Unique Family-Friendly Fall Activities You’ll Love Near Eugene

Fall might just be the perfect season in the South Willamette Valley. With the area’s Mediterranean climate, the weather has cooled a bit but is still summery, making it a perfect time to explore outdoors and enjoy the harvest season’s bounty. I’ve rounded up a list of list of eight of my favorite family-friendly things to do over nearly two decades of exploring in and around Eugene, Oregon, and hope that some of these ideas inspire your next adventure as we cross over into “spooky season.”

1. Celebrate All Things Apple, Including U-Pick, at Detering Orchards “Apple Daze.”

We’ve visited Detering Orchards, a conventional family-owned farm just outside of Eugene (in nearby Harrisburg), many times, and their lineup of offerings has grown alongside our kids. During Apple Daze from September 27 – October 26, 2025 the farm goes gang-busters with a lineup of family fun. Most activities are only $5, and entry is free. Little ones will enjoy the playground, animal corral, and treasure mining. Older kids will enjoy the corn maze and mechanical bull. Folks of all ages will savor the caramel apples and tamales, and U-pick makes for great family memories and photos.

After all the festivities, grownups can enjoy adult beverages (beer and hard cider) in “the Saloon,” a Beergarden where you can also catch a Ducks game and sit by the fire.

2. Take a Walking Tour of Charming Coburg, and Spot the Festive Scarecrows.

Coburg is a sweet historic town founded in 1847 right off 1-5 near Eugene that I didn’t pay much attention to at first, mostly passing through on the way to farms like Detering, but over the years I’ve come to love it and especially the wonderful small-town community events that they put on each season.

Spot the creative and spooky scarecrows around town.

Each time I visit Coburg, I feel like I’ve stepped into another era, akin to the setting of “The Gilmore Girls.” At the annual Scarecrow Festival, community members compete to win the best scarecrow exhibit, with creations on display October 3 – 31. The festival culminates with a community event, this year on October 26, 2025, with a Pumpkin 5K race, Harvest Market (to jump-start your holiday shopping), music, food trucks, and treats like s’mores and apple cider.

3. Day-Trip To Clear Lake for a Breathtaking Fall Foliage Hike and Spooky Submerged Ancient Trees.

Beautiful Clear Lake, located within Willamette National Forest off Highway 126, just over a one-hour drive northeast of Eugene, is fun to visit year-round but is especially magical when the leaves start to change. This 3,000-year-old volcanic lake is known for its exceptionally clear, crisp water, and by boat you can see up to 200 feet down and catch a glimpse of the spooky ancient forest (you can also see some of the trees from the dock). Seasonally, you can rent rowboats and canoes from the little resort if you don’t have your own, or launch a SUP or kayak.

As soon as fall foliage peaks, though, you’re in for a rare treat. The easy Clear Lake Loop Trail, about 4.8-miles round-trip with only 200 miles of elevation, is a wonderful fall excursion for the whole family. As you meander the loop, you’ll be immersed in fall color, with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the beautiful reflection on the crystal clear water. The trail is open seasonally from May to Oct. Wondering when the leaves will peak? OregonLive shares a fall leaf color guide every year, which should give you a good idea of when to expect peak foliage by county.

4. Meet Gentle Night Creatures Along a Festive Pumpkin-Lit Trail at Nearby Nature’s Haunted Hike.

Nearby Nature, headquartered within Alton Baker Park in Eugene, is a great local environmental nonprofit that believes “…people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities thrive when they connect with nature nearby.”

Geared for children from preschool through elementary but welcoming all families, Nearby Nature offers an impressive lineup of day camps, family nature quests, and more year-round. The not-to-miss Haunted Hike, now in its 29th year, is an excellent outdoor festivity for families with younger children. The hike features night creature-themed activities in the shelter, followed by a one-hour guided pumpkin-lit hike in Alton Baker Park, where you’ll meet and learn from native costumed night creatures like a bat, frog, spider, owl, and more. The hike is open for pre-registration, so reserve your spot today. The event is non-refundable and takes place rain or shine. Cost: Members – free, individuals – $10, families – $25.

5. Explore the Eerie Historic Cemetery and Native Oak Savannah With Sweeping Views at Gillespie Butte.

Have you heard of Gillespie Butte? I had been exploring Eugene area trails for years before a friend introduced me to this unique 5-acre urban open space park with rolling fields, white oak trees (native to the Willamette Valley), a spooky pioneer cemetery, and sweeping city views.

According to “Find a Grave,” the land was once part of the homestead of Rev. Jacob Gillespie and family, which was donated in 1895 to the Gillespie Cemetery Association. At the time, the family burial ground was located farther down, and the original graves were relocated. Be prepared if you are exploring this area with the kiddos, that in addition to the historic cemetery, it is still being used as a modern gravesite, which could spark conversation.

Whether you visit for the eerie cemetery or the views, this is a unique and special urban park, with native grassland and plants, and a perspective of the city that you won’t forget. The park is open from dawn until dusk and can be accessed by parking along the gate at 1135 Crenshaw Road or parking along the dead-end street via the back-end trail (through the graveyard). Get directions here.

6. Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA), located on the University of Oregon campus, is an impressive art museum that has been serving the community since 1933 with a mission of showcasing collections and galleries that bridge international cultures. In addition to their galleries and special exhibits, they host community events, including the free not-to-be-missed Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) celebration which is traditionally held on November 1 and 2. Celebrated primarily in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage as well as in other Latin American countries in certain forms, Dia de los Muertos celebrates death as a part of life with a focus on joy, remembrance, and connection with the spirits of loved ones.

JSMA does not seem to have the event page up yet, but mark your calendar and check back. Last year’s event was a full house, with free food, music, and an opportunity to view the ofrendas. In the meantime, if you’d like to participate in honoring a loved one at the ofrenda, from October 22 to November 2, 2025, you can bring a photo of a loved one who has passed away and place it in the altar to be viewed during museum hours.

7. Visit Thistledown Farm for Apple Cider Donuts and Farm Fun and Groundwork Organics for Pumpkins and Produce.

Thistledown Farm was our go-to for fall family fun when the kids were littler, and I have featured it in my older blog “Fall Foliage Hikes and Farm Fun in the South Willamette Valley.” In the past, we loved heading out there for the full family experience, with options like a petting zoo, playground, hay rides, and more. Most importantly, though, it is your Eugene area go-to for the Thistledown Bakery apple cider donuts.

These days, since the kids have outgrown the “agritainment,” we drop by Thistledown for donuts and cider and then head across the street to pick up certified organic produce and carving pumpkins from Groundwork Organics. For the first time, Groundwork will also be offering a hay maze this year, so make a day of it and support both of these fantastic Eugene-area family farms.

8. Sip Cocoa (And Enjoy Italian Espresso, Cookies, and More) in a Bus Cafe!

Eugene has many cafes to choose from, but if you haven’t been to the locally-owned Crown Bus Café on 2646 Willamette Street, you are in for a special treat. The owner, John, realized his dream when he refurbished a 1986 school bus and converted it to a cafe. John roasts all his coffee (and has been doing that for years), and even makes his own Italian baked goodies and syrups. I was intrigued by the pizzelle, which is like an Italian krumkake. I also recently noticed that the menu has expanded to include matcha and chai: welcome additions for tea lovers.

The bus is a fun stop for everyone from tots to seniors and is located in South Eugene en route to one of Eugene’s must-do hikes: Spencer Butte (a great place for fall foliage).

I hope that this blog has inspired you to try a new adventure in the South Willamette Valley this fall. If you’ve enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy Ideas for a More Sustainable Fall in the South Willamette Valley and Fall Foliage Hikes and Farm Fun in the South Willamette Valley.