Columbia Gorge Marathon or Eugene Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Columbia Gorge Marathon and Eugene Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Columbia Gorge Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held Favoured
course flatness
2.1%
flat grade share
39.8%
lower ascent
696 m
climbing density
16.5 m/km
net elevation
-82 m
maximum grade
25.5%

Eugene Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Not held
course flatness
Unavailable
flat grade share
Unavailable
lower ascent
Unavailable
climbing density
Unavailable
net elevation
Unavailable
maximum grade
Unavailable
Head-to-head comparison
MetricColumbia Gorge MarathonEugene Marathon
Flat grade share39.8%Unavailable
GAP factor (% slower than flat)2.1%Unavailable
Uphill share29.3%Unavailable
Steep-up share7.2%Unavailable
Downhill share30.9%Unavailable
Total ascent (m)696 mUnavailable
Climbing density (m/km)16.5 m/kmUnavailable
Longest climb length (m)1,940 mUnavailable
Longest climb gain (m)70 mUnavailable
Longest climb average grade3.6%Unavailable
Total descent (m)778 mUnavailable
Net elevation (m)-82 mUnavailable
Max absolute grade25.5%Unavailable
Start elevation (m)108 mUnavailable
Finish elevation (m)26 mUnavailable
Scenic score100/10099/100
Conditions87/10090/100

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 MarathonEugene 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 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date).

LocationHood River, OregonEugene, Oregon
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldNot held
Course typeOut And BackLoop
Surface100% pavedRoad and riverside path
Elevation characterHillyGently Rolling
TerrainRoad, TrailTrail, Road, Mixed
SceneryCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, ForestRiverside, Countryside, City, Historic, Parkland, Forest
AtmosphereScenic Tour, DestinationCompetitive, Scenic Tour, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent696 m148 m
Climbing density16.5 m/kmUnavailable
Total descent778 mUnavailable
Net elevation-82 m487 m
Max absolute grade25.5%Unavailable
Flat grade share39.8%Unavailable
GAP factor2.1%Unavailable
Cutoff6:30:007:00:00
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusUnavailableBoston_equivalent

Schedule

Columbia Gorge Marathon

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

Eugene Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Hood River, Oregon
Eugene Marathon
Eugene, Oregon

Actual distance

Columbia Gorge Marathon
42.2 km
Eugene Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Held
Eugene Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Held
Eugene Marathon
Not held

Course type

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Out And Back
Eugene Marathon
Loop

Surface

Columbia Gorge Marathon
100% paved
Eugene Marathon
Road and riverside path

Elevation character

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Hilly
Eugene Marathon
Gently Rolling

Terrain

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Road, Trail
Eugene Marathon
Trail, Road, Mixed

Scenery

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
Eugene Marathon
Riverside, Countryside, City, Historic, Parkland, Forest

Atmosphere

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination
Eugene Marathon
Competitive, Scenic Tour, Community

Technicality

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Non Technical
Eugene Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Columbia Gorge Marathon
696 m
Eugene Marathon
148 m

Climbing density

Columbia Gorge Marathon
16.5 m/km
Eugene Marathon
Unavailable

Total descent

Columbia Gorge Marathon
778 m
Eugene Marathon
Unavailable

Net elevation

Columbia Gorge Marathon
-82 m
Eugene Marathon
487 m

Max absolute grade

Columbia Gorge Marathon
25.5%
Eugene Marathon
Unavailable

Flat grade share

Columbia Gorge Marathon
39.8%
Eugene Marathon
Unavailable

GAP factor

Columbia Gorge Marathon
2.1%
Eugene Marathon
Unavailable

Cutoff

Columbia Gorge Marathon
6:30:00
Eugene Marathon
7:00:00

Entry model

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Open
Eugene Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Columbia Gorge Marathon
Unavailable
Eugene Marathon
Boston_equivalent

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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