Hood to Coast Relay

Starting at the iconic Timberline Lodge at approximately 6,000 feet on the slopes of Mount Hood, this point-to-point relay covers nearly 200 miles across northern Oregon. The initial miles demand resilient quads, opening with a punishing 2,000-foot descent down Timberline Road toward Government Camp. From the alpine terrain of the Cascade Range, the route winds west along paved corridors and rural highways, tracing pastoral stretches toward the Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette River valley before venturing deep into the rolling hills and logging corridors of the Northern Oregon Coast Range.

Divided into 36 distinct legs, the course presents a shifting gauntlet of running surfaces and gradients. You will rotate through paved shoulders, occasional packed gravel segments, steep mountain climbs, and rapid descents. Managing cumulative fatigue, sleep deprivation, and tight van quarters over 24 to 36 hours is the defining athletic challenge. Later segments push runners through rural Clatsop County in pitch darkness, requiring headlamps and reflective gear, before finally emerging on the sandy, windy shores of the Pacific Ocean in Seaside.

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the primary air hub for the race, situated roughly 60 miles northwest of the Timberline Lodge starting area. Teams generally rent two large passenger vans from Portland to manage runner rotations. Lodging is typically split between regions: teams often book pre-race accommodations near Sandy, Welches, or Government Camp along US-26 for easy morning access to Mount Hood, while securing separate reservations on the coast in Seaside, Cannon Beach, or Astoria for post-race recovery.

Late August brings considerable microclimate shifts across the 200-mile course. Temperatures at the Mount Hood summit can hover in the low 40s to 50s Fahrenheit at dawn, climb above 80 degrees during midday stretches through the valley, and drop back down into chilly, damp marine air along the coast. Packet pickup and van staging require strict adherence to official waves to mitigate traffic along narrow mountain and rural roads. Because the start sits at 6,000 feet, staying hydrated early will ease the minor altitude impact before you descend into the lower valleys.