Thunder River 50K

Thunder River 50K is a lollipop-loop course through the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, starting and finishing at Marine Park in Cascade Locks. The route travels through town, passes under the iconic Bridge of the Gods, then follows the Gorge 400 Trail and Pacific Crest Trail through old-growth forest and open talus slopes before looping out on newly built trails toward the Wyeth zone. Runners pass Pacific Crest Falls, the Herman Creek pinnacles, and countless viewpoints over the Columbia River before returning to a Thunder Island loop finish surrounded by the river. The course is primarily rocky, technical singletrack with some smooth dirt sections and short stretches of paved path — challenging but runnable, with punchy climbs and sustained technical descents through open talus.