Event Overview

Welcome to Gorge Waterfalls, offering scenic 100K, 50K and 30K trail running races through the heart of the iconic Columbia River Gorge. Gorge Waterfalls provides one of the preeminent trail race experiences in the Pacific Northwest, home to some of the greatest trail running terrain in the entire United States.

Through the combined skillsets of Freetrail and Daybreak Racing, we strive to deliver a premium quality race experience for our participants, filled with spectacular views, challenging trails, good vibes, and a fun finish line experience to celebrate human achievement. We hope you'll join us!

Land Acknowledgement: We honor and recognize that we gather for this event on the traditional lands of the native people within the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Yakama Nation, Nez Perce, the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the Cowlitz Tribe and the Siletz Tribe, all having occupied and stewarded these lands for countless generations.

Event Sponsors

Registration

Registration Fee Includes:

Laughs, smiles, hugs and high fives from Freetrail and Daybreak are always included! The registration fee includes: a professionally organized race, a beautiful, fully marked race course, awesome staging venue, Thunder Island camping, chip timing, live results, live race coverage, shuttle buses, plentifully stocked aid stations, professional medical support, radio communications, post-race meal and beverages, custom finisher award, professional photography and a host of other essential services and requirements we don't need to mention.

Registration FAQ

• REGISTRATION OPENS on September 9, 2024 at 7:00AM Pacific Time on UltraSignup. Each race sells out rather quickly and sooner every year.

• NO LOTTERY: There is no lottery for any race registrations.

• CAPACITY: Each race day has a limit of 400 runners.

• WAITLIST: Once each race fills, we will activate a waitlist. If race openings become available, we will invite people from the waitlist to complete their registration and pay the fee. We typically do not see much waitlist movement until 4-6 weeks prior to the event. There is no charge to sign up on a waitlist, cancel from a waitlist or decline an invitation to register from a waitlist. Please withdraw yourself from the waitlist if you do not plan to race.

• WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: The registration fee does not include the Ultrasignup processing fee, taxes, race swag or other add ons.

• CANCELLATION POLICY: Please review the Cancellation Policy if you have questions about withdrawing from the race. 

Pro/Elite Runners

We reserve a limited number of entries for professional athletes on a first come first served basis. Email us your proposal if you earn all or some of your living racing on trails, have a competitive resumé and an active social media engagement presence. We cannot consider elite entry requests less than 30 days prior to race weekend or requests with no written plan to promote your event experience. A submitted proposal does not guarantee entry.

Accepting an elite entry means the athlete must adhere to our Clean Sport, Anti-Doping and Prize Money Eligibility Policies, as well as mandatory attendance at applicable podium ceremonies and event-related interviews.

2025 Event Schedule

(All times are Pacific Time)

Thursday, April 10

Social Hour & Optional Bib Pickup:

• 5:30PM-7:00PM at Gorges Beer in Cascade Locks. Grab a beverage, your race bib and prepaid swag early!

Friday, April 11

30K Race:

• Check-in (at Marine Park Pavilion): 8:00AM-8:55AM

• Shuttle Buses Depart Marine Park for the Start: 9:00AM.

• Race Start (at Wahkeena Day Use Area): 10:00AM for Wave 1. Subsequent waves every 5 minutes thereafter.

• Cut-Offs: 6 hours overall. Additional on-course cutoffs are listed on the 30K race details page.

Sponsor Village & Bib Pick-up:

From 3PM-5PM, meet our amazing sponsors, pick up your 100K or 50K bib (optional), and savor the finish line vibes! Additional activities will be posted as we get closer to race weekend.

Saturday, April 12

100K Race:

• Check-in (at Marine Park Pavilion): 4:00-4:55AM

• Race Start: 5:00AM at Marine Park.

• Cut-Offs: 18 hours overall. Additional on-course cutoff times are listed on the 100K race details page.

Bib Pick-up (50K):

• 2PM-8PM: 50K runners can pick up their bib and prepaid swag at the finish line area at Marine Park.

Sunday, April 13

50K Race:

• Check-in (at Marine Park Pavilion): 6:00-6:55AM to pick up your bib and swag if not already.

• Shuttle Buses Depart Marine Park for the Start: 7:00AM

• Race Start (at Wahkeena Day Use Area): 8:00AM for Wave 1. Subsequent waves every 5 minutes thereafter.

• Cut-Offs: 9 hours overall. Additional on-course cutoff times are listed on the 50K race details page.

• Event Conclusion: 5:15PM

Getting Here

Location

The event is staged at the Marine Park Pavilion in Cascade Locks, Oregon, approximately 35-40 minute drive east of the Portland metro area.

Directions

• Google Map directions to Marine Park from Portland

• Driving directions from downtown Portland (allow 40-45 minutes drive time):

  • Follow I-84 eastbound to exit 44 at Cascade Locks.

  • Continue on Cascade Locks Hwy/US-30/Wa Na Pa St. for 0.8 miles.

  • Turn left into Marine Park entrance on SW Portage Rd.

Airport

Nearest major airport is Portland Int’l Airport (PDX), 38 miles from the event staging area.

Parking

EVENT PARKING is at Marine Park surrounding the Pavilion. The Port of Cascade Locks requires a $10 daily parking fee per vehicle, paid at this link. (All parking fees go toward ongoing maintenance of Marine Park!)

ADDITIONAL PARKING without a fee is available curbside along Wa Na Pa St., the main road through Cascade Locks.

CAUTION: Exceptionally tall vehicles should park out on Wa Na Pa St. in Cascade Locks to avoid the 12’0” clearance limit under the railroad trestle at the entrance to Marine Park.

Accommodations

CAMPING OPTION 1: Tent camping on Thunder Island at Marine Park! We have special permission to offer Thunder Island camping to our participants and volunteers, which is first come first served. Campers must carry their camping supplies onto the island from their parked vehicle on the mainland side of Marine Park. No campfires or alcohol allowed on Thunder Island.

CAMPING OPTION 2: Marine Park Campground at the west end of the park (separate from Thunder Island). Reservations must be made on one’s own, this location is not included in the event permit agreement. These are designated campsites suitable for small RVs/trailers/vans and cars. Remember the 12’0” clearance limit at the Marine Park entry.

HOTELS: Multiple options in Cascade Locks, each a few minutes walk or drive to the staging area at Marine Park. Many additional lodging options in the Portland metro area 30-45 minutes to the west, as well as in Hood River, 20 minutes east.

Carpool Finder

Click here for the carpool signup form, whether you’re looking for a ride or offering a ride on race weekend.

Click here to view a list of available carpools from those who have completed the signup form.

Race Day!

Weather

Check the latest local weather HERE from the National Weather Service and please come prepared for a wide range of early spring weather! The Gorge is a famously turbulent place.

Sunrise/Sunset Info

• Civil Twilight Starts: 5:50AM

• Sunrise: 6:24AM

• Sunset: 7:52PM

• Civil Twilight Ends: 8:24PM

Wave Starts

The 30K and 50K will have wave starts to spread out the runners (posted cutoffs are based on final wave start time). Wave assignments are printed on your race bib, based on wave selected during registration.

The 100K is a single mass start.

Live Results

A link to live on-course tracking and results will be posted here on race week.

Post Race Celebration!

Stay and enjoy the good vibes while we cheer on the race finishers each day! All participants receive a voucher/ticket for food and beverages at the Marine Park Pavilion. Family and friends are invited to stay, but bring in their own food/drinks.

Prize Purse & Awards

• All participants receive a sweet custom award as they finish their race.

• A raffle of some amazing sponsor swag will be held while runners are out on the course! Prizes will be given to raffle winners as they finish their race.

• The top 3 women and top 3 men will receive a custom made award.

• A significant prize purse will be awarded to the top 3 men’s and women’s 100K finishers and top 3 men’s and women’s 50K finishers.

  • All podium award winners accepting prize money are required to submit a completed W9 form prior to payment and agree to our Clean Sport/Anti-Doping Policy.

General Info

Volunteers

We’d love your help! Event volunteer tasks will be posted for signups here once open.

Training Runs

We will announce a couple course preview training runs, likely both occurring in March. Details TBA.

Race Distance Transfers

Since each race distance sells out quickly, distance transfers aren’t available.

Pet/Dog Policy

Due to the significant public use in the Gorge, dogs are not allowed on the course or aid stations.

Well behaved, leashed dogs are allowed at the outdoor areas of Marine Park staging area under owner control. Aggressive or loud dogs shall leave event and not return. Dogs are not allowed inside the Pavilion.

Media Pass

Please review our MEDIA PASS information page.

Beneficiary

A portion of race proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Trailkeepers of Oregon. They are volunteer-based and actively involved in the rehabilitation, maintenance, planning and building of the trails used on the course as well as stewardship of trails throughout many regions of Oregon. For more info, visit their website at www.trailkeepersoforegon.org.

Affiliations & Qualifiers

The 2025 Gorge Waterfalls 100K is this year’s Team USA Long Course Selection Race. Top finishers will be selected to join Team USA to compete at the 2025 World Championships Long Course trail race.

The 2025 Gorge Waterfalls 100K is a Qualifier for the 2026 Western States Endurance Run. Runners must finish under 18 hours to be eligible.

Each distance is also a UTMB® Index race.

Equality Commitment

Freetrail and Daybreak Racing are committed to equality. The race is Trail Sisters Approved and we have made the commitment to provide:

• Equal Podium Spots for Women and Men

• Equal Prize Money & Awards for Women and Men

• Women’s specific swag & apparel

• Menstrual products at all aid stations

• Equal opportunity/space for women on the starting line

Cancellations & Credits

Please read our Cancellation Policy. Note that the Gorge Waterfalls event is a stand-alone event separate from Daybreak Racing’s other events. Race credit from other Daybreak Racing events does not apply toward Gorge Waterfalls and vice versa.

This event is located on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.  This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.