Since my start at Run Oregon over a decade ago (which… feels wild to say out loud), I’ve always held Oregon Trail Runs in pretty high regard. A lot of that came from my time at the Cottage Grove Half Marathon—a point-to-point adventure along the Row River Trail—as well as getting to know Mike Ripley, who heads up the series.
But when it came to their main trail races—Mary’s Peak & Spring Fling— I’d mostly been on the outside looking in. I’ve registered more than once over the years, only to have life step in with the usual suspects: injuries, illness, family schedules. You know how it goes.
So, it felt pretty good to finally toe the line at one—the Mudslinger Trail Run in the Starker Forest.
Getting There
This race takes place in a spot I’ve always been curious about but never quite motivated to explore on my own. The Starker Forest—privately owned and actively logged—has always felt a bit off-limits or at least uncertain from a navigation standpoint. To be fair, they do allow public access via a permit.
That’s part of what made this race so appealing. Show up, follow the course markings, and just experience it.
Start and finish are at Blodgett High School, which, if you’re not familiar, is tucked away west of Corvallis and Philomath. It’s a bit of a trek, but manageable—about an hour or so from Eugene or Salem. I drove in the morning for the 8:30 a.m. start and had no issues making it work. There was also car and tent camping availability on Friday night, which could make the trek more manageable if you reside further away.
A Full Day in the Forest
One unique aspect of the event: the half marathon is just part of the day. A gravel cycling race follows, and for the truly ambitious, there’s the option to double up—run the half, then hop on the bike. I considered it for about half a second and then made the wise decision to stick with just the run.
Still, it created a great atmosphere. Small field (capped at 100 runners), cyclists prepping, and a shared sense that everyone was in for a full day outside.
The Course: A Tale of One Very Big Climb
The race opens with about 1.8 miles of gradual downhill on wide paved and gravel roads. It’s the kind of start that feels comfortable—maybe a little too comfortable if you’re not careful.
Then you hit some wider trails for an additional 1.7 miles of flat forested wilderness.
And then… you hit… the climb.
“The Staircase” is the official-ish name, but that doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s roughly 1,000 feet of gain in about a mile (maybe they should call it the “Grand Staircase“…). And coming after some muddy early miles, it definitely gets your attention.
It’s tough, no way around it. So tough that race organizers placed a rope on the Staircase in a short, steep section. But, ultimately, the solution to Staircase is as straightforward as it is vertical—just keep moving forward. Honestly, if you can get through that section (mentally as much as physically), the rest of the race feels manageable by comparison. Not easy, but manageable.
Settling In
Once you crest that climb, the course heads mostly downhill for a mile or so (~400 feet) and then transitions into a more rolling middle section up to an aid station just at mile 5. You’re still working, but it never quite hits the same level of intensity again. And it comes with some great views.
After the crest, there are a variety of different trail types and experiences. Up top, things are more open among some logged hills. Other trails wind through dense, green forest—classic Oregon in the spring. There are some wide logging roads, as well as single track trails. There are open expanses and there are narrow dense bush lined trails with consistent sharp turns.
But no matter what we were running on, it was an amazing experience. Even with lingering mud from a week of heavy rain, it never felt like a slog. Just the opposite—it added to the experience. I was honestly surprised the trails were as good as they were.
This race is often described as a shorter, punchier counterpart to the Mary’s Peak Trail Run. Instead of a long grind to a summit, Mudslinger leans into constant variation—rolling hills, forested singletrack, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting.
Bringing It Home
Around mile 8.2, the course has mostly hit its climbing pinnacle. There’s a noticeable shift toward downhill (with only about ~100 ft. of climb from miles 9-9.4) and then its a steady rolling downhill towards the finish.
It’s a well-designed loop—challenging up front, rewarding on the back half. The final stretch back up on pavement – an uphill finish – was tough both mentally and physically, but super rewarding and with the number of cyclists prepping for their race, it was inspiring to keep moving forward.
Post-Race
After finishing, there’s plenty of space to hang out and recover. I grabbed a burrito from Cowgirl Cookin’ – the on-site food truck, which may have been the best decision I made all day.
Final Thoughts
This is just a really solid event.
Small field, well-marked course, great atmosphere, and a genuinely beautiful place to run. It delivered exactly what I expected from Oregon Trail Runs—and maybe even a little more, now that I’ve finally experienced it firsthand.
If you’re looking to add something different to your spring calendar, this is absolutely worth considering.
And if waiting until next year feels like too long, the Mary’s Peak Trail Run in June is right around the corner—and based on this experience, it’s firmly on my radar now.
