Past Activity

Videra Oak Meadow

Start date: 07/05/2025
Start time: 9:00 AM

Description:

The focus will be Videra Oak Meadow, a 15-acre piece of property in a residential neighborhood in South Eugene. It is both a wetlands, and an Oak Savana of which just 1% remains here in Lane County. The property is in a residential neighborhood and developers have their sights on it. A neighborhood group is trying to save the property from development.
After viewing this property, we'll walk about 1/2 mile to another development where construction began 20 years ago, and has stalled after developers put in roads and infrastructure. From there, we'll continue our trek on a wooded path that also winds through this interesting neighborhood in South Eugene. We'll end up back at Skyview Park, a beautiful site for relaxing.
Meet Up site will be 3300 Hawkins Lane. It is a residence on Hawkins, but you'll only see the driveway, so look for the leader. There's plenty of parking and we have permission to park there. To find 3300 Hawkins: Start at Intersection of 18th and Hawkins (there's a big Christian Center.). Go up Hawkins 1.2 miles, and on the right, you'll see a large meadow with a white rail fence. Driveway for 3300 is at the edge of the meadow. There is a sign. Leader will be looking for you.

Event Leader: Whitney Gould
Event Leader Phone: 510-368-8941
Event Leader Email: whitneygould@yahoo.com
Assistant Leader:
Event category: Trips
Area Type: Urban
Departure Location: See Trip Description
Rating: Easy
Roundtrip total drive miles:
Season: 2025
Permits Required:
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: water, snacks, personal first aid kit
participant prerequisites:
Conditions:
Total Distance: 5
Member Fees: —
Elevation Gain: 520
Non-Member Fees: 5
Committee: Trips
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

This was a somewhat unusual Obsidians hike through the Southwest Hills neighborhood in Eugene. Our focus was two pieces of property that show the before-and-after effects of development in a residential neighborhood. \' 
We started at Videra Oak Meadow, a 15-acre site that is both a wetlands and an Oak Savana, of which just 1% remains in Lane County. The owner of the property is looking to sell it to developers, while residents are fighting to retain in its natural state. From there, we walked half a mile to another development, Timberline Hills, where the land was cleared more than ten years ago and a single house has yet to be finished. 
We continued our walk down Timberline Drive to a series of paths that wind through the Somerset Hills portion of the neighborhood, then back up through another section of paths. We ended our trek at Skyview Park, a beautiful spot for sitting and relaxing. 
Total distance was approximately 4.3 miles, with about 500 feet of elevation. This was the first time the Obsidians have done this particular hike. If there is more interest, leader would be happy to do it again.