Bucket List Race Alert: Great Columbia Crossing (Astoria)

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is the longest continuous truss Bridge in North America. It is an amazing feat of engineering, both when seen from afar and while speeding down the road, traversing the Columbia River. With the Great Columbia Crossing, you have an opportunity to see this massive bridge from a whole new perspective.

The Great Columbia Crossing 10K in Astoria, Oregon, provides runners the unmatched opportunity to walk or run across the Astoria-Megler Bridge. This up close and personal experience provides participants an adventure, that not only showcases one of our area’s most fascinating man-made locals, but also gives you a panoramic view of all the natural beauty quintessential to the Pacific Northwest!

Photo by Evan Pilchik

The race route begins at the Dismal Nitch Rest Area in Washington. Runners/walkers will then make their way towards US-101S/Oregon Coast Highway. The northbound lane will be closed to vehicle traffic. Participants will then traverse the Astoria-Megler Bridge and continue on US-101. The course will then meander down the Riverwalk and make its way on the Greenway Path and to the finish line at the end of Basin Street.

This event is capped at 3,500 participants each year to ensure safe Crossing of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. The event is held in support of the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants will be shuttled to the start line, on buses, whose service begin leaving the port of Astoria, or the Port of Chinook, at 630a.

Although strollers are allowed on the course, there are separate shuttles starting at 7am. Race directors ask they be collapsible to allow adequate space on shuttle buses for all participants.

Photo by Evan Pilchik

Since the main event is running and/or walking across this fantastic bridge, understanding exactly what you’re getting yourself into may be important. Although the majority of the bridge is flat, there is a very steep in climb in the middle.

This uphill portion of the bridge is about 0.6 miles long and starts just shy of four miles into the race. The grade of the syncline is 5.62% or just under 4 degrees slope. Although challenging, this large hill is what makes this race so spectacular. Yes, you pay for it in sweat, but the 360° view from the top, is unmatched.

Come join us in 2023!