Area Highlights
From rivers to parks, bikepaths and buttes, Eugene and its surrounding
area offer a ton of fun.
Downtown Mall|
to Springfield,^
Cascade Mts.
SOURCE: King of the Road Maps, Eugene Springfield 1995-96 ed.
Outdoor fun abounds
■ The Emerald City offers a
vast array of outdoor activities
like biking, hiking and boating
By Elisa Scott
for the Emerald
You’ve just moved to one of the
richest regions in the country for
outdoor activity. Eugene, also
known as The Emerald City, is lo
cated along the Interstate Highway
5 corridor and is situated in a val
ley with an average annual rainfall
of 48 inches and average tempera
ture of 50 degrees.
It’s the perfect temperature for
getting out and working up a
sweat. Looking outside on a win
ter day may discourage some peo
ple, but don’t let it fool you. With a
maritime climate influenced by
the coastal range, the air is sweet
and fresh, and the coolness lends
itself toward rigorous outdoor fun.
Yes, it rains here — but it’s often
light. Those addicted to the stimu
lation of endorphin rushes associ
ated with biking, jogging and
horseback riding will find much
to do.
A simple walk outdoors yields a
tapestry of rivers and bike paths
that weave through the area. It is
possible to use only a bike for trans
portation; city streets are marked
with bike lanes and paths that are
all interconnected. You can travel
from the University to Amazon
Park, Spencer Butte, Skinner Butte
and Valley River Center.
Cyclists must follow the same
rules as cars. Also, wearing a hel
met and rain gear will keep you
safe and dry. Bikes should be
equipped with reflective tape and
a red flashing light so drivers can
see you. Splash-guards for both
bike tires will prevent you from
getting soaked. A good place to
pick up a detailed map of paths,
bike lanes and bike routes is at the
Eugene Visitors Center o/i Olive
Street between Seventh and
Eighth avenues.
If you don’t have a car and don’t
want to bike to scenic places out
side of town, car-pooling with
friends may be an option. There is
so much to see.
One hour to the west is the di
verse and beautiful coastal area.
The town of Florence has sand
dunes and a large expanse of
beach that goes on for miles. “Old
Town” Florence has fishing ves
sels docked in a small harbor
where sea lions battle for prime
basking spots. To get there take
West 11th Avenue to Highway
126 west.
Other destinations are Mount
Pisgah, a mountain that will put
the words “sore muscles” back
into your vocabulary. Take 1-5
north to Highway 58 and make a
direct left onto Seavey Loop Road.
Stay on Hwy. 58 toward Oakridge
some 15 miles you’ll be in a region
full of dams and lakes. If you make
a left into the town of Low ell from
Hwy. 58 one especially good
swimming/ boating spot is acces
sible. Look Out Point, managed by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
is several miles wide with a back
drop of snow-capped mountains.
The water here is cool, deep and
great for water skiing.
Closer to town, Fern Ridge
Reservoir is a man-made dam that
goes on for miles and is also a
wildlife refuge. Managed by the
Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife, it is home to many
species of waterfowl, game and
non-game species that winter
here. This is a great place to view
migrating waterfowl and birds. It’s
also the place to go if you like
windsurfing, boating, swimming
or fishing. It is approximately half
an hour from downtown: Heading
for the coast you take West 11th
Avenue to Hwy. 126 west.
Places to ride horses are also
plentiful. Long Acres Farm offers
riding lessons at $28 per hour, both
in English and western riding styles
in an indoor arena.
Forest Hills Ranch, south of Cot
tage Grove (off of 1-5 south), offers
guided trail rides through magnifi
cent country. There is also a stable
slightly north of Florence where
you can ride on the beach.
There are so many mountains,
lakes and hot springs surrounding
Eugene that you can ski, hike, swim
and boat to your heart’s content.
Y ou don’t need a lot of money to do
these things, just the wherewithal
to get out there and do them.
Campus Service Center
2091 Franklin Blvd. • 338-4641
^Featuring BP gasoline!
^Quality auto repair
/
66
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99
TAURUS
Should you proceed
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