Get On the Road for the 2026 Owyhee Off Road Challenge

The Owyhee Off-Road Challenge takes place in the small, rural community of Adrian (one hour west of Boise) on March 21, 2026. This beautiful, challenging chip-timed race runs on dirt trails, and you can choose between 5k, 10k, and half-marathon distances, as well as a new Ultra distance, which is a 55k loop. The race is hosted by the Adrian Sports Boosters to raise funds to build a new track for Adrian, Oregon.

The 55k takes off first at 7a Mountain Time (please make note of this if you are on Pacific Time!) and the half marathon follows at 10a. After that, the 10k will leave at 1030a and finally the 5k sets off at 11a. Runners and walkers of all speeds are welcome to participate in all distances. The half marathon runners will complete a large circle on rolling hills to the top of the Owyhees overlooking the Snake River, with its most significant climb of 700ft during the first three miles.

The 10k has the same elevation gain before reaching the turnaround point, whereas the 5k turns around before reaching the top of the 10k hill. The 55k, also a looped course, will have a whopping 3,548 feet of total elevation gain. There are virtual options too if you’re more comfortable with that in these scary times!

This race will benefit the next generation of runners. The Adrian High School track and field team currently has to bus to neighboring high schools to use their facilities, since the Adrian HS track is non-standard shape and made from packed dirt. While installing a full rubberized track is not within budget, the high school is hoping to raise enough funds to provide a rubberized 100m straight-away to allow the team basic running drills on a better surface.

You can also see race photos and updated information on the Owyhee Challenge Facebook Page.