Description:

2019 RACE CANCELLED DUE TO EAGLE CREEK WILDFIRE

The Gorge Waterfalls 50k (and its sister race, the Gorge Waterfalls 100k) are unique in the number of waterfalls this course includes – quite possibly more waterfalls than you’ll be able to count! Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Multnomah Falls, Oneota Falls, Dry Falls, and far more, including Ponytail Falls, which you’ll run right underneath.
The 50K course offers an amazing west to east scenic tour through the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The course is almost entirely point-to-point route, beginning at Benson State Recreation Area, up Wahkeena Falls area over to Multnomah Falls, then upriver mostly along the Gorge 400 Trail all the way to Cascade Locks. From Cascade Locks the course does an out on the Pacific Crest Trail almost to Herman Creek before turning around, back down to Cascade Locks, through town and into Marine Park for the finish. Awe-inspiring views and incredible trails await along this challenging but runnable course!

The trails feature a variety of surfaces types, primarily rocky, somewhat technical singletrack mixed with some smooth dirt singletrack sections. The course is generally very runnable, with many punchy hill climbs and some very rocky technical sections especially through the many open talus slopes. There are intermittent sections of paved pedestrian/bike path connectors and some rural road shoulder sections to connect some of the main trail segments.

The race includes four aid stations, with one offering drop bag access and two offering crew access.