Pre's Trail
Encyclopedia
Pre's Trail, located on the north side of the Willamette River
in Eugene, Oregon
, United States
, popularly referred to as "Track Town USA", is a four-mile-long running
and walking
trail named after heralded University of Oregon
athlete Steve Prefontaine
. The woodchip-and-bark trail features riparian scenery, including grasslands, duck pond
s, and woods, as well as guide signs with trail maps at each of three primary trailheads. Near downtown Eugene, in Alton Baker Park
, Pre's Trail is part of an extensive network of running trails in and around the university town and neighboring Springfield
.
an cross country running
courses while competing overseas. Upon return from Europe, he suggested to local officials building a running trail through Eugene's Alton Baker Park
. Lane County
worked with the Oregon Track Club
and University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman
to design and build Pre's Trail. Within four months of Pre's death in an auto accident in 1975, the new trail served as venue to a memorial race of approximately five hundred participants in his honor.
Situated to the north of, and across the Willamette River from, the University of Oregon, Pre's Trail is enjoyed by a variety of recreational users in Eugene's urban core. The venue is often the site of cross country competitions staged by local schools, including Sheldon High (which trains on the trail throughout their Cross Country
season), colleges and running clubs. Additionally, a significant portion of the Eugene Marathon
is on Pre's Trail.
Pre's Trail undulates mildly on a typically flat river isle, and features large sections entirely covered by wood chips, with some single track dirt trail, gravel sections, and a short swath of asphalt on the Big Loop.
There are three main loops, with interlinking paths:
.
Pre's trail lies within Alton Baker Park, and is accessible from parking lots at three trailhead entrances at each of the three main loops. There are two footbridges, providing access from the University of Oregon campus, located just across the Willamette River. From campus, the Center Loop can be accessed via the Autzen Footbridge (south of Autzen Stadium, half a block north of Franklin and Agate Streets), and to the southeastern Big Loop via the Knickerbocker Footbridge (near Franklin and Riverview Streets).
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, popularly referred to as "Track Town USA", is a four-mile-long running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
and walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
trail named after heralded University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
athlete Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
. The woodchip-and-bark trail features riparian scenery, including grasslands, duck pond
Duck pond
A duck pond is a pond for ducks and other water fowl. Duck ponds provide habitats for water fowl and other birds, who use the water to bathe in and drink....
s, and woods, as well as guide signs with trail maps at each of three primary trailheads. Near downtown Eugene, in Alton Baker Park
Alton Baker Park
Alton Baker Park is located in Eugene, Oregon, United States, near Autzen Stadium. It was named for Register-Guard founder Alton F. Baker, Sr...
, Pre's Trail is part of an extensive network of running trails in and around the university town and neighboring Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
.
History
Steve Prefontaine, or "Pre," was impressed with the style and terrain of EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
courses while competing overseas. Upon return from Europe, he suggested to local officials building a running trail through Eugene's Alton Baker Park
Alton Baker Park
Alton Baker Park is located in Eugene, Oregon, United States, near Autzen Stadium. It was named for Register-Guard founder Alton F. Baker, Sr...
. Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
worked with the Oregon Track Club
Oregon Track Club
The Oregon Track Club is a running organization based in Eugene, Oregon. Shortened to OTC, the Oregon Track Club has a long history at the pinnacle of American track and field...
and University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman
Bill Bowerman
William Jay "Bill" Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers...
to design and build Pre's Trail. Within four months of Pre's death in an auto accident in 1975, the new trail served as venue to a memorial race of approximately five hundred participants in his honor.
Situated to the north of, and across the Willamette River from, the University of Oregon, Pre's Trail is enjoyed by a variety of recreational users in Eugene's urban core. The venue is often the site of cross country competitions staged by local schools, including Sheldon High (which trains on the trail throughout their Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
season), colleges and running clubs. Additionally, a significant portion of the Eugene Marathon
Eugene Marathon
The Eugene Marathon, is a marathon established in 2007, which takes place in Eugene, Oregon, a city considered to be the mecca of track and field in the American running community. The main event, accompanied by a half marathon, 5K and kids run, became in 2007 the first major marathon to be held...
is on Pre's Trail.
Route
There are three main loops, with interlinking paths:
- Southeast (Big Loop), 1.66 miles (2.7 km)
- Center (Parcourse Loop), .65 miles
- Northwest (Bottom Loop), 1.06
Access
Pre's Trail is located off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near Autzen StadiumAutzen Stadium
Autzen Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Located north of the University of Oregon campus, it is the home field of the Oregon Ducks of the Pacific-12 Conference. Opened in 1967, the stadium has undergone several expansions...
.
Pre's trail lies within Alton Baker Park, and is accessible from parking lots at three trailhead entrances at each of the three main loops. There are two footbridges, providing access from the University of Oregon campus, located just across the Willamette River. From campus, the Center Loop can be accessed via the Autzen Footbridge (south of Autzen Stadium, half a block north of Franklin and Agate Streets), and to the southeastern Big Loop via the Knickerbocker Footbridge (near Franklin and Riverview Streets).
Map
- OregonTrackClub.org (pdf) - "Pre's Trail"