Eugene

Eugene's identity has been shaped by three enduring forces: the University of Oregon, a history of elite running, and the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers. Bill Bowerman, the UO track coach who co-founded Nike, waffle-ironed his first prototype sole in Eugene in the 1970s, and Steve Prefontaine's record-breaking career at Hayward Field cemented the city's place in American athletics history. The track at Hayward Field rebuilt into a world-class 25,000-seat stadium in 2020 has hosted more US Olympic Trials than any other venue. The Saturday Market, operating every Saturday from April through November, is the longest-running open-air crafts market in the United States. The 5th Street Public Market hosts a permanent collection of artisan food vendors, coffee roasters, and restaurants. The McKenzie River National Recreation Trail leads east from Eugene into the Cascade foothills, following a river of extraordinary clarity through old-growth Douglas fir forests past natural waterslides, lava flows, and volcanic lakes. The Willamette River Trail system provides 12 miles of paved path through the city connecting downtown to Alton Baker Park and the Science Factory children's museum.