The Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System is Eugene's best way to understand the city on foot or by bike. The paved trails follow both banks of the Willamette River, linking downtown, the University of Oregon, Alton Baker Park, Skinner Butte, Island Park in Springfield, and a string of pedestrian bridges that let you make loops instead of retracing your steps.
It is not a wilderness trail, and that is the point: this is everyday Eugene, with commuters, runners, dog walkers, families on bikes, and views back to the low hills around town. Bring a bike if you want to cover ground, or walk a shorter stretch from downtown across the DeFazio Bridge into Alton Baker Park.