Spencer Butte

AreaWillamette Valley
(Eugene)
Best time to visitMid-April through mid-May
Blooming NowUnknown
Elevation1350-2065 feet
Trail Info2.0 miles round-trip, 800 feet elevation gain
 WILDFLOWER SEARCH
DogsAllowed

NOTE: The blue marker indicates the trailhead.

Description

Looming 2,065 feet above sea level, Spencer Butte dominates the southern Eugene skyline. In addition to excellent panoramic views of Eugene and the surrounding area, the Butte is home to a fine display of early spring wildflowers.

Because the trail encompasses both Douglas Fir forest and the rocky area near the summit, you can expect to see a wide variety of species. In the forest you will see Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum), giant white wakerobin (Trillium albidum), Oregon Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum), Fairyslipper (Calypso bulbosa), Candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), and Wood Violet (Viola glabella). Above the tree line near the summit, you will see Henderson's Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii), small-flowered blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Grass Widows (Olsynium douglasii), Small-flowered Prairie Star (Lithophragma parviflorum), and Chickweed Monkeyflower (Mimulus alsinoides).

For more information, visit the City of Eugene or this web site, which includes trail information.

Directions

Looming 2,065 feet above sea level, Spencer Butte dominates the southern Eugene skyline. In addition to excellent panoramic views of Eugene and the surrounding area, the Butte is home to a fine display of early spring wildflowers.

Because the trail encompasses both Douglas Fir forest and the rocky area near the summit, you can expect to see a wide variety of species. In the forest you will see western trillium (Trillium ovatum), giant white wakerobin (Trillium albidum), Oregon fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum), fairy slipper (Calypso bulbosa), candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), and wood violets (Viola glabella). Above the tree line near the summit, you will see Henderson's shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii), small-flowered blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), grass widow (Olsynium douglasii), prairie star (Lithophragma parviflorum), and chickweed monkeyflower (Mimulus alsinoides).

For more information, visit the City of Eugene or this web site, which includes trail information.

Trip Reports

DateSubmitted by
Reports from previous years
04/01/2018Greg Lief
07/16/2017Jennie Wike
04/01/2012Greg Lief
04/26/2009Rory Nichols
04/14/2007Greg Lief
04/04/2007Rory Nichols

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Photo Gallery


Facing north from Spencer Butte

Facing south from Spencer Butte

Large-Flowered Nemophila at Spencer Butte

Shooting Stars at Spencer Butte


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'What a lonely place it would be to have a world without a wildflower!' -- Roland Kemler