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Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon race photo

Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USApr 3, 202742.195km · 21.1km
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Race date in 179 days
Apr 3, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Yakima · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee
$85Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenThu, October 1, 2026 ~ Thu, April 1, 2027See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon race photo
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About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This race is known for its scenic course in the Pacific Northwest.

It is recognized as a Boston Marathon qualifier.

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.

Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 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.

Race reports: 2
blakeRan in 2019 · Finish time 02:53:55
“It was by far my best marathon finish ever.”

At the 2019 Yakima River Canyon Marathon, Blake crested a long climb late in the race and picked up speed on the descent. A hint of hamstring cramping prompted a brief adjustment, but the runner still had strength at the end and finished in about 2:53:55.

Read the original on blake runs
Natasha KRan in 2018 · Finish time 05:59:36
“I had my Bill Bryson audio book to keep me company.”

At the 2018 Yakima River Canyon Marathon, Natasha slowed when the cambered road aggravated an existing hamstring injury. Enjoying an audiobook and conversations with other runners, she finished in 5:59:36 without making the injury worse.

Read the original on Team RunRun

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

Finisher vlog

Wagon Outdoors · Finisher vlog

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 Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon — 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.

Yakima River Canyon Marathon

Entry cost $85

until Mar 6, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Marathon Early Start

Entry cost $85

until Mar 6, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $85

until Mar 6, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Ellensburg, Wash., Yakima, WA

Show more

The 1/2 Marathon, Yakima River Canyon Marathon, and Marathon Early Start events are held together.

Start line is located in Ellensburg, Wash., and Yakima, WA, with an 8:00 AM local start.

Course is a point-to-point format with a different start and finish.

Typical race-season temperature: around 7°C (45°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

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

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

None — no train/bus station near the Ellensburg start

Marathon starts near Ellensburg, WA (Days Inn area, 901 Berry Road);

course is point-to-point south through Yakima River Canyon on WA-821 to Selah.

Point-to-point canyon course with no public transit;

the organizer's free bus service is the standard way runners get to the start.

Getting to the finish

None — finish is at Selah Civic Center, 216 South First Street, Selah, WA, with no rail/subway station nearby

Race headquarters is Selah Civic Center;

runners without their own transport should use the organizer bus service (see shuttle).

More details

Complimentary organizer buses run both directions: Marathon buses depart 6:00 AM,

Half Marathon buses depart 8:00 AM, both from Selah Civic Center and the Best Western Ahtanum Inn in Yakima;

return buses run from the finish back to Selah Civic Center and the Best Western Ahtanum Inn.

Stations & transport near the venue

Yakima Transit serves the city with an adult one-way cash fare of $2.00, plus monthly passes;

there is no citywide contactless/reloadable IC card - fares are paid in cash on board or via pre-purchased passes/tickets from the Yakima Transit Center (S. 4th St).

The Yakima River Canyon Marathon course itself runs along a rural canyon highway outside town, so a car is necessary to reach the start.

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.

April with an average temperature of 7°C.

In Yakima, wind is more important than cold.

A thin windbreaker will protect your body temperature, and leave dry clothes in advance to change into after the race.

The venue is an area without public transportation.

Plans are made based on the assumption that you will travel by car or rental car.

Applications are processed through the RunSignup platform.

The collapse at full marathon is usually located at one location, around 30 km.

The 30 seconds saved in the first half saves 5 minutes in the second half.

Do not skip water and take a little at each section.

Departure is at 08:00. Applications are accepted until April 1, 2027.

Times are local to Yakima. 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 near the Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

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

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

2 experiences

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

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Yakima 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 Yakima.

Total cost and budget for Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon

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 Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Yakima runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon

FAQ
When does Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, April 3, 2027 in Yakima, WA, United States.

How much is the Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $85.

What distances does Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half.

What time does Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 2027 start?

Ellensburg, Wash., Yakima, WA.

When does registration for Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon 2027 open?

Registration runs from Thu, October 1, 2026 to Thu, April 1, 2027.

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