Experience TrackTown with these signature things to do. Come early or stay a few extra nights after the Eugene Marathon to explore the places and things that make this area so great. 

Mannequins wearing Prefontaine shirts.
: Melanie Griffin

Eugene Running Company

Running Stores

When a runner visits the heart and home of track and field, bringing home some running gear just feels like the right thing to do! Have the experts at Run Hub Northwest provide you with specialized footwear service using tools like 3-D foot scans and gait analysis to find the perfect fit. Nike was started here in Eugene, so grabbing a new Nike fit in its birthplace is a must. The folks at Eugene Running Company want you to leave with the right gear and a renewed love of running. These stores also have running clubs if you want to join a fun shakeout with the locals during your visit. 

The bark chip trail goes through leafy green forest.
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Pre's Trail

Running Trails

Pre's Trail is a bark chip path that winds through forest, past wildflower-filled meadows and along the Willamette River in honor of local Olympian Steve Prefontaine. The 4.3-mile trail is an iconic running trail that starts in Alton Baker Park. Other popular running locations in the area include the Ridgeline Trail, Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path, Hendricks Park, Mount Pisgah and the Amazon Trail. 

A view from high up of the red brick campus buildings and colorful fall trees.
: Melanie Griffin

University of Oregon

Tour the University of Oregon Campus

While your experience at the Eugene Marathon will land you on campus at the iconic Hayward Field, the rest of the University of Oregon is worth a visit. Wander the paths between elegant buildings, dine at the EMU fishbowl and explore the museums on campus, including Hayward Hall for track and field history, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. 

Woman walks through a hazelnut orchard.
: Joni Kabana

Dorris Ranch

Fast Forest

Located at Dorris Ranch in Springfield, the Fast Forest is the first of its kind. Over 700 trees have been planted as a visual marker recognizing each person who has run a sub-4-minute or 4:30-minute mile race. The project was started by Ben Blankenship, who has his own tree plaque for his 3:57.9 mile in 2010. 

a man stands on top of a rocky summit with the valley down below.
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Spencer Butte

Spencer Butte

Part of the larger Ridgeline Trail, Spencer Butte is a popular hiking trail with excellent views of the valley. From the summit, you can spot the tower at Hayward Field. This is perfect if you want to get a bird's eye view of the entire marathon course. 

Person with a skateboard waiting to order at a food truck.

Saturday Market and Farmers Market

Saturday Market

No trip to Eugene is complete without a stop at the Saturday Market. Our Saturday Market is recognized as the oldest of its kind in the United States. Pick up a unique souvenir like a hand-picked rainbow, enjoy live entertainment, join the drum circle or grab fresh produce and a pastry at the Farmers Market across the street. 

A woman smiles while swirling a glass of blush wine.
: Maggie Kirkland

Blush wine at Benton-Lane Winery

South Willamette Valley Wine Country

The Willamette Valley is renowned for having the perfect elements for growing exceptional Pinot grapes.  Take a journey down peaceful wine country roads through rolling hills to tasting rooms where you may just meet the very winemakers who craft some of the finest wines the region has to offer. Bring a designated driver or join a guided tour. 

A close up of a raptor, mostly gray feathers.
: Erin Sackett

Cascades Raptor Center

Cascades Raptor Center

Tucked into the fern forests of South Eugene is this unique, outdoor wildlife hospital. This is a great place for families and animal enthusiasts to see large birds of prey up close. With over 20 species of raptors to observe and learn about, Cascades Raptor Center is an exciting way to spend some time in nature. 

The Simpsons Mural in Springfield by Colin Morton
: Colin Morton

The real Springfield from The Simpsons

Main Street Springfield 

Eugene's neighboring city, Springfield, is also a big part of the TrackTown legacy. Historic Downtown Springfield is a walkable district perfect for shopping, dining and spotting artwork like the official The Simpsons mural. Grab coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Washburne Cafe. Enjoy beer, whiskey and a variety of food trucks in an old church building at PublicHouse. Main Street Springfield also has museums, paint your own pottery shops and theaters for entertainment that could last all day. 

20x21 Mural by WK Interact
: Colin Morton

Murals in Eugene

Discover Murals

Eugene has always been known as a great city for the arts and outdoors. In anticipation of the World Athletics Championships in track & field that came to Hayward Field in 2022, the city leaned even harder into that identity by adding to an already strong street art scene with more than 20 new murals painted by international artists and planting 2,021 giant sequoia trees. Take a self-guided tour through downtown on a hunt for exceptional street art. 

A family puts their canoe in the water before getting in to paddle.
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Canoeing at the Alton Baker Canoe Canal

Explore Waterways

The Willamette Valley is named for the river that is the lifeblood for most of the state of Oregon. We get our drinking water from the crystal clear McKenzie River, which meets the Willamette just north of Eugene. Oregonians love to be in, on or near the water. Some popular waters to paddle near Hayward Field are the Alton Baker Canoe Canal, Fern Ridge, Dorena Lake or Dexter Lake. Bring your own watercraft or rent a SUP, canoe or kayak from a local outfitter or rental shop. 

Koosah Falls in the summer
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Koosah Falls

Beyond Eugene

Within an hour of Eugene, there are plenty of exciting outdoor adventures to enjoy. Spend the night at a haunted lighthouse keeper's B&B on the Oregon Coast and go sandboarding on the dunes. Hike the McKenzie River Trail and see some of the area's most stunning waterfalls and striking lava fields. Enjoy a classic Americana road trip to the Covered Bridge Capital of the West and stop for great coffee and giant cinnamon rolls along the way