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

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

Route comparison snapshot

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

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%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricEugene MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon
Flat grade shareUnavailable39.8%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)Unavailable2.1%
Uphill shareUnavailable29.3%
Steep-up shareUnavailable7.2%
Downhill shareUnavailable30.9%
Total ascent (m)Unavailable696 m
Climbing density (m/km)Unavailable16.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)Unavailable1,940 m
Longest climb gain (m)Unavailable70 m
Longest climb average gradeUnavailable3.6%
Total descent (m)Unavailable778 m
Net elevation (m)Unavailable-82 m
Max absolute gradeUnavailable25.5%
Start elevation (m)Unavailable108 m
Finish elevation (m)Unavailable26 m
Scenic score99/100100/100
Conditions90/10087/100

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.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactEugene MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon
Schedule

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

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

LocationEugene, OregonHood River, Oregon
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldNot heldHeld
Course typeLoopOut And Back
SurfaceRoad and riverside path100% paved
Elevation characterGently RollingHilly
TerrainTrail, Road, MixedRoad, Trail
SceneryRiverside, Countryside, City, Historic, Parkland, ForestCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
AtmosphereCompetitive, Scenic Tour, CommunityScenic Tour, Destination
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent148 m696 m
Climbing densityUnavailable16.5 m/km
Total descentUnavailable778 m
Net elevation487 m-82 m
Max absolute gradeUnavailable25.5%
Flat grade shareUnavailable39.8%
GAP factorUnavailable2.1%
Cutoff7:00:006:30:00
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusBoston_equivalentUnavailable

Schedule

Eugene Marathon

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

Columbia Gorge Marathon

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

Location

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

Actual distance

Eugene Marathon
42.2 km
Columbia Gorge Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Eugene Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Eugene Marathon
Not held
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Held

Course type

Eugene Marathon
Loop
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Out And Back

Surface

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

Elevation character

Eugene Marathon
Gently Rolling
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Hilly

Terrain

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

Scenery

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

Atmosphere

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

Technicality

Eugene Marathon
Non Technical
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Eugene Marathon
148 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon
696 m

Climbing density

Eugene Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon
16.5 m/km

Total descent

Eugene Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon
778 m

Net elevation

Eugene Marathon
487 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon
-82 m

Max absolute grade

Eugene Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon
25.5%

Flat grade share

Eugene Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon
39.8%

GAP factor

Eugene Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon
2.1%

Cutoff

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

Entry model

Eugene Marathon
Open
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Eugene Marathon
Boston_equivalent
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Unavailable

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

Read the full pages

How figures are calculated →