Mt Pisgah, Eugene

I go here 2-4 times a week most of the year. It's both a place to exercise, and a place to contemplate. My favorite trails have different faces depending on the time of year, time of day, temperature, level of busyness. I'm always glad I came. I usually walk solo, spend my hour plus just moving steadily through the sections of hillside, taking in the next vista or patch of tiny wildflowers. I see wildlife here, of course. Mostly birds, occasionally deer, snakes, lizards, coyote, newts, a shrew, bugs galore. I've never had poison oak, but it's only because I'm very aware of it. Take care when touching anything off of the trail, even just stepping off to let a horse and rider pass. It's would be very easy to land in a patch of the stuff! Come with friends, come alone, bring your dog, your kids. It's a wonderful treasure. When the storms this winter closed the park for a few weeks, I missed it very much. May it continue to be available to us forever!

But it's the other little gem trails that make me come to Pisgah. I like solitude with my nature, so I prefer the surrounding area over the main hike to the top. Definitely have to make the trek at least once, though. Hurry to this lovely place before they industrialize the area surrounding the park.