Park Explorer: Featuring Hendricks Park

Written by Georgia Tucker

One of the best parts of living in Oregon is the outdoors. We are so lucky to have beautiful tall trees and sprinkles of rain. There are so many hidden gems to explore. The best part of living in Eugene is the number of trails and parks that surround the town. Eugene is home to many parks including the famous Hendricks park. This particular park has been around since the early 1900s. The 80-acre park is very close to our university, in fact, it is only a little over a mile of a walk. Hendricks park has many hiking trails that go through a native plant garden. Paths are intertwined into one 12-mile Ridgeline trail. The park is very well-kept by volunteers, keeping its beauty and cleanliness alive. It’s a perfect place for everyone to enjoy!

If you’re looking for a good hike to get your body moving, Hendricks park has some great options. The top two trails you should check out are; the Ribbon trail to Floral Hill and the Ribbon trail to Old Road trail. The trail to Floral Hill is about 1.6 miles, it’s a very moderate hike that is great for getting some fresh air. While the trail to Old Road is about 3.1 miles, giving you a little bit more of a challenging hike, both trails are very flat and not at all rocky. The paths are surrounded by different types of plants and flowers, making you feel like you are walking through a beautiful garden. The trails are also great for those who love biking.

As we get closer to spring the weather has started to clear up and the sun has finally come out. We’ve even had a few days where the temperature was over 50°. During those days I spent a lot of time at Hendricks park, taking in the clean air and giving myself an opportunity to relax. One of the days I went on a lunch date with my favorite roomie. We picked up some food from Dave’s Hot Chicken and found a bench on a trail that was surrounded by lots of beautiful wildflowers. It felt nice to just sit and talk, catching up with each other’s lives. The park is a great spot to get some studying in while also getting away from the confinement of a four-walled room. Personally, I feel the most productive when it’s a sunny day and I can spend a little bit of time outside. Another relaxing thing that you can do for yourself is to take time to unplug and read your favorite book or listen to some tunes.

As we move closer to the end of the term it is important to focus on yourself, and your physical and mental health. Whether it’s exercising or meditating, spending time outside at Hendricks Park is a great destresser. When you are feeling down, take a stroll around the park or ride your bike up and down the trails. Have some personal time to yourself, or invite the people in your life that bring you joy to spend some quality time outside. Keep your body moving and your mind grooving as you spend time in the great outdoors. And remember to be thankful that you are able to experience the wonders of Oregon.