Location

 
 

Welcome to Eugene

 
Students with backpacks walking on a lit sidewalk in dowtown Eugene

There’s something special about Eugene—or actually, a lot of somethings.

Experience our arts and culture, music and nightlife, abundance of locally grown food, or simply get outside and enjoy the (usually) mild weather. This place feels familiar and friendly, and it's most definitely green. From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel right at home.

Explore Eugene

The Pacific Northwest

Where we are has a lot to say about who we are

This is our ecosystem. We’re immersed in nature. It inspires us. It informs our decisions and our innovation. The first recycling bills were drafted here. No surprise—sustainability is in our DNA. So is good coffee and fresh, locally grown food. Active isn’t an afterthought, either. It’s part of our lifestyle. We run on Pre’s Trail, bike to school, and roll along 13th Avenue. We trek through forests, climb up rocks, ski down mountains, float on water, and play along the coast on the weekends. This is where you come to explore, lean into life, be anything you want.

The State of Oregon Has:

48%
of the state covered in forest
115K
miles of rivers
363
miles of scenic coastline
24
mountain peaks over 8,200 feet

Green trees and lush, mossy-covered rocks frame Sahalie Falls, a popular hike about an hour east of Eugene on the McKenzie River.

Sahalie Falls and nearby Koosah Falls are just two of the picturesque and popular year-round waterfall hikes an hour from campus. Located to the east along the McKenzie River, both are connected by the same 2.6-mile hike. Koosah Falls is roughly 70-feet, while Sahalie cascades nearly 100 feet down.

A group of students on a rocky beach under forested cliff face

The Oregon Coast is a little over an hour away by car from campus. Whether for a day trip, overnight camping adventure, or a winding road trip through its 362-miles of coastline, visiting the Pacific Ocean is a treat.

Nighttime view of a conical volcano mountain mirrored in an alpine lake

Oregon is a special place for the outdoors, and where we are says a lot about who we are. Eugene is nestled in the center of the Willamette Valley, at the heart of the Pacific Northwest. The snowy Cascade Mountain Range is about an hour east of campus. Whether you're skiing, hiking, or just looking for some high desert sunshine, there is no shortage of natural beauty nearby.

Looking towards the sunset from the middle of a large river surrounded by forest.

Our 295-acre riverside campus is small enough that you'll see familiar faces on your way to class, but still big enough to wander through new buildings and unexpected courtyards during your time here. The Willamette River splits the main campus from our athletic complexes and football stadium. Nearby Pre's Trail is a popular spot for running, walking, and biking.

An observatory dome is surrounded by forested hills.

Oregon boosts 255 state parks, including one of the most photographed in the Northwest, Smith Rock. The University of Oregon's Pine Mountain Observatory just outside of Bend, Oregon, is operated by the University of Oregon Department of Physics under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest. The observatory's primary function is research and other astronomical observations, including basic and advanced scientific research.

Why UO

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