The second most populous city in Oregon (after Portland), Eugene is a bustling college town, with the public flagship University of Oregon at its center. Not only is this hip city known for its artistic, culinary, and brewing prowess, it’s a thriving center of outdoor adventure, with running being no exception to the rule. The birthplace of Nike and hometown of the U.S. Olympic Track Trials, Eugene is sometimes referred to as “Track Town, USA.” It should come as no surprise then, that there are plenty of great options for running in Eugene.
The centerpiece of Eugene’s trail system is the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System along the Willamette River. Other notable park trails are Pre’s Trail in Alton Baker Park, the Adidas Oregon Trail/Rexius Trail through Amazon Park, and the Middle Fork Bike Path at Dorris Ranch. Those on the west end of the city will have access to the nicest sections of the Fern Ridge Trail. We’ve also mapped out some of the nicest neighborhoods for running in Eugene. Some of the best trail running options include the scenic Spencer Butte trails, the Ridgeline Trail from Hendricks Park, and the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum. For a destination run, head to McKenzie River Trail, considered one of the best trail runs in the state.
The LTD, Eugene’s public transit authority, is a reliable and environmentally friendly way to get about town. Most of our routes are covered by this extensive bus system. The city is also incredibly bike and pedestrian friendly — it’s possible to run to (or connect) many of these routes on safe, separated city sidewalks!
