Eugene has a metropolitan population of about 190,000 and is located 110 miles south of Portland. The cost of living is modest. The Pacific Ocean is about 60 miles to the west and the Cascade Mountains are about 60 miles to the east. Eugene's temperate climate has pleasantly warm, sunny summers and mild but wet winters, with lots of snow in the mountains but seldom in Eugene itself. It is an ideal place for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing (cross-country or downhill), fishing, white-water rafting and rock-climbing. Indoor athletics can be enjoyed in the UO's brand new Student Recreation and Fitness Center. For those who enjoy spectator sports, the UO belongs to the PAC-10 athletic conference. The UO School of Music, University Theatre, and Cultural Forum offer performances, films, and lectures on campus. Eugene offers the cultural benefits of a large city with the friendly feel of a small town throughout its many excellent bookstores, restaurants, coffee shops, and concert venues. Eugene's Hult Center for the Performing Arts offers nationally known talent ranging from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to rock bands, and regular seasons of theater, opera and ballet.

• More Web Sites about Eugene
• Photographs of Oregon
• Photographs of the Campus

Here are some links to maps and other sites about recreation in and around Eugene:

• Map of Campus
• Maps of Eugene
• Map of Lane County
• City of Eugene
• Oregon Coast
• Hiking in Oregon

Here are links to some photos taken by faculty member Chris Phillips that may serve to give you an idea of some of the natural wonders near to the University of Oregon Campus. All these pictures were taken in Eugene or on one day excursions from Eugene. Hiking is required for some, but all are within two miles of the road on well maintained trails.

• Big Obsidian Flow in Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument. (About 130 miles from Eugene.)
• Paulina Falls, at the outlet from Newberry Caldera, in Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument. (About 130 miles from Eugene.)
• Mt. Hood reflected in Mirror Lake. (About 160 miles from Eugene.)
• South Sister reflected in Elk Lake. (About 110 miles from Eugene.)
• South Sister from Moraine Lake. (About 120 miles from Eugene.)
• South Sister reflected in Moraine Lake, in late July of a year with heavy snowfall. (About 120 miles from Eugene.)
• Sawtooth Mountain reflected in Indigo Lake, from the shore of the north end of the lake. (About 80 miles from Eugene.)
• Wildflowers in Cone Peak Meadows. (About 70 miles from Eugene.)
• Fall colors on a tree on the University of Oregon campus (near the Faculty Club).
• Strands of spider web with dew, among red fall leaves on a small tree on a Eugene street.
• Sea lion caves on the coast just north of Florence. (About 70 miles from Eugene.)
• Sunset at the beach at Devil's Elbow State Park, north of Florence. (About 70 miles from Eugene.)

These photos were taken by faculty member Peter Gilkey.

• Deady Hall (half of the Mathematics Department).
• Deady Hall on an unusually snowy day.
• Fenton Hall on the same snowy day (the other half of the Mathematics Department).
• Collier House.
• Friendly Hall.
• Main University Library.
• Statue of Pioneer Father.