recommendations to
cyclists unfamiliar with the
area.
Buford Park
Buford Park, located 9 miles
southeast of the University, of
fers hiking trails through an ar
boretum; a short hike to the top
of Mt. Pisgah, with views of the
valley, Cascade Mountains and
Coast Range; and swimming
holes in the coast fork of the
Willamette River. It’s an ideal
place to waste away a lazy
afternoon.
To get there from the Univer
sity take Alder Street south to
East 30th Avenue. Go east on
30th Avenue, up the only climb
of the trip. Don’t forget to take
in the views of Eugene to the
left. From the peak, it’s a
straight shot past Lane Com
munity College and over In
terstate 5 until turning left at an
intersection — there is a sign
posted for Buford Park. Then
take an immediate right onto
Franklin Boulevard, also mark
1
Biking resources
With more than 60 miles of bikeways, including three
bridges across the Willamette River, Eugene is truly a
cyclist’s delight. The resources available here for the cycle
tourist, racer and commuter are impressive.
But to use those facilities, cyclists have to know about
them. The one essential guide to cycling in Eugene is the
“Eugene Bicycle Map,” published in part by the Eugene
Public Works Department.
This map not only directs the cyclist through the city,
but it also provides a wealth of information on points of in
terest in Eugene; bicycling safety; and bicycling groups and
organizations in the area. It and the “Lane County Bicycle
Map,” a similar guide to Lane County, are available at the
University Book Store.
The Eugene Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a
variety of services for bicyclists, including a bicycle-tool len
ding library, courses in bicycle maintenance and group rides.
For information on these programs, telephone the depart
ment at 687-5329, or go to the River House located at 301 N.
Adams St.
With nearly a dozen bicycle shops in town, there is
generally no shortage of service available for the ailing bike.
In addition to offering the normal services of a repair shop,
Pedal Power Bicycles, 245 E. 6th Ave., offers a selection of in
expensive maps for riding in the Eugene area.
The closest shops to the University are the Cycle Works,
663 E. 13th Ave., and the Recycled Bike Works, 774 E. 11th
Ave.
For riders interested in racing and competitive riding,
the Eugene Cycling Club offers regular training rides. For
more information, telephone Nancy Craft at 343-7197.
The parks in Eugene and Springfield offer enjoyable scenery for group bike tours.
ed with a Buford-Park sign. Go
left on Seavey Loop Road,
located one-half mile down the
road. Go straight for another
two miles, crossing the
Willamette River, and enter the
park. A map exlaining the
various trails through the park
is posted at the entrance.
Hinman Vinyards
The 34-mile loop past Hin
man Vinyards is a little more
strenuous but well worth the ef
fort. The roads are generally
quiet and the scenery is en
joyable. The vinyard, set in a
quiet little valley, offers tours
and wine tasting every after
noon from noon until 5 p.m.
To get there, take 29th
Avenue west out to Lorane
Highway. Follow Lorane
Highway for five miles to the
Bailey Hill Road intersection,
and go straight ahead on
Spencer Creek Road. Take
Briggs Hill Road,/ two jniles
down on the left, up and over
the hill. The climb is difficult,
but the descent is a breeze. The
vineyard is well marked and
located about two miles from
the peak on the left.
There are many vintage spots
to take a nap there after tasting
Hinman’s offerings and before
heading back. For an alternate
route home, continue on Briggs
Hill Road to Territorial Road.
Go left there and proceed for
three miles before picking up
Lorane Highway again. It’s not
well marked, but there is a sign
to Eugene. Lorane Highway
winds its way through forests
and pastures on its way back to
Eugene.
When the sun is beating down hot and dry, there's nothing
more cooling than hopping on your bike, snapping on the head
phones and heading for the hills.
Story by Michael Kulaga
Photos by Michael Clapp
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