One of the many benefits of living in Oregon is that we have really good wine. In addition to that, we have lots of beautiful places to run, so some of the best races combine these two elements. NW Dirt Churners hosts one such event on Saturday, July 30th at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park near Gaston, OR called the Wine Country Trail Runs. Here, runners get the opportunity to run a half marathon, a 10k, or a 5k in beautiful Wine Country.
Willamette Valley’s wine country has become quite an attraction here in the Pacific Northwest, and this race will take advantage of all that beauty. A former 1260-acre Douglas Fir tree farm is the backdrop for the event, and runners will enjoy the trek through the gorgeous trees on pea gravel and dirt trails along the Tualatin River. They will also be treated to views of the Cascades and the coastal range throughout Willamette Valley.
This race is open to all levels and the park will be open to all users during the race, including mountain bikes and horses. The Park opens at 8:00AM and there will be no event parking at Chehalem Ridge Park, so please plan on parking on the shoulder closest to the park on the west side of the entrance. You’ll check in at the picnic area near the start anytime between 8:15-8:45AM for the half or from 8:15-9:30AM for the 5k and 10k. This is a cupless race, so plan to fill your water bottles before the race. There will be water and Gnarly Hydrate at the start, so fill ‘er up!! (If you are a fan of Gnarly, use discount code DIRT15 for 15% off their products!!)
The half marathon will begin at 9:00AM and there are two aid stations on the course to refill at. The 10k starts at 10:30AM and there is one aid station available for that distance. The 5k begins at 10:00AM and there will be no aid stations or water stops, so please plan accordingly. There is a 5 minute pre-race meeting before each distance takes off.
The 5k is a relatively flat course along Timber Road on the dirt and pea gravel. There is no cut-off time for this distance, so run it, hike it, or walk it. Enjoy!! The 10k and half marathon will be a bit more challenging, but nothing you can’t handle for a gorgeous race experience. More details about each of the routes can be found on the website. All of the courses begin and end at the junction of Timber Road and Woodland Trail near the park’s entrance.
All participants will get stemless wine glasses at the finish line and there will be food from ETA in the picnic areas as well. There will be vegan options for those who prefer it.
If you’re looking for more than just a running experience, there’s also an option with NW Wine Shuttle to participate in the Hop On Hop Off experience after the race. This is an exclusive perk for Wine Country Trail Run participants and their guests and is closed to the general public that day. This wine tour has a “choose your own adventure” format where you’ll get to choose three wineries from a pre-curated list of stops in Carlton, OR. From here, a custom itinerary will be created and all the details will be taken care of by NW Wine Shuttle. (Please note that tasting fees and lunch are not included.) This experience begins at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park with a shuttle pick up at 12:00PM. The shuttle will return to the park by 5:30PM. Email your questions to kim@nwwineshuttle.com and book ASAP, as spots will be limited. Also, if you book by July 10th, you’ll get 25% off using code RUN25.
This race is limited to 120 total runners so get your registration in ASAP!!!
Details:
What: 2022 Wine Country Trail Runs 5k/10k/Half Marathon
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2022. Half Marathon starts at 9:00AM, 10k at 9:30AM, and 5k at 10:00AM
Where: Chehalem Ridge Nature Park (38263 SW Dixon Mill Rd, Gaston, OR)
Cost: 5k is $45, 10k is $60, and Half Marathon is $70. Prices increase after July 1st.
Register: Here
Info on Post-Race Wine Shuttle:
What: NW Wine Shuttle, Hop On Hop Off
When: Saturday, July 30th, 2002 after the race. Pick up is at 12:00PM and return is at 5:30PM
Where: Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
Contact: kim@nwwineshuttle.com. Book Now, seats are limited. Participants that book by July 10 get 25% off with code RUN25
