About Summer Trips:
Summer Trips include any human-powered ventures into our outdoor environment from April 1st through November 14th. Our hikes can vary from easy afternoon urban walks to strenuous hikes and overnight backpacks. We hike the trails through deep forest or across lava beds, visit wilderness lakes, climb up rocky crags to high promontories, saunter along ocean beaches, camp near glacier-fed torrents, or stand in admiration of flower-filled mountain meadows. We enjoy bicycle rides ranging from leisurely trips along winding country roads to workouts like 50-mile-plus rides over mountain passes. For boaters, we offer kayak, canoe, and rafting trips on both calm and wild water. From the time of spring blooms to the breakout of fall colors, our aim is to offer a wide variety of opportunities to take an active part in experiencing the wonders around us. |
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Online Trip signup for an activity is normally enabled three weeks before a trip. Special trips will be available for sign up earlier. Signup via our online signup system, on our home page. Are You Prepared for an Obsidian Trip? For Cold? For Rain? For Sun? For Emergencies? What do you need to know before the trip? On the trail? What are the Ten Essentials? Questions about Summer Trips? Contact: summertrips@obsidians.org Summer Trips' GoogleDocs area can be found here. This includes extra documents managed by the Summer Trips committee, such as copies of recent Permit Area Maps. Trip difficulty ratings: Hint: A hike up Mt Pisgah by the main route would be considered an E (Easy) trip: 3 miles 1000 ft elevation gain.![]() |
Upcoming Summer Trips:
April
May
June
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Moderate Hike—Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte—Tuesday, April 4, 2023
We will start on time at 6:45am. This hike to the top of Spencer Butte takes the less traveled route from Blanton Road. We'll cross Blanton Ridge before continuing on from the 52nd and Willamette trailhead. This option provides a good in town workout.. If the weather doesn't co-operate we can forgo the exposed rocky steps near the top. There are two ways to get to the trailhead: 1. To get to the trailhead from 29th & Willamette continue south on Willamette. At Willamette/Donald St Intersection bear right on Willamette. Immediately bear right again on to Crest Drive. Follow signs staying on Crest for approximately 1.2 miles to the Junction with Blanton Road. Turn left on Blanton. The trail head is on your left in about ½ mile. Do not turn left on Southpointe Dr. 2. Another way to get to the Blanton trailhead is to go south on Chambers until it ends at Crest Drive. Turn left on to Crest. In about ½ mile turn right on Blanton Road. Moderate Hike—Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte—Wednesday, April 5, 2023
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 7:45 to 8:00. ===NOTE : NEW TIME=== Every Wednesday since 2013 we do this hike from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. Compared to starting at the paved Spencer Butte parking lot, this hike has double the climbing and three times the distance. It is a conditioning hike where everyone is challenging themselves to go at a moderate or fast pace—not like the other hikes on our schedule. If this is your first time on this Obsidian conditioning hike, or hiking to Spencer Butte, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. If you should fall too far behind, the leaders reserve the right to have you not summit but wait and return with the group. The regulars on this hike have attained their fitness by showing up consistently and slowly improving. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. To get to the trailhead: Take West Amazon to Martin Street. Turn left. Drive past Kinney Park and park Martin Street near the Kiosk sign board across from Canyon Drive Street sign with hiker symbol. Please contact the leader if you have any questions. Moderate Hike—Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise—Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Look for us by my car a row or two down from the fee box. Sunset is 7:44pm and full moonrise is 7:31pm. (Current plan is to take Trails 7,3 and 1. Faster hikers usually include a section of Trail 4. Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions. If you don’t have a Lane County pass , please, please allow time to purchase one with Debit/Credit card (no cash) at the pay station by trailhead. Moderate Hike—Pisgah East Side Loop—Friday, April 7, 2023
East Trailhead – from Eugene, drive east on Highway 58 towards Pleasant Hill. Turn left on Ridgeway Road at the 76 Station and drive 1.7 miles to the parking area on the left. The parking lot is small, but vehicles can also park on the main road if necessary. Lane County Parking Pass is required to park in the lot. Remove any valuables from your vehicle. There is a porta potty at the trailhead. We will hike to the summit on trails #2, 4 and then #1 and returning on trail #6 easy Hike—Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail—Saturday, April 8, 2023
Meet at the Obsidian Lodge to start the hike on the Ribbon Trail to Hendricks Park and back. This is an opportunity to find out about the Obsidians, get acquainted with members, and visit our lodge. This hike through the woods has a few short bursts of steep up and down hill. Members are welcome to sign up to help answer questions. Drive past the Laurelwood Golf Course up 27th St then at the top of the hill turn right onto Spring Blvd, a one lane road. When Spring Blvd ends at a T intersection, turn left and immediately look for the Obsidians sign and driveway on your right. Enter the driveway and follow the gravel road to the parking areas and Lodge. The Lodge is hard to find so if you want to view the map, go to the Obsidian home page. http://obsidians.org/lodgemap.htm Moderate Bike—Easter Bunny Rides Again—Sunday, April 9, 2023
This annual ride will be starting in Springfield. Here's our route: Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42230498 Extra credit: Since this ride will take place on Easter Sunday, you are encouraged to wear long ears, bushy tails, a Bugs Bunny outfit, etc. Moderate Hike—Mt Pisgah—Monday, April 10, 2023
For hikers who can do the elevation and distance but want a slower pace. We will meet in the parking lot, start out on Trail 17, head up to Trail 3 and then take Trail 4 on our way to the summit. We will return by Trails 1, 3, and 17. If you do not have a Lane County Pass, be sure to allow time to purchase one with a debit/credit card at the fee box near the trailhead. Moderate Hike—Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte—Tuesday, April 11, 2023
This hike to the top of Spencer Butte takes the less traveled route from Blanton Road. We'll cross Blanton Ridge before continuing on from the 52nd and Willamette trailhead. This option provides a good in town workout.. If the weather doesn't co-operate we can forgo the exposed rocky steps near the top. To get to the trailhead from 29th & Willamette continue south on Willamette. At Willamette/Donald St Intersection bear right on Willamette. Immediately bear right again on to Crest Drive. Follow signs staying on Crest for approximately 1.2 miles to the Junction with Blanton Road. Turn left on Blanton. The trail head is on your left in about ½ mile. Do not turn left on Southpointe Dr. Another way to get to the Blanton trailhead is to go south on Chambers until it ends at Crest Drive. Turn left on to Crest. In about ½ mile turn right on Blanton Road. Moderate Hike—Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte—Wednesday, April 12, 2023
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 7:45 to 8:00. Every Wednesday since 2013 we do this hike from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. Compared to starting at the paved Spencer Butte parking lot, this hike has double the climbing and three times the distance. It is a conditioning hike where everyone is challenging themselves to go at a moderate or fast pace—not like the other hikes on our schedule. If this is your first time on this Obsidian conditioning hike, or hiking to Spencer Butte, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. If you should fall too far behind, the leaders reserve the right to have you not summit but wait and return with the group. The regulars on this hike have attained their fitness by showing up consistently and slowly improving. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. To get to the trailhead: Take West Amazon to Martin Street. Turn left. Drive past Kinney Park and park Martin Street near the Kiosk sign board across from Canyon Drive Street sign with hiker symbol. Please contact the leader if you have any questions. Easy Hike—Hendricks Park Spring Heyday—Wednesday, April 12, 2023
To celebrate the Ogden Nash poem, Lines in Praise of a Date Made Praiseworthy Solely by Something Very Nice That Happened to It, we will stroll the many trails in Hendricks park including Oak Knoll, Native Plant Garden, Rhododendron Garden, and if interest, Pres Rock. Meet at the F.M. Wilkins(covered) Shelter across the road from the parking lot. Once you sign up, I will email you the poem that suggests that one pause to rejoice on his favorite day, April 12th. Not sure about mileage but perhaps 1 ½ hours? If you have time, you might find a word that rhymes with April. Spring will hopefully be in its heyday with flowers blooming "on the twelfth of Epperell." Easy Hike—Salem Exploration—Thursday, April 13, 2023
We especially welcome those who have never visited Salem or have not gone on past Sallem exploration trips. Jim Northrop who lived in Salem for 24 years will be our guide. Hallie Ford Museum, House and Senate galleries, Willamette University, Union Street Railroad Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, the new Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge, renovated Supreme Court Building , sculptures, and gardens on the way to Willamette University, the Deepwood Museum & Gardens, the Bush Barn Art Center, the Salem Convention Center, and the historic Ladd and Bush Bank. Be prepared to be on your feet most of the exploration. Jim has a special place for lunch. We should be back in Eugene by 5:30 if all goes well. Easy Hike—Cottage Grove Murals & Museums—Saturday, April 15, 2023
This is a walk to see the sights, murals, and museums of Cottage Grove. Meet at south parking lot of Amazon Park in Eugene. We will carpool via 99 South to Cottage Grove and park in the Bohemia Park Lot in Cottage Grove. Restrooms are adjacent to the parking lot. Our walk will be a big triangle. We will walk through Bohemia park to 6th where we can cross Hwy 99 at a croswalk. We will walk through neighborhoods to Tyler Street then cross over the Chambers Covered Railroad Bridge. We continue north on River Road visiting the Cottage Grove Farmhouse Bakery, the Swinging Bridge, and possibly visiting the Old Mill Farm Store. We will make a stop at the Cottage Grove Museum, then cross the Centennial Covered Bridge and walk along East Main Street to Kalapuya Books. Plan on a having a late (mid-afternoon) lunch at the Coast Fork Brewing and Feed (6th and Washington). We will cross Hwy 99 back at Main Street and over to the Bohemia Park parking area. If the adjacently located Bohemia Gold Mining Museum is open (308 S 10th Street) we will stop in for a few minutes. Admission to the Cottage Grove Museum is free (opens at 1pm on Saturday). The Bohemia Mining Museum might have a small fee. Optional to visit, but bring a couple of dollars in the event they are open and there is an entry fee. Dress for the weather, and bring a snack if needed. Plan to return to Eugene at approx. 5pm. Please note, this trip is exploratory. |
Past Summer Trips:
Reports on Past Trips:
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001