Welcome to the Kalapuya Crest, offering a super scenic and diverse point-to-point 100K course and the only race to traverse the crest of the Oregon Cascade Mountains! The diversity of this course is unmatched, showcasing the full spectrum of Oregon’s climate regions. Beginning on the lush westside of the Cascades, the course passes through old growth forests along the Middle Fork Willamette River. Up at the river’s headwaters, some rowdy high country climbs and descents await while circumnavigating the old volcanic peak of Sawtooth Mountain. Dozens of pristine subalpine lakes highlight the crossing over the Pacific Crest to the drier, sunnier eastern side of the Cascades, with the race finishing on the shores of shimmering Crescent Lake.

Land Acknowledgement: Kalapuya Crest travels on the ancestral lands of the native Kalapuya, Molalla and Klamath peoples, who have occupied and stewarded these lands for countless generations. We respect their right to self-determination and their sacred connection to these lands and waters.

The Calapooya Mountains (an anglicized naming referencing the native Kalapuya peoples) are a major western spur of the Cascades, where they merge at the Pacific Crest between Diamond Peak in the north and Mt. Theilsen in the south. This mountain range intersection has served as the geographic and cultural crossroads between southern, western and eastern Oregon for millennia and also serves as the divide separating the three major basins of the Deschutes, Willamette and Umpqua Rivers. From its High Cascade volcanic vistas, deep forests and pristine lakes, Kalapuya Crest travels through a confluence of exceptional scenery, ecological diversity and cultural significance.

Organizing this event is no small feat in itself, with permits required from not just ONE, not TWO, but THREE National Forests…the Deschutes, Willamette and Umpqua! The beauty of the region and quality of the trails make the demanding permitting effort completely worthwhile.