Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon or Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon and Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
4.4%
flat grade share
35.6%
lower ascent
434 m
climbing density
20.6 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
25.6%

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.7% Favoured
flat grade share
44.9% Favoured
lower ascent
322 m
climbing density
15.2 m/km
net elevation
-22 m
maximum grade
14.2%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricColumbia Gorge Marathon Half MarathonHaulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Flat grade share35.6%44.9%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)4.4%1.7%
Uphill share32.0%27.7%
Steep-up share11.5%6.4%
Downhill share32.4%27.4%
Total ascent (m)434 m322 m
Climbing density (m/km)20.6 m/km15.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)480 m1,180 m
Longest climb gain (m)39 m70 m
Longest climb average grade8.2%5.9%
Total descent (m)434 m344 m
Net elevation (m)0 m-22 m
Max absolute grade25.6%14.2%
Start elevation (m)26 m1,668 m
Finish elevation (m)26 m1,646 m
Scenic score100/10086/100
Conditions87/10056/100

Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactColumbia Gorge Marathon Half MarathonHaulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-08 (legacy event-level date).

LocationHood River, OregonBend, Oregon
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeOut And BackLoop
SurfaceUnavailable100% dirt trail; mix of single track and forest service roads, dusty and rocky in sections, with steep trails and fast descents
Elevation characterRollingHilly
TerrainRoad, TrailTrail
SceneryCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, ForestWaterfront, Countryside, Mountain, Forest
AtmosphereScenic Tour, DestinationWilderness, Destination, Festival
TechnicalityNon TechnicalUnavailable
Total ascent434 m322 m
Climbing density20.6 m/km15.2 m/km
Total descent434 m344 m
Net elevation0 m-22 m
Max absolute grade25.6%14.2%
Flat grade share35.6%44.9%
GAP factor4.4%1.7%
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date).

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-08 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Hood River, Oregon
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Bend, Oregon

Actual distance

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Out And Back
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Loop

Surface

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
100% dirt trail; mix of single track and forest service roads, dusty and rocky in sections, with steep trails and fast descents

Elevation character

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Rolling
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Hilly

Terrain

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Road, Trail
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Trail

Scenery

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Waterfront, Countryside, Mountain, Forest

Atmosphere

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Wilderness, Destination, Festival

Technicality

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Non Technical
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Unavailable

Total ascent

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
434 m
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
322 m

Climbing density

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
20.6 m/km
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
15.2 m/km

Total descent

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
434 m
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
344 m

Net elevation

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
0 m
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
-22 m

Max absolute grade

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
25.6%
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
14.2%

Flat grade share

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
35.6%
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
44.9%

GAP factor

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
4.4%
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
1.7%

Entry model

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Open
Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon
Open

Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.

Common questions

Which is flatter, Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon or Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon?

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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How figures are calculated →