Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon or Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay — which comes out ahead?

The available sourced metrics do not create a clear lead; use the table to compare the held route, cost and race-day evidence.

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%

Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay

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%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricColumbia Gorge Marathon Half MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Flat grade share35.6%35.6%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)4.4%4.4%
Uphill share32.0%32.0%
Steep-up share11.5%11.5%
Downhill share32.4%32.4%
Total ascent (m)434 m434 m
Climbing density (m/km)20.6 m/km20.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)480 m480 m
Longest climb gain (m)39 m39 m
Longest climb average grade8.2%8.2%
Total descent (m)434 m434 m
Net elevation (m)0 m0 m
Max absolute grade25.6%25.6%
Start elevation (m)26 m26 m
Finish elevation (m)26 m26 m
Scenic score100/100100/100
Conditions87/10087/100

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.

Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactColumbia Gorge Marathon Half MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Schedule

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

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

LocationHood River, OregonHood River, Oregon
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeOut And BackUnavailable
Elevation characterRollingUnavailable
TerrainRoad, TrailTrail
SceneryCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, ForestCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
AtmosphereScenic Tour, DestinationScenic Tour, Destination
TechnicalityNon TechnicalUnavailable
Total ascent434 m434 m
Climbing density20.6 m/km20.6 m/km
Total descent434 m434 m
Net elevation0 m0 m
Max absolute grade25.6%25.6%
Flat grade share35.6%35.6%
GAP factor4.4%4.4%
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon

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

Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay

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

Location

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Hood River, Oregon
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Hood River, Oregon

Actual distance

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Held

Course type

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Out And Back
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Unavailable

Elevation character

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Rolling
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Unavailable

Terrain

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Road, Trail
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Trail

Scenery

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest

Atmosphere

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Scenic Tour, Destination

Technicality

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Non Technical
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Unavailable

Total ascent

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
434 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
434 m

Climbing density

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
20.6 m/km
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
20.6 m/km

Total descent

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
434 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
434 m

Net elevation

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
0 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
0 m

Max absolute grade

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
25.6%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
25.6%

Flat grade share

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
35.6%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
35.6%

GAP factor

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
4.4%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
4.4%

Entry model

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Open
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Open

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

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