Summer road races, trail runs begin in earnest in the Gorge

THE GORGE - The June 13 White Salmon Backyard Half (and four miler) continued the summer road and trail running season in the Gorge, nearby Mount Hood wilderness area and its surroundings.

The Columbia Gorge Running Club is a great resource for those looking for a challenge this summer – tackling the roads and trails in the scenic area. Whether it’s 100 miles or 100 yards, there is a race for everyone in the coming months in the Gorge.

What follows is a sampling of some of the runs on tap for the Gorge in 2026.

Strawberry Fields Forever

The June 20-21 Strawberry Fields Forever 50K, 100K and 100-mile races begin at 8 a.m. with the longer runs – the 10k run begins at 9 a.m. The course is a 10K loop starting at the North Bonneville, WA., ball fields.

The race is named after Strawberry Island; the course is dirt and gravel trails of 200-feet of elevation gain and loss. Runners can get an award for a 10K, 50K 100K or 100-mile finish within a 30-hour limit (100 miles is 16 loops).

Brock Schoene of Vancouver, WA., won last year’s 50K race in a course record 3:30.51. Visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information. To register go to ultrasignup.com.

Wy'east Wonder

The Wy’east Wonder 50-mile or 50-kilometer races are June 27 at the Red Barn Park in Parkdale. The start is at Bennett Pass Sno Park at 8 a.m. with a shuttle taking runners to the start from the park.

The 50-mile run has a 7,600-foot elevation gain and a 10,600-foot loss; the 50-kilometer run is a more moderate 4,300-foot gain, and a 7,200-foot loss. For information visit gobeyondracing.com.

Maryhill Wine Run

The Maryhill Wine Run is a 5-kilomter running/walking event which begins at 9 a.m. June 21 at the winery overlooking the Columbia River south of Goldendale, WA. For more information or to register visit runsignup.com.

Kollas Cranmer Memorial

Registration begins at 7 a.m. for the annual Kollas-Cranmer Memorial 4th of July run – the point-to-point run begins at the fire station in Odell and ends 7.41 miles away at Jackson Park in Hood River. Walkers start at 8 a.m. and runners set off at 9 a.m.

The race is a popular Fourth of July tradition in the Gorge and attracts families – and the end of the race traverses a good part of the Hood River Lion’s Club’s holiday parade route. The course includes an overall 300-foot drop in elevation, but the route (Highway 281) dips down to the Hood River and back up again – taxing runners a third of the way through the course.

Last year’s race was won by Kai Wagner, who bested his former Hood River Valley teammate Logan King (40:34 to 41:17).

McCubbins Gulch Trail Race

The McCubbins Gulch Trail Race is July 12 at McCubbins Gulch Campground, in Mt Hood National Forest about 23 miles west of Maupin. The 10-kilometer course crosses streams and is full of ups and downs. Visit findtherun.com for more information or register at runsignup.com.

Hood Hundred

There’s a waiting list for the sold out, Hood Hundred (100-mile) race, Aug. 1-2 at Mt. Hood Meadows. If runners want to get into that race – which traverses trails at the base of looming Mount Hood - they’ll need one of the 250 entrants to drop out.

The Hood Hundred is a qualifying race for the 2027 Western States Endurance Run (runners must finish the local race in less than 34 hours to meet the standard). Last year’s overall Hood Hundred winner was Kevin Stewart of Gilroy, CA., in 16 hours, eight minutes.

Ezra Blue’s Flight For Cancer

This is the fourth Ezra Blue’s Flight For Cancer 10K, 5K and nine-mile runs, held Aug. 15 in honor of Ezra Blue Duckwall. Ezra, who died of a brain tumor, would have turned age 9 this year. Proceeds from this run go to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

There also will be a 100-yard dash this year. For more information visit https://www.instagram.com/ezrablues_flight4cancer?igsh=ZXJyMHJ3ejg1cXhs

Skamania Fair Run

The Aug. 15, Skamania Fair Run 5K begins at 9 a.m. at the Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson, WA. There is day-of-race registration for the loop course which goes around the fairgrounds, to Skamania Lodge, into town, and back to the fairgrounds.

Visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information.

Wy’East Trailfest

The Aug. 15-16 racing features a trail running weekend at Mt. Hood Meadows with alpine courses reaching 8,000 feet and distances from a .75-mile kids run to a 50-mile race. The 50-kilometer race is the 2026 USATF 50K Trail National Championship.

Post Canyon Half Marathon

Binns Hill Staging Area outside Hood River is the race headquarters for the Post Canyon race on Aug. 22. The race features “random prizes” for “random contests” during the event.

This course is not for the faint of heart, as all racers must carry a water bottle (24 oz minimum) or hydration pack. There is some 2,300 feet of elevation gain.

Meg Imhoff of Hood River won last year’s run in 2:05.47. Visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information.

Hood To Coast

The 2026 Hood to Coast Relay doesn’t necessarily traverse the Gorge, but starts at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, and heads to the Oregon Coast – some 196 miles. The race takes place Aug. 28-29 and registration is limited.

Visit hoodtocoast.com for more information.

Three Corner Rock

Formerly known as the PCT Bunker to Bonneville 50K, the Sept. 12 run on the Pacific Crest Trail still ends in North Bonneville. The point-to-point race of about 30 miles begins in Stabler, WA., and is a challenging course for 100 runners.

Race proceeds benefit the Stevenson High School cross country team. Visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information. To register go to ultrasignup.com.

Ferment Brewing 5K

The Ferment Brewing 5K run/walk is Sept. 19 on the waterfront in downtown Hood River. Runners can register through eventbrite.com

Teacup Tune-Up

The Teacup Tune-Up on Sept. 27 is a trail running event at Teacup Ski Trail system with three distances, including youth races. The route features lake views and covers courses of 7.5 kilometers (9 a.m. start), 2.2 kilometers and 1.3 kilometers. Register through webscorer.com.

CASA Fall Family Run

The CASA event is a family-friendly run supporting Columbia Gorge CASA at Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead on Oct. 3, featuring a 5K, a 1-mile jog/walk, and a fall costume contest. Register through runsignup.com.

Latest Not Fastest

On Oct. 3 runners can test their endurance – and perhaps sanity – in a last-person standing trail race on Hamilton Island in the Columbia River Gorge where runners repeat a 4.13 mile loop each hour and must finish each loop in under 60 minutes. The race continues until one runner remains. To register, visit gobeyondracing.com.

Columbia Gorge Marathon

This annual event features 5K and 10K races Oct. 17 and the half or full marathon races Oct. 18. There is a relay category and Dog Leg Half.

Connor Mackey won the marathon in 2025 in 3 hours, 15 seconds, while Matthew Maline took the half marathon crown in 1:15.20.

Visit columbiagorgemarathon.com for more information or register at runreg.com.

Thunder River

The Thunder River trail race is Oct. 31 in Cascade Locks and features a 25K point-to-point course and a 50K lollipop course along the Pacific Crest Trail and Gorge 400 trail. Register through daybreakracing.com.

Klickitat Trail Half and 5k

The Nov. 7 Klickitat Trail Half and 5k is a point-to-point race (with a shuttle to the starting line) in Lyle and a finish in Klickitat. The race benefits the Klickitat Community Centers and public schools.

The course features the fall colors and the gorge of the scenic Klickitat River. Register on ultrasignup.com, or visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information.

The Ruff

The Ruff in Carson, WA., is a seven-mile trail race at Dog Mountain Trailhead on Nov. 22. The race includes a three-mile climb of about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. For more information visit ultrasignup.com.

Stevenson Turkey Trot

The Nov. 26 Stevenson Turkey Trot begins at 8 a.m. at the Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson. Signup is a food or monetary donation to the local food bank.

This is the 21st year for the Turkey Trot. Visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information.

The Dalles Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot in The Dalles is a charity run/walk with a 5K and one-mile option. Sponsors will match the first $5,000 and proceeds benefit a local recipient. To register visit runsignup.com.

Ugly Sweater Fun Run

The Dec. 5 White Salmon Ugly Sweater Fun Run is a four-mile run starting at 10 a.m. in Rheingarten Park. There’s a kids run at 9:30 a.m. Visit columbiaggorgerunningclub.com for more information.