Green Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek

The wood chip paths of Alton Baker Park are flat and easy. Road shoes will work fine on these well-maintained trails.

Pre's Trail is popular, and runners and walkers of all ability levels can be found on the trail throughout the day. Be willing to share the path with those moving faster or slower than your own pace.

Keep an eye out for flying discs on the western portion of the Green Loop, as it runs near a disc golf course.

One of the three loops making up Pre's Trail, the Green Loop is the most commonly-visited segment, being closest to parking and several Alton Baker Park attractions. The most common starting point is the parking area on the western end; the trailhead can be seen next to a map sign at the northeast corner of the lot.

The Green Loop is almost entirely a wide, flat doubletrack on mulch-covered gravel. The path is very well maintained, and small rocks will only be visible in areas where the wood chips have worn thin.

Moving in a clockwise direction, the Loop meanders alongside a large grassy field to the right. At the quarter mile point it briefly merges into a parallel gravel trail. It then turns to the south, making a slow circle around Hays Tree Garden, which is visible just across the creek on the right. University of Oregon's Autzen Stadium will soon come into view through the trees on the other side, though on game days runners will have heard it coming from far away.

The Green Loop then turns east near the colorful Science Factory building, following the creek. As it comes to the south gate of Autzen Stadium, the trail crosses a wooden footbridge. Turn left after the bridge if taking Pre's Trail in its entirety, or bear right to stay on the Green Loop.

The trail borders a huge dog park to the left for a quarter mile and then circles near Cuthbert Ampitheater to the right. A few S turns are all that remain before the Green Loop ends back near the parking lot.

While the loops of Pre's Trail don't stay in any one environment for long, it does provide short opportunties to see several types of western Oregon wildlife and plants. Wooded and grassland sections alternate, along with some interesting riparian segments along the river. Wildlife is mostly restricted to smaller park animals like ducks and frogs, though fox sightings in the Natural Area are common. Birds circling overheads can include eagles, herons, and ospreys.