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Urban hikes: The metro area offers many scenic, invigorating walks -The Register-Guard,... Page 3 of 4 <br /> McKenzie River Scenic Trail. They get off the bus at the <br /> McKenzie River Ranger Station in the morning, cross the <br /> highway to the trail, hike 10 miles and return in time to meet <br /> — the afternoon bus back to the city. <br /> But there's no need to go that far. The Eugene area itself "has <br /> so many possibilities (for hikes) besides Spencer Butte and <br /> Mount Pisgah," Jacobsen said." <br /> For example, she raves about a recent in-city hike she took for <br /> the first time, led by Virginia Prouty, also an Obsidian. <br /> "She led us up to Gillespie Butte and to the historical cemetery <br /> there," Jacobsen said. "The cemetery was a real surprise for <br /> me. We also went by the Delta Ponds and the river." <br /> Indeed, many people in Eugene would be surprised to visit the <br /> little hilltop patch of green to which Prouty has been leading <br /> hikers for several years. <br /> "I've lived here 18 years and I walk everyplace," Prouty said. <br /> "I decided I might as well include other people." <br /> The most recent version of Prouty's hike to Gillespie Butte <br /> started at the north end of the bike path on the east side of <br /> the Willamette River, near Green Acres Drive. From there, she <br /> led the group to Valley River Center, then east on Valley River <br /> Drive on the bridge over Delta Highway. She then turned north <br /> on Willagillespie Road, east on Clinton, and northeast on <br /> Debrick to Crenshaw. <br /> Crenshaw angles up the west side of the butte, dead-ending at <br /> a city-owned natural area on the top of the hill that affords <br /> good views of the city to the south and east and of the Coburg <br /> Hills to the northeast. <br /> "If it's a nice day, the views are spectacular," Prouty said. <br /> Wildflowers dot the five-acre oak-savannah natural area, over <br /> which several ancient oak trees stand sentry. <br /> Just north of the natural area is a small private cemetery that <br /> dates back to Eugene's early days. <br /> "It's just a great little place to wander around," Prouty said. <br /> "There are quite a number of old timers there, like the Van <br /> Duyns and the Gillespies." <br /> When she's ready to leave the hilltop, Prouty takes her group <br /> down the hill to Debrick, then crosses Cal Young and heads <br /> north and east via Fir Acres, Happy Lane and Goodpasture <br /> Road to the Delta Village/Valley River area. <br /> http://www.registerguard.com/cgi-bin/printStory.py?name=e6.od.urbanhikes.0403&date=2003 f... 4/8/03 <br />