Baldy offers relaxation with views of Eugene

Those who have been to Spencer Butte know that the view of Eugene appears ant-like and distant from such elevation, and that the hike to the top can be strenuous on a hot summer day.

The Skinner Observatory, near Alton Baker Park, has a pleasant view of downtown but little else to offer.

If you are disappointed, like myself, by the lack of decent vistas around Eugene, then the small knoll known as Baldy is a place to consider. It has an excellent position on the east ridge of the South Hills, from which you can view the expanse of the southern Willamette Valley.

To get there, take Pearl Street to 30th Avenue, turn right on Hilyard, then drive to the next light. Turn left on Amazon Drive East and follow it for approximately one-and-a-half miles. From this intersection, turn left on Dillard Road for another mile and a half. There will be a brown hiker symbol on the left side of the road and very little parking, but further down the street is enough room for a few mid-sized cars.

There are two routes to the top, the first being the South Hills Ridgeline trail that runs through a meadow and off to the left. The second trail is less maintained, runs up a small hill and follows the ridgeline to the left. Either way is nearly half a mile up a modest grade to the top, where a grassy meadow fans out down the hillside. From this point one can see the Creswell Valley to the southeast of Eugene and the Willamette River as it winds down the valley.

The vista point is shaded by a large oak tree and is spacious enough for a small picnic. The butte to the left is Spencer (elevation 2,054 feet), and the highest point in the distance to the west is Mary's Peak (elevation 4,097 feet). This site is great for mid-mornings and sunsets, when shade is still abundant. But be sure to bring a flashlight for those sunset jaunts as the trail can be quite dark coming down the hill.

Baldy can be a very nice place to bring a pet or some friends on an idle summer eve for a miniature getaway.

Contact the photo editor at adamjones@dailyemerald.com. His opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.

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