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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

Thunder River

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USOct 31, 202650km
Race date in 23 days
Oct 31, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Cascade Locks · 50km
Entry fee
$155Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Sun, October 25, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Thunder River — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

A fall race held in the Columbia River Gorge.

The events are a point-to-point 25K and a loop 50k, running through gorge scenery and fall foliage.

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.

Thunder River 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.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Thunder River — 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.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Thunder River course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
EventStart
Ultra08:00
Other25km10:00
START

Cascade Locks, OR

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Marine Park Pavilion, Cascade Locks, OR

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

The 25K is a one-way course, and the 50K is a Lollipop Loop, both of which loop around Thunder Island and end at Cascade Rocks Marine Park.

The events are the 50K and 25K.

The start is at Cascade Locks, OR, at 8:00 AM local time.

Typical race-season temperature: around 9°C (48°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Thunder River 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 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

For Thunder River in Cascade Locks, packet collection information has not been published.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

None – 50K starts at Marine Park (same as finish); 25K starts at Wyeth Trailhead, reachable only via the organizer shuttle from Marine Park

25K shuttle departs Marine Park at 9:15am for the ~15-min ride to Wyeth Trailhead ($15, must be purchased at registration, no return shuttle).

50K starts and finishes directly at Marine Park.

No public transit serves Cascade Locks;

nearest airport is PDX, 38 miles away.

Getting to the finish

None – finish is Marine Park Pavilion, Cascade Locks, OR. Nearest major airport is Portland Intl (PDX), ~38 miles away.

Marine Park has $10/day paid parking or free curbside parking along Wa Na Pa St, the town's main road.

More details

Yes – organizer shuttle bus Marine Park → Wyeth Trailhead for 25K runners only, 9:15am, $15 one-way (no shuttle back after finish)

Stations & transport near the venue

Thunder River is held near Cascade Locks in the Columbia River Gorge;

the trailhead itself is car-access only with no dedicated transit card.

Portland-area visitors can occasionally use the seasonal Columbia Gorge Express shuttle bus to reach nearby gorge waterfalls,

but it does not serve this specific race venue, so a car is the practical option.

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 race starts at Marine Park in Cascade Locks, Oregon, passes the Pacific Crest Trail and the Gorge 400 Trail, goes beneath the Bridge of the Gods,

then loops around Thunder Island, surrounded by the Columbia River, before returning to Marine Park, making it a course.

The 25K is fully point-to-point, and the 50K is mostly point-to-point.

It's about a 40-minute drive from Portland, held during peak fall foliage season in the Columbia River Gorge in late October.

Times are local to Cascade Locks. 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.

Cascade Locks car rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Hotels near the Thunder River start line in Cascade Locks

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Stunning Stevenson Retreat w/ Mountain Views!

Accommodation · 2.7km

10.0/10(5)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Cascade Locks car rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Portland｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Portland International Airport

$122

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Cascade Locks with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Cascade Locks.

Total cost and budget for Thunder River

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 Thunder River

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Cascade Locks runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Thunder River

FAQ
When does Thunder River 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, October 31, 2026 in Cascade Locks, OR, United States.

How much is the Thunder River 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $155.

What distances does Thunder River 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Thunder River 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does Thunder River 2026 start?

Cascade Locks, OR.

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