Considering doing the 2025 Cascade Lakes Relay and wanna know what you’re in for? Run Oregon is here to give you two course preview posts, one for van #1 and another for van #2. You can also get more detailed information from the website if you download the course maps. Below you’ll find out what you’re signing on for if you are in van #2.
Van #2 has the benefit of starting later and bringing the house down with a sweeping finish! This van also tends to have a bit more of the shorter milage, and it’s primarily on roads, though these runners will deal with a lot of the worst heat.
RUNNER #1: Legs 7, 19, and 31
Runner #1 in van #2 will get the first hand-off from the last runner in van #1 at Military Junction. This leg is 5.5 miles long and considered “moderate.” This runner will benefit from truly spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains for the first several miles and the entire leg is on roads. The leg has a net elevation change of -3 feet and ends at Silver Lake Cul-de-Sac. Whoever gets this leg will also pass a very popular swimming sport in the Williamson River around 2.5 miles in and will need to fight the urge to jump in for a quick dip.
Leg #19 is considered a “hard” leg, from Willow Butte to Jones Well Camp. This runner will have a rough climb on paved roads up Crater Buttes before a descend down the other side. There is -168 feet of net elevation change, with 554 feet climbing up and -722 feet coming down.
The last leg for runner #1 will be leg #31, which is 5.8 miles and rated as “hard.” This leg begins at Mt Bachelor West Village and ends at Wanoga Odot. There is a “quad busting downhill” from Mt Bachelor and a climb at the end, but at least it’s the last leg! There is 324 feet of total net elevation change for this leg, and it is advised to not start too fast so you have something left for that last hill.
RUNNER #2: Legs 8, 20, and 32
Leg 8 is considered an “easy” leg at only 3.8 miles. This is a pretty leg with pine trees and sagebrush lining the roads. Runners start at Silver Lake Cul-de-Sac and finish at Long Prairie with 106 feet of net elevation change.
Leg #20 is 6.9 miles long and considered “moderate.” It’s all along roads beginning at Jones Well Camp and ending with a descent at Sand Flat. Runners doing this leg will get to run through the forest. There’s a net elevation change of 533 feet.
Leg #32 is an “easy” 2.2 mile roue that starts at Wanoga Odot Cinder Lot and ends at Wanoga Snp-Park. This leg is all downhill, with a net elevation change of -539 feet. This will be a sweet way to end the relay, though I would advise runners to take it easy because getting into a van after a downhill finish can lead to some painful leg cramps.
RUNNER #3: Legs 9, 21, and 33
Leg #9 is a “hard” leg that is 7 miles long, all along roads. This is considered a tough grueling leg in the heat of the day and there’s also a significant climb. There’s a net elevation change of 421 feet and runners will start at Long Prairie and finish at Bear Butte.
Welcome to La Pine for Leg #21! This leg is 6.3 miles long and “moderate.” Runners will cross over US-97 at the traffic light and head toward the La Pine Senior Center. This is a mostly downhill course with -307 feet of net elevation change.
Leg #33 will be the last one on the agenda for runner #3, and it’s 4.7 miles long and “moderate.” Runners start at Wanoga Sno-Park and end at Century Chain-up Area. This route is all downhill, with nearly 1000 feet of elevation loss in less than 5 miles. There’s a total of a whopping -1024 feet of net elevation change overall. This route will take runners along some amazing views of Central Oregon, but be sure to stretch at the end of this finish before getting into the van if you want to be able to walk later.
RUNNER #4: Legs 10, 22, and 34
Leg 10 is not any easier than leg #9, as there’s more heat and a long distance ahead. This leg is 8.4 miles long and considered “very hard.” Though you’ll have direct exposure to the sun here, it’s a beautiful trek on the open range. There’s -110 feet of net elevation change and the route begins at Bear Butte and ends at Antelope Flat.
Leg #22 is “moderate” and 4.7 miles long. The runner doing this leg will get to enjoy running through the La Pine community, which always welcomes CRL with open arms. This short and flat leg will start at La Pine Senior Center and end at Living Waters Church with only 31 feet of net elevation change.
The last leg for Runner #4 will be leg #34 which is 3.1 miles long and “easy.” This leg starts at Century Chain-up Area and finishes at the gorgeous family vacation destination, 7th Mountain Resort. It’s a downhill leg with -450 feet of net elevation change.
RUNNER #5: Legs 11, 23, and 35
Leg 11 is 7 miles long and considered “hard”. The runner who takes this leg will start at Antelope Flat and will run down Fort Rock Valley to finish their leg at Buck Creek Ranch. This is mostly a downhill route, with -486 feet of net elevation change.
Leg #23 is 6.5 miles long and “moderate.” Runners will enjoy the gorgeous view of Pringle Falls and the Deschutes River. The leg begins at Living Waters Church and ends at Wickiup Dam Road. It’s mostly pretty flat with only 61 feet of net elevation change.
Leg #35 is a “moderate” leg that is 5.1 miles long and mostly travels downhill with -239 feet of net elevation change. Runners start at 7th Mountain Resort and finish at Deschutes Ridge, and this leg offers both road and trail terrain.
RUNNER #6: Legs 12, 24, and 36
Leg 12 is 5.3 miles long and “moderate.” Runners will get views of Fort Rock Valley and Silver Lake as they run into town to the second major exchange at the Silver Lake Community Center. This is a “bug route” which means you could get chewed alive. Take my advise and don’t skip out on the bug spray. This is mostly pretty flat with -144 feet of net elevation change from Buck Creek Ranch to Silver Lake Community Center.
Leg #24 is 6.3 miles long and “moderate.” This is a pretty route that starts at Wickiup Dam Road and travels through the forest on some light gravel. There will not be van support but that next major exchange is right around the corner at North Wickiup Boat Ramp. It’s pretty flat, with only 28 feet of net elevation change. Don’t forget your hydration!
The last leg of the relay is leg #36 which starts at Deschutes Ridge and ends at the finish line at Riverbend Park. This leg is 3.5 miles long and considered “easy.” There’s a bit of a hill at the beginning, but only -131 feet of net elevation change. The final runner gets the honor of finishing this relay along the Deschutes River Trail, a scenic route that ends with cheering spectators! What’s better than that?