Oregon has no shortage of accessible trails — I don’t need to tell you this. So many cities have little gems sitting either within or just on the outskirts of town, ready to whet your trail-running appetite. There are good trails everywhere.
But one that I think belongs in the Mt. Rushmore of underrated Oregon trails is Miller Woods, just northwest of McMinnville. This trail system is flipping incredible, and if you haven’t run here before, stop reading and go now.
I’ll wait.
Or, if you’re still here, you can instead register for the Miller Woods Trail Race coming up in October.
I ran the event way back in 2017, and I think it actually went through a period of dormancy. We haven’t really seen it around the Oregon race calendar in the last half decade or so – so when we heard it was coming back, we knew we needed to get the word out.
The race offers two distances: a 5K and 10K. While both courses will have some difficulty, neither is what I’d call a killer. Accessible difficulty, if you will. The routes feature a mix of singletrack and dirt roads, along with a not-insignificant amount of elevation gain. Both distances will wind through forested areas and grassy meadows, giving runners a pretty great introduction to what makes Miller Woods such a gem in the first place.
And if you’re looking for a race the whole family can enjoy, Outdoor Education Adventures will also be offering a Kids Camp on race day from 9:15–11:30 a.m. Kids ages 5–12 can participate while their parents are out running. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited to just 20 spots.
There is also a $5 parking pass required for each vehicle, which must be purchased in advance. The good news is that the proceeds go directly to Miller Woods. The less-good news is that only 60 parking passes are available (its a tiny parking lot!), so participants are strongly encouraged to carpool.
After a few years away, it’s great to see the Miller Woods Trail Race back on the calendar. And if you’ve never experienced the trails themselves, this might be the perfect excuse to finally check one of Oregon’s underrated trail-running gems off your list.
