Thunder River

Thunder River Trail Races

Thunder River is a trail running event held in the Columbia River Gorge during the autumn season. The event is staged from the Marine Park Pavilion in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The environment features autumnal scenery and views of the Columbia River.

Participants can choose from two distinct distances:

• 50K: A lollipop-style course that starts and finishes at Marine Park.
• 25K: A point-to-point race starting at the Wyeth Trailhead and finishing at Marine Park.

Both courses utilize sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Gorge 400 Trail. The routes pass under the Bridge of the Gods and enter the town of Cascade Locks. The final segment of each race includes a trail loop around Thunder Island within the Columbia River before reaching the finish line at Marine Park.

The event provides full-service aid stations, chip timing with live results, and professional medical support. A post-race meal and beverages are served inside the pavilion for all participants. Every finisher receives a custom award. Registration fees cover these services, but do not include the $10 daily parking fee at Marine Park or the optional $15 shuttle fee for 25K runners traveling from the staging area to their start line.

Logistics and Environment

The staging area is located approximately 40 minutes east of Portland. Lodging is available in Cascade Locks, including a campground at the west end of Marine Park. Due to a railroad trestle at the park entrance, vehicles taller than 12 feet must park on the main road, Wa Na Pa Street. To prevent the spread of invasive species, the US Forest Service requires all participants to use provided boot brushes on race morning. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.