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Past Activity

South Eugene Meadows

  • Start date: 07/25/2026

  • Start time: 8:00 AM

Description:

Meet at the kiosk at the new 52nd SEM Willamette Parking lot. The hike will be out and back. It is a “lollipop trail” so there are several intersections where we will need to group up. Janet will provide some history about the trail. If the toilets have not been installed, there is one at the parking lot on the other side of Willamette. Water, hats and sunscreen recommended.

Photo by: Holger Krentz

  • Event Leader: David Cooper

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-868-5427

  • Event Leader Email: dwcoop@yahoo.com

  • Assistant Leader: Janet Jacobsen

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Urban

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2026

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Water, snacks, sun protection, personal first aid supplies

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 4.5

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 600

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Eleven Obsidians were pleasantly surprised to find cool temperatures and cloudy skies for the first official Obsidian hike on the South Eugene Meadows trail. It was also a surprise to see the new parking lot empty with the gate closed. Most of us parked along 52nd Street. Before the hike, Janet emailed everyone a one-page history of how the lollipop trail came to be and appreciating the vision of so many volunteers. Holger, our official photographer, captured the trail’s character especially on the steep switchbacks on the 50-foot easement. A Western tanager bursting out of bushes was unexpected. We stopped at a well-placed sitting rock with a view of Spencer Butte and shared Janet’s persimmon bread made from the fruit on Kathy’s tree.
The hike took about two hours, four miles and 600 ft. elevation gain. When we returned to the empty parking lot, we met Sue Wolling and Lyndell Wilken heading out to hike the trail. Meanwhile Mari and Dave figured out how to “unlock” the gate. It turned out not to be locked at all—just a puzzle of unfamiliar pieces to sort out. Strange ending!

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