Recreational Areas

Dexter State Recreation Site. A 20-minute drive southeast of Eugene on the western shores of Dexter Reservoir, this recreation site offers disc golf, picnic areas, boat launches, and plenty of hiking. .

Skinner Butte Park. Rising from the south bank of the Willamette River, this forested enclave provides the best views of any of the city's parks; it also has the greatest historic cachet, since it was here that Eugene Skinner staked the claim that put Eugene on the map. Children can scale a replica of Skinner Butte, uncover fossils, and cool off under a rain circle. Skinner Butte Loop leads to the top of Skinner Butte, traversing sometimes difficult terrain through a mixed-conifer forest. 248 Cheshire Ave., Eugene, Oregon, 97401. 541/682–4800. Free. Dawn–dusk.