Willamette Heights Park is an unexpected little nook atop a butte behind downtown Springfield. While only four acres in size, the greenspace offers gorgeous views of Dorris Ranch, the Willamette River, and Spencer Butte on the other side of the valley. 

What makes Willamette Heights Park worth the adventure is how hidden it feels both in terms of its location and the stories it holds. Atop the hill is a peculiar three-sided concrete pillar with a large “S” on each panel. It’s covered with a mess of colorful and often juvenile graffiti. No plaque is present to explain its purpose, but the obelisk has history.

The “Varsity Spirit Rock” was created by Springfield High School’s graduating class of 1948. Before the forest grew around it, students could see it from the high school. It served as a good luck charm for sporting events and a beacon of school spirit.

Invasive English ivy coats much of the forest floor around the “S Rock” and the surrounding hillsides. The somewhat spooky forgottenness of this park begs the question of how we could better honor this land and its memories. The first step in doing so, I believe, is getting people to visit it and take an interest in its preservation and restoration.

Suggested Route for Newcomers: 

  • Hike a loop through the forest and stop to see the “S” landmark.
  • Start at the parking lot near the park’s large grassy front at 508 Valley View in Springfield, which includes a picnic table and bench to enjoy the scenery.
  • At the south end of the parking area, walk around the left side of the barrier to follow a trail through the grassy hillside toward the forest.
  • Keep right on the meandering trails through the forest. There’s no official trail map for this area and it can seem like a maze of social paths. None are longer than about a quarter-mile and will always loop back to the front of the park, so have fun exploring.
  • When you make your way back to the grassy front, follow the trail at the middle of the hill up to see the monument.

Suggested Route to Keep Exploring: 

  • For a longer walk with additional history, park at the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Park on South C Street between South 3rd and 4th streets in Springfield. 
  • Read the plaque near the preserved tombstones at the entrance of the park and meander the path through the quarter-acre greenspace, which began as a cemetery in 1852. Through years of neglect, it was closed to the public in 1915 and most of the buried were relocated to other cemeteries. A beautification effort by the city in 1973 finally reopened the space as a park. It’s estimated that at least 21 graves still remain.
  • Walk the steep hill up South 4th Street, which turns into South G Street. Keep right as it curves toward the top.
  • Near signs for the intersection of Perry Street and South G Street, you’ll find a trail into the forested area of Willamette Heights Park. Follow the trails to the left for the quickest route to the grassy area where the “S Rock” is, or choose your own adventure.
  • Return to your car the same way you came.   

Know Before You Go:

  • No trail maps are available for the park.
  • The park is tucked within a neighborhood.

Korrin Bishop is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience covering travel and outdoor recreation. Her work has appeared in publications including Fodor's Travel, U.S. News & World Report, Southern Living, Sierra Magazine, and Adventure Journal. At Lookout Eugene-Springfield, Korrin covers adventures, skill-building, and community in the outdoors. Learn more at korrinbishop.com.