Walk & Roll Trips - best trails to see fall foliageAmtrak Cascades makes traveling with your bike or mobility device easy
First published 8 July 2023
Looking for a Family Friendly Experience this fall?
From trailers to training wheels, Eugene and Springfield have the best accessible paths to ride with your kids or with friends. We've listed our favorite flat and fairly traffic-free routes around Eugene - Springfield.
Traveling to Oregon and bringing your bike? We’re ready for you.
Here are some details to help make getting here and getting around a lot easier. Amtrak Cascades runs through several Oregon cities, including Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany, and Eugene.
Amtrak is constantly making improvements to its bike service, so be sure to check its Bring Your Bike Onboard page for the most current, most detailed information.
Options for bike travel on Amtrak are:
Carry your bike onboard
• Carry-on bicycle service (Amtrak Cascades route only) allows you to bring your full-size bike onboard with you for a $5 fee and store it in a bike rack on a main train car. Racks accommodate tires up to 2 inches wide. Reservations are recommended.
• Folding bikes always count as a piece of carry-on luggage and can be brought onboard and stowed.
Check your bike as baggage
• All trains will ship boxed bikes. Stations with baggage service sell bike boxes for $15, or you can bring your own box.
Please note: To travel by train with your bike as baggage (trainside-checked or boxed), make sure your departing station and your destination are both baggage stop stations. Oregon City does not offer baggage service or sell bike boxes. Bike boxes and baggage service are available in Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene.
Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System - Eugene
Also known as the Willamette River Trail, this paved bike path loops the Willamette River as it flows through Eugene. The path can be easily chunked into smaller sections for shorter, easier rides. Along the route there are children's play areas, restrooms, ducks, gardens, parks and wildlife.
The North Bank Path (5 miles) which passes the BMX Track, the Eugene Science Center and winds through Alton Baker Park is a favorite. Hungry child? Take a break for lunch at McMenamins North Bank riverfront restaurant with outside patio seating. Or ride over to the Valley River Center mall to choose from their food courts.
The South Bank Path (4 miles) passes the Owen Rose Garden and the RiverPlay Discover Village Playground at Skinner Butte Park. Use one of the five bike bridges along the trail to create a small loop ride. Children love all the playground possibilities along this ride which can make for a longer afternoon!
Mill Race Path - Springfield
The Mill Race Path is a pleasant ride that parallels the Springfield Mill Race, a constructed waterway from the 1800s. Its three miles course through wetlands which makes it an interesting journey for children eager to spot wildlife from nutria to frogs to ducks. There are also industrial views of factories and the older Booth-Kelly buildings. The Mill Race connects downtown Springfield to the Middle Fork Path (Clearwater Park) for a larger seven-mile stretch. There are restrooms and a picnic area at the Booth-Kelly trailhead.
If you are comfortable riding in business districts with your children, end the ride with a stop in downtown Springfield along Main Street. There are great restaurants and cafes here and the large colorful murals are fun to see. The Emerald Art Center is always a treat and inside the kids can pose with a replica Simpson family for a photo! (Or pose outside with The Simpsons mural.)
Middle Fork Path - Springfield
The Middle Fork bike path from Clearwater Park to Dorris Ranch is a wide, shaded four-mile long lane along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. There are restrooms at each end and one near the midway point. What's great about this path is the easy access to the water. Cool your feet off in the shallows but always stay with your children and beware the rapids can be stronger than they look. Rather than swimming, it's just nice to have a rest by the water's edge and soak in all the beauty.
Row River Trail - Cottage Grove
The Row River Trail is a beautiful trail alongside Dorena Reservoir. It is a great trail for older and experienced cyclists because it is 15 miles long and has a slight incline in places. However, if you plan out your turn-around, it is always great for younger families because it has long flat stretches and is mostly buffered from traffic. There are just a few road crossings and the biggest have been enhanced with pedestrian-crossing safety features like flashing lights.
This is a favorite ride of ours because the views are gorgeous whether through meadows, along the shore or through dark, shady forest. It is also part of the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway that rolls through several covered bridges and covers 35 miles.
Experience Oregon by bike
No matter what your biking level might be, there are trails to give the whole family the opportunity to experience the beauty of Oregon. Amtrak Cascades is the best way to travel to Eugene and not have to deal with traffic and parking. Bring your bikes on board and explore Oregon!