Prefontaine Memorial Trail

If you haven’t jogged or walked legendary Steve Prefointaine Memorial Trail, clear Sunday morning, strap on an old pair of Nikes, and head down to Alton Baker Park. A truly unique experience with nearly four miles of trails and loops, Pre’s Trails capture the spirit of Eugene. Ducks flutter near a pond to the left, wood chips crunch and crack beneath your shoes, and as you dart into a narrow dirt path the fresh smell of overhanging pines leaves you energized and begging for more.

There is a two-mile loop that twists and turns gentle on the banks of a small lake. Here you’ll pass restroom facilities and, if Mother Nature is feeling friendly, perhaps you’ll see a few fishermen. Around the two-mile loop, is a larger three-mile loop. The smaller loop rolls by lakes and trees while the larger loop meanders through meadows with breath-taking mountain views – perfect for a couples run! The large loop also parallels the banks of the Willamette River with beautiful neighborhood backyards, unique wildlife, and wooden docks for kayaks and small watercrafts. Running Pre’s trails feels less like a workout and more like an adventure excursion!

Steve Prefointaine and coach Bill Bowerman envisioned a cross-country trail with a diversity of terrain to help runners train to their maximum potential. Inspired by European cross-country courses, Pre’s Trails are generally flat with some rolling hills. For the more adventurous athlete there are single-track trails that split off from the major paths. Unlike the primary trails these paths are dirt and often over-grown with vegetation.

Portions of Pre’s Trails have quarter mile markers – appropriate for 400 or mile repeats. Like most running trails in Eugene, soft wood chips is ideal for injury prone or recovering runners, cover Pre’s Trails. While these trails are a great place to complete a five to eight mile run, anything longer seems monotonous. However, for a repeat, interval workout, or just a short recovery run, Pre’s Trails provide athletes with a unique opportunity to get outside and discover Eugene.

Parking is available at Autzen Stadium or at the downtown-parking center on the south side of the Willamette River