Oregon offers runners a year-round playground of diverse terrain — from coastal trails and high-desert single-track to mountain passes and old-growth forests. Whether you’re training for your personal best, exploring new trails or just having fun with friends, there are events across the state for every style and distance.
Find your people in a thriving community of running clubs from the many options in Portland like the Oregon Road Runners Club and trail-focused crews like NW Dirt Churners and the Wy’east Wolfpack. Eugene’s Oregon Track Club and the Columbia Gorge Running Club also often welcome visiting runners.
Here’s your seasonal guide to Oregon’s top running events.
Spring
(March-May)
Oregon’s racing season kicks off with soggy trails and muddy finishes — and runners wouldn’t have it any other way.
Don some green and try your luck at one of the many races celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Join Oregon’s largest running party at the Shamrock Run (Portland); or, if you prefer a smaller scene, opt for the St. Patrick’s Day Dash (Bend).
Warm up your legs at early-season road races like Bridge to Brews (Portland) and the Champoeg State Park Run (St. Paul).
For a bigger challenge, sign up for one of these marathons or half marathons: Bend Marathon and Salmon Run (Bend), Eugene Marathon, Cottage Grove Half Marathon, Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon (Dundee), Run on the River (Astoria), Eastern Oregon Half Marathon (Spray) or the Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon (Portland).
Spring kicks off the muddy start to trail-racing season with the Siuslaw Dunes (Florence) Owyhee Off-Road Challenge (Adrian), the Crown Stub 100 (Buxton), Gorge Waterfalls (Cascade Locks), Peterson Ridge Rumble (Sisters) and the Mudslinger Trail Run (Blodgett).
Celebrate the season’s blooms at fun runs like the Gresham Lilac Run, the Pear Blossom Run (Medford) and the Wooden Shoe TulipFest Run (Woodburn), which also includes a half marathon.
Summer
(June-August)
Oregon’s summer running season takes full advantage of Oregon’s beautiful summer weather and spectacular scenery, including mountain vistas, dense forests and coastal views.
Celebrate the Fourth of July with one of the many patriotic events across the state, like the Foot Traffic Flat (Sauvie Island), Independence Day Half Marathon (St. Paul), Newport Celebration Run (Newport), Butte to Butte 10K (Eugene) or Firecracker Run (Coos Bay).
Summer unlocks Oregon’s high-country trails that climb through wildflower meadows and old-growth forests in races like the McKenzie River Trail Run (McKenzie Bridge), Alpine Solstice (Bend), Bend Dirt Fest Half Marathon, Hagg Lake Half Marathon (Henry Hagg Lake), Mt. Hood 50 (Timothy Lake), Haulin’ Aspen (Bend), Oregon Cascades 100 (Sisters), Elkhorn Crest 50 (Sumpter), Wy’east Wonder (Parkdale) and the Hood Hundred (Mt. Hood).
Road runners will find destination-worthy courses with mountain backdrops and coastal views at the Newport Marathon, Timberline Marathon (Government Camp) and Crater Lake Rim Runs.
Gather your crew for one of Oregon’s legendary relay races, including the Cascade Lakes Relay (Bend), Elkhorn Relay (La Grande) and Hood to Coast Relay (Mt. Hood to Seaside).
Combine your miles with Oregon’s craft-beverage scene at runs ending at local breweries and wineries, like the Bend Beer Run, Oregon Brewery Running Series (various locations) or Wicked Wine Run (Eugene).
Fall
(September-November)
Fall offers Oregon’s most spectacular running conditions as temperatures cool and landscapes transform with autumn colors. Enjoy vineyard marathons during harvest season and take the whole crew to costume-filled Halloween races and Thanksgiving Turkey Trots.
Cool temperatures and peak foliage make fall ideal for longer distances like the Portland Marathon or the Columbia Gorge Marathon (Hood River), both of which offer half marathons and shorter runs for varying skill levels.
Hit the trails as forests turn gold at these autumn trail races, including the Mountain Lakes 100 (Mt. Hood), Silver Falls Trail Runs (Sublimity), Autumn Leaves 50/50 (St. Paul), Perpetua Coast (Yachats) and the Rogue Gorge (Union Creek).
Embrace the season with family-friendly costume runs and holiday-themed races like the Turkey Trot at the Zoo (Portland), I Like Pie Thanksgiving Fun Run (Bend), Turkey Trot Eugene or Mt. Angel Oktoberfest.
Winter
(December-February)
Oregon’s winter running season offers year-round athletes opportunities to stay motivated despite challenging weather conditions.
Get festive at holiday-themed runs like the Ugly Sweater Run and Walk (Sisters) or the Holiday Half (Portland), or hit up one of Eugene’s many celebratory fun runs, like the Holiday Sweater Stroll, Frozen Trail Run Fest and the Jingle Bells Run.
Ring in the new year at the First Run (Eugene), the Newport Resolution Run (with optional Polar Bear Plunge into the Pacific Ocean) or the Resolution Run & Walk (Corvallis). Later in January, beat the winter blues with the Cascade Half Marathon (Turner).
Join your loved ones at Valentine’s-themed races like Cupid’s Chocolate Chase (Eugene), Hagg Mud (Gaston), Run Love Run (Newport) and Heart to Start (Tigard).
