Near the southern edge of the Willamette Valley, Eugene brings together a little of everything that makes the region so special: acclaimed vineyards just outside of town, fascinating museums and outdoor recreation along the area’s rivers.
Travelers of all mobilities love how the city makes its attractions accessible to all visitors. Now visitors have a new advocate in the travel platform Wheel the World. Through a statewide partnership with Travel Oregon, experts surveyed the accessibility of dozens of stops in Eugene for visitors needing a range of accommodations — documenting everything from the width of doors to bathroom access. Here are some ways to enjoy Eugene’s accessible hotels, outdoor fun and unique cultural offerings.
Experience the Outdoors by River or Forest
Trails in and around Eugene — including outdoor opportunities along the crystal-clear McKenzie River — await wheelchair users and those with other disabilities. Near downtown, the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System brings together 12 miles of wide, paved paths that largely hug the Willamette River. Five bridges for trail users make it easy to stitch together loops of varying lengths while heading through neighborhoods, parkland and quiet forests.
Farther afield, Mount Pisgah Arboretum offers plenty to love throughout the year — from colorful wildflower blooms in spring to vibrant foliage displays every fall. Wheelchair users and those with other disabilities can experience that natural beauty by renting an all-terrain electric wheelchair from David’s Chair, which offers reservations through its website. These sturdy devices use tank-like treads to traverse uneven surfaces.
Adaptive recreation takes center stage at Hilyard Community Center in Amazon Park. All manner of adaptive equipment rentals are available — including trikes, handcycles, all-terrain wheelchairs and recumbent bikes — and can be enjoyed on the park’s paved paths. Amazon Park also hosts Eugene’s first fully wheelchair-accessible playground, which features three types of swings, rubber surfacing and wide sidewalks.
East of Eugene, in the foothills of the Cascade Range, Helfrich McKenzie Rafting strives to accommodate passengers with disabilities while riding the crystal-clear McKenzie River’s famous riffles and rapids. Owner Jonnie Helfrich says that her outfitter welcomes guests with a variety of disabilities, including those with vision, hearing and mobility impairments — typically after discussing their needs and seeing which of her outfitter’s trips may be right for each passenger.
Enjoy Local Arts, Performances and Museums
Cultural attractions around Eugene welcome visitors with hearing loss, users with mobility disabilities and more.
In downtown the wheelchair-accessible John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts hosts a variety of live performances all year long — with a busy calendar that may include classical musicians, jazz and blues artists, musical theater and stand-up comedians. Hearing these incredible acts clearly is easy with the institute’s hearing-loop system that transmits audio directly to telecoil-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants.
In addition to the Shedd Institute, hearing-loop systems are available at numerous attractions around Eugene — including the Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. There you’ll find thousands of artifacts, fossils, specimens and objects that cover thousands of years of history in Oregon and throughout the world. The museum’s exhibits, hallways and bathrooms are all fully wheelchair-accessible and wide enough for a range of mobility devices.
If you’re coming to see the University of Oregon Ducks, a perennial football powerhouse, the team’s home base, Autzen Stadium, offers a wide range of accessibility services — including accessible seating areas and on-site parking, courtesy trams into the stadium and alternative listening devices.
How to Dine, Stay and Travel
Expect even more inclusive options at restaurants and hotels in Eugene — and great, car-free ways to arrive at your destination.
At the 5th Street Public Market, treat yourself to a night out at the French-inspired Marché — which crafts an ever-changing menu with locally sourced ingredients from nearby growers. Elsewhere at the market, the airy Magpie Coffeeshop dishes up a lively menu of pastries, hand pies and more. Across the Willamette River, Sunriver Brewing Co. pairs Oregon-made craft beers with upscale takes on comfort-food classics — including wagyu sliders and General Tso’s fried cauliflower. For a taste of the Willamette Valley’s celebrated wine scene, settle in for sips at chic Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge.
Extend your time in Eugene with a stay at one of the community’s hotels. In the heart of downtown, the Graduate by Hilton Eugene pays tribute to its hometown through University of Oregon-themed color schemes in each spacious room and displays that celebrate Eugene’s reputation as “TrackTown USA.” On the banks of the Willamette River north of downtown, the cool and modern — and fully remodeled — Valley River Inn offers large rooms with private balconies that overlook the water, as well as large roll-in showers. Don’t miss the intimate on-site restaurant, which offers farm-to-table cuisine, a great wine list and a lounge with a cozy fireplace area very welcoming to those in wheelchairs.
For public transit within the area, Lane Transit District provides lift-equipped buses throughout Eugene and in neighboring Springfield. If you’re taking the train into town, the city’s Amtrak Station sits at the northern edge of downtown Eugene and offers a wheelchair-accessible platform, wheelchair lifts and a loaner wheelchair. The Eugene Airport also offers loaner wheelchairs.
