| Spencer Butte | |
| Type: | Butte |
| Photo Width: | 300px |
| Photo Alt: | Eugene and Spencer Butte from Skinner Butte |
| Map: | USA Oregon Spencer Butte and Eugene |
| Map Width: | 250 |
| Coordinates: | 43.9831°N -123.0957°W |
| Location: | South of Eugene, Oregon, USA |
| Range: | Cascade Volcanoes |
| Part Of: | Little Butte Volcanics[1] |
| Highest Point: | 2058feet |
| Formed By: | Intrusion of lava through sandstone base, and subsequent erosion of sandstone |
| Geology: | Butte |
| Age: | approximately 23 to 30 million years |
| Orogeny: | Phanerozoic orogen |
Spencer Butte is a prominent landmark in Lane County, Oregon, United States, described in the National Geodetic Survey as "a prominent timbered butte with a bare rocky summit" on the southern edge of Eugene, with an elevation of 2058feet. Spencer Butte is accessible from Spencer Butte Park and has several hiking trails to the summit.[2] The tree cover on the butte is predominantly Douglas fir; however, the butte is treeless at its summit. The butte is the tallest point visible when looking south from downtown Eugene.
The butte is called Champ-a te or Cham-o-tee by the native Kalapuya, meaning rattlesnake.[3]
One popular theory is that Spencer Butte was named for a young Englishman of the Hudson's Bay Company named Spencer, who was said to have been killed by the Kalapuya after climbing the hill alone.[4] Another, less popular theory holds that the butte was named after Secretary of War John C. Spencer in July 1845 by Elijah White. Spencer was no longer Secretary of War by 1845, however.
Spencer Butte is volcanic in origin, potentially being a volcanic plug.
. William L. Sullivan (author) . 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades . 3rd . 2005 . Navillus Press . . 0-9677830-6-2 . 176 - 177.