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Past Activity

Eugene Millrace Walk

  • Start date: 06/27/2025

  • Start time: 9:00 AM

Description:

This is a walk of the Eugene Millrace. The Millrace is the historic center of Eugene's industrial beginnings. Today, much of the millrace has been paved over, and what remains is often overlooked by passers-by. We will have a closer look.

The hike follows Eugene's Millrace (reverse to the original direction of flow), through the (former) industrial area near 5th Street Market, then over to Whole Foods and the Eugene Manor, where the "end" of the Millrace is visible today. We continue along 11th viewing sections of the Millrace from parking areas and small bridges. We cross Franklin and walk on the north side to Onyx St., to the Millrace Path. Just past the Holiday Inn Express is Franklin City Park, where we can again see parts of Millrace. Nearby, along the South Bank Path is a historic intake. From here the path follows channel remnants which will take us up to the I-5 bridge to see the old diversion dam. We will cross the Knickerbocker Bridge to the river's north side and walk along the river back to our cars.

Park in the Alton Baker Parking Lot. Meet in front of the Sun (Solar System) between the parking lot and the river.

The goal is to be return to the parking area by noon for avoiding the hottest part of the day. This walk is exploratory for the trip leader.

  • Event Leader: Mark Hougardy

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-206-9532

  • Event Leader Email: hougardy@gmail.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: Bring a sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen, water, and any snacks. There is a restroom in Alton Baker Park, and the 5th Street Market.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 6

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 50

  • Non-Member Fees: 2

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

For more than 70 years, the millrace provided an inexpensive and abundant source of energy for Eugene\'s water-powered factories. While an artery for Eugene\'s industry, the millrace was also the center of recreation for many. In the 1920s, as electricity became commonplace, the millrace slipped into obscurity. In the 1940s, plans for part of the millrace to be paved over and covered up were set in motion. Today, in some areas, the millrace still looks as it once did. Our group\'s 7-mile walk visited the millrace in reverse, from where an outflow can still be seen today by the DeFazio bridge, up to the diversion dam by the I-5 bridge, and back down to where we started on the other side of the river at Alton Baker. Possibly, the most interesting part of our walk was viewing old images and maps that showed a very different Eugene.

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