Mt. Pisgah Arboretum is a beautiful 209-acre arboretum located between Eugene and Springfield, Oregon on the banks of the Willamette River. Full of miles of hiking trails and nature paths, Mt. Pisgah and the surrounding Howard Buford Recreation Area are best known for their diverse wildlife, expansive gardens, and unique habitats. There are several trails along the Willamette River, across the wildflower meadows, through the evergreen forests, and around the stunning water garden.
Location: Mt. Pisgah arboretum is located in Lane County, Oregon, about 10 minutes from both the center of Eugene and Springfield, within the Howard Buford Recreation Area. It is along the coast fork of the Willamette River at the foot of Mt. Pisgah.
Google Map: Eugene to Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
Time Involved: Because of its proximity to town it is a great place to go explore after work. You can spend all day exploring or just do a quick loop around one of the many trails in the arboretum.
Adventure Specifics:
Hiking:
Mt. Pisgah and the Howard Buford Recreation Area have over 17 miles of trails, ranging from dirt singletrack to gravel wide, gravel covered fire roads. The Arboretum area itself has over a dozen shorter trails that wind through the various habitats. From there, most trails connect to the larger trail system of the Howard Buford Recreation Area.
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Trail Map (just the trails within the Arboretum):
http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/new-2010-Trail-map.pdf
Howard Buford Recreation Area Trail Map (includes the MPA trails along with the HBRA trails:
http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/HBRA_Trails_Map1.pdf
Events:
- Mount Pisgah Wildflower Festival – Held in late May each year, the Wildflower and Music Festival at Mt. Pisgah is a day of wildflowers, music, food, crafts, and microscopes. The festival is full of fun activities for the entire family! More details can be found at: http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/festivals-events/wildflower-festival/
- Mount Pisgah Mushroom Festival – Held in late October each year, the MPA Mushroom Festival is the largest mushroom display on the West Coast. Experts will be on location to answer questions and identify various fungi and hundreds of locally collected wild fungi will be on display. There will also be Music, Art, Food, Drinks, Contests and Local Vendors! More Info: http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/festivals-events/mushroom-festival/
- Play in the Rain Day – A fun family day at MPA, usually held in early November. Visitors discover how fun, easy, and rewarding it is to spend time outdoors! Over 2000 people attended in 2011. http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/festivals-events/play-in-the-rain-day/
- Regularly Scheduled Walks and Workshops can be found on the MPA page below. One of the more popular walks is the Summer Solstice hike held each year. http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/category/walksandworkshops/
Habitats:
- Oregon White Oak Savanna
- Wet Forests
- Water Garden
- Low elevation Valleys and slopes
- Douglas-Fire and incense cedar forests
Fees: There is a $3 parking fee unless you have a Lane County Parks Pass ($30/year – $15 for seniors) visiting the arboretum is free, but please consider a membership for free parking, admission to festivals and free guided nature walks.
What to Bring: Water, Camera, wild flower guide and binoculars for bird watching. If you’re hiking to the top definitely wear comfortable shoes.
Amenities: Mount Pisgah Arboretum has restrooms, a wooded picnic area and two sites for weddings in the great meadow. All facilities can be easily accessed near the entrance of the arboretum.
Best Times to Go: In Spring, everything is green and the flowers are in full bloom – though it can be a bit muddy. Summer brings drier trails and warmer weather, though the blooms have mostly faded.
General Comments: After a quick walk around the wooded arboretum hop on one of the many uphill trails and see if you can make the steep climb to the top of Mount Pisgah. There is a 1050ft elevation change from the bottom of the trail to the top of the hill! The views are worth it and wide expanses of forest to the east are a treat for the eyes.
Weddings at Mount Pisgah: Mount Pisgah Arboretum has two wedding facilities that can be rented for your special day. Peak times (Weekends May-October) are about $1800, off season and weekdays are about $1000. Prices include use of the facility from 2pm-10pm with tables and chairs for up to 200 people. The Oak Grove wedding site is only available July 1st – September 30th and is reserved for plant observation and public enjoyment otherwise. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your Eugene area wedding check out www.LaDukePhoto.com
Links to External Sites:
- Main Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Website: http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/
- Park pass info: http://www.co.lane.or.us/Departments/PW/Parks/Documents/Annual%20Parking%20Pass%20Information.pdf
- Membership info: http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/join-us/personalmemberships/
Other Adventures Nearby: Howard Buford Recreation Area