Alton Baker Park
Alton Baker Park is located on the east side of the Ferry Street Bridge and is Eugene’s largest park at 402 total acres. This park was set up in 1959 and has since become one of most visited parks in Eugene. The west side of the park is the portion that is more developed than the east side of the park, which is known more for the natural habitat for the park’s wildlife and also contains four acres of enclosed, off-leash dog park. (It’s volunteer maintained, so please
bring your own poop bags.)
Alton Baker Park also runs adjacent to the Willamette River and proves to be a very busy part of the park. If you are looking for a family friendly, pet-friendly park, this is definitely the one you will want to check out because once you go there, you will find yourself returning often. The major features of this park include, but are not limited to:
The Ken Nielsen Garden Area
The Science Factory Children’s Museum and Planetarium
Partial home of Pre’s Trail (this trail runs a long course in the Eugene area)
The Hays Tree Garden
The Cuthbert Amphitheater
Bike Trails
Walking Trails
Full Covered Picnic Area (available for group reservation)
Dog park (designated play area for man’s best friend)
The Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System links Alton Baker Park with several city parks situated along the banks of the Willamette River.
The park also features a bike vendor where you can rent 2 or 4-seated, pedal bikes as well as motorized bikes to enjoy your stroll through Alton Baker Park. The cost of the rentals is very reasonable depending on the bike you choose, but specifically, the 2-seated bike is $15.00 for an hour. Not bad if you are visiting the park on foot.
As far as the community is concerned, Alton Baker is one of the most beloved parks in the area. It is well maintained, very clean and a great place to take the whole family for any outing. Make sure that you pay attention to the planet signs along your walk through the park. Once you stop and read the first one, you will likely want to visit the rest of the solar system.
Ducks and geese abound at this gorgeous park and they are not shy! Feeding the animals is very strongly discouraged, but some visitors still find it necessary to feed them bread. Bread causes a host of health problems for the water fowl, so please do not feed them bread. (Note: If you MUST feed the ducks and geese, please purchase pellets from a feed store.)
Alton Baker Park is big, beautiful and easy to enjoy. It’s no wonder that it is the flagship of Eugene City Parks.
Download a detailed map of Alton Baker Park from the City of Eugene’s website.
Written by Jennifer Ross for DiscoverEugene.com.
