The town of Cottage Grove, some 20 miles south of Eugene [1], is known for its covered bridges (there are six in the area; find excellent details at www.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/bridge/covered_bridges.shtml [2]) and as being the gateway to the Bohemia mining district, site of old abandoned mines.
Check the Cottage Grove Pioneer Museum (Birch Ave. and H St., 541/942-3963) for more information on these attractions, or contact the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce (710 E. Gibbs Ave., 541/942-2411, www.cgchamber.com [3]), located 2 miles east of the ranger station in Cottage Grove.
Ask also about the 14.1-mile Row River Trail, a rails-to-trails route that follows the paved-over tracks of an old mining train from Cottage Grove to Culp Creek—perfect for mountain biking, birding, and mushroom hunting (especially after the first fall rains).
For more information on this route, contact the Bureau of Land Management, Eugene District (2890 Chad Dr., 541/683-6600).
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oregon/the-willamette-valley/eugene
[2] http://www.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/bridge/covered_bridges.shtml
[3] http://www.cgchamber.com