This trail is the result of a cooperative effort between Eugene Parks and Recreation and the Eugene Mountain Bike Resource Group to help alleviate user conflicts on urban trails.
For those of you who do not have the time to explore Eugene's surrounding mountain biking destinations, here is an alternate choice. This is a great early morning or late afternoon ride with plenty of fun terrain to challenge even the advanced bikers. There are many options for riding in this area and many side routes, and although they are not be included in this book, may be fun places to explore. This route can be ridden in either direction, depending on what sort of riding you prefer.
A good place to begin this ride is near the Outdoor Program Barn, located on the corner of 18th and University on the University of Oregon campus. To begin, follow 18th W. for 1/4mile to Alder St. Take a left, and heading south follow Alder all the way to 32nd St., a distance of about 1.5 miles.. Take a right onto 32nd and shortly after a left onto Hilyard St. Follow Hilyard for approxitemately 1/4 mile until you hit W. Amazon (there is a corner market located here). Take a left and head up W. Amazon for .75 miles to Fox Hollow. Prepare yourself for a somewhat demanding uphill stretch. Take a right and head west up Fox Hollow for nearly 2.2 miles to the Ridgeline Trail parking lot on your left.
The trail begins after biking through a set of posts. Follow the trail as it twists and turns through some fantastic forest scenery. Watch out for other users and take caution around some of the tight turns.
After 1.2 miles this section of the trail comes to an end. Don't fret though, there is more to come. Take a left at the end of the trail and head down Dillard Rd. for half a mile where you will see a sign for the Ridgeline Trail on your right. Start climbing as the trail meanders through a few switchbacks and heads up a gradual slope leading to the top of Mt. Baldy. Enjoy the view of the surrounding area and sometimes-visible Sisters, take a break, sip some water. From here on out it's downhill... From the top bear right and head down a very short steep section of trail. Turn left at the fork and continue for .5 miles down 5 switchbacks.As you will notice, some big ruts have formed from poor drainage and folks using the trail during the wet season. Although it may be tempting to ride around these, stay on the trail, walk the bike if necessary.
Continue on the main trail (there are numerous side trails to explore if you have the time) until you hit a 3-way intersection where there is a large sign containing a map of the trails in the area. Turn right here, as the trail ends shortly (beware of the cable running across the end of the trail) and joins onto Spring Blvd. Follow Spring Blvd as it meanders through a new development of huge houses and intersects with N. Shasta.
Take a right on N. Shasta as it turns into Agate and follow this for .7 miles. Be careful when heading down this section of road--it is very steep and the urge to go very fast is eminent. At the end of the road take a left onto 30th and follow this for .75 miles until you come to Alder St. Bear right, and follow for 1.47 miles to 18th, at which point you take a right back to your car.
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