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Elkhorn Relay race photo

Elkhorn Relay

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Elkhorn Relay race photo
Elkhorn Relay race photo
La Grande
US
© s3.amazonaws.comSam Beebe, CC BY 2.0Asotoole, CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date Aug expected
August 2027
City · Distance
La Grande · 80.6M
Entry fee
Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
2027Date August 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Aug 8, 2026 · Start 05:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026
Elkhorn Relay race photo
© s3.amazonaws.com
Elkhorn Relay race photo
Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0
Elkhorn Relay race photo
Asotoole, CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Elkhorn Relay — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Teams of 6 run relay-style through the mountains of eastern Oregon.

The start is at Hilgard Junction State Park.

Course reaches its highest point at the 7,400-foot section behind Anthony Lakes, with 6,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain.

The 2026 event is the 11th edition.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Elkhorn Relay runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Full recap

PMC Meanders · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Elkhorn Relay — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Elkhorn Relay course map and elevation

The 80.6M I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 05:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Hilgard Junction State Park

Start · Google Maps
Show more

Runners start · local time — 05:00–09:00 (by team pace)

The start is at Hilgard Junction State Park.

Runners head south along old Highway 244, following the Grande Ronde River.

The first climb begins where the road pulls away from the river.

More than 20 miles of gravel mountain roads follow as the route enters the backcountry.

This is where the Elkhorn Mountains begin to come into view to the south.

Course climbs behind Anthony Lakes and reaches an elevation of 7,400 feet.

The organizers state that all team members finish course on the ski resort's trail leg.

Course has 6,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain, and each team consists of 6 runners.

This long-running eastern Oregon event is organized by RUNOR Racing Co., and 2026 marks its 11th edition.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Elkhorn Relay race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition
Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

No public transit — car access only

Start is at Hilgard Junction State Park, La Grande, OR, per the official UltraSignup event page.

Point-to-point relay heading south along old Hwy 244 and the Grande Ronde River.

No date conflict.

Getting to the finish

No public transit — car access only

Finish is at Anthony Lakes (ski resort/lodge area), implied from course description.

82.24-mile point-to-point relay through backcountry gravel mountain roads.

More details

No organized runner/spectator shuttle mentioned;

teams typically move their own support vehicles between exchange points.

Stations & transport near the venue

No dedicated transit card system;

La Grande, Oregon is a small rural city with no public transit network relevant to race logistics.

The Elkhorn Relay is a car-access point-to-point course in the mountains, requiring a personal or rental vehicle and driver support.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The 2026 event takes place on Saturday, August 8.

Start times are divided according to the team's average pace.

For planning purposes, the organizers estimate starts at 5:00 AM for 10-minute-per-mile teams, 7:00 AM for 9-minute teams, 8:00 AM for 8-minute teams,

and 9:00 AM for 7-minute teams.

Estimated finish times under the same assumptions are between 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Confirmed start times are communicated individually several weeks before the race.

In August, La Grande's average high is 30.6°C and average low is 11.6°C.

Monthly precipitation is 17mm.

Registration fees increase by entry period.

The fee is $500 from November 21, 2025 through January 31, 2026;

$550 from February 1 through May 31; and $600 from June 1 through July 20.

Times are local to La Grande. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing La Grande with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Total cost and budget for Elkhorn Relay

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Elkhorn Relay

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

La Grande runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Elkhorn Relay

FAQ
When does Elkhorn Relay 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in August 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, August 8, 2026.

What distances does Elkhorn Relay 2027 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

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