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

Columbia Gorge Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.

Route comparison snapshot

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
2.4%
flat grade share
33.6%
lower ascent
747 m
climbing density
17.7 m/km
net elevation
-33 m
maximum grade
19.7%

Columbia Gorge Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
2.1% Favoured
flat grade share
39.8% Favoured
lower ascent
696 m
climbing density
16.5 m/km
net elevation
-82 m
maximum grade
25.5%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricHaulin' Aspen Trail Race MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon
Flat grade share33.6%39.8%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)2.4%2.1%
Uphill share32.5%29.3%
Steep-up share9.7%7.2%
Downhill share33.9%30.9%
Total ascent (m)747 m696 m
Climbing density (m/km)17.7 m/km16.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)3,710 m1,940 m
Longest climb gain (m)204 m70 m
Longest climb average grade5.5%3.6%
Total descent (m)780 m778 m
Net elevation (m)-33 m-82 m
Max absolute grade19.7%25.5%
Start elevation (m)1,668 m108 m
Finish elevation (m)1,635 m26 m
Scenic score86/100100/100
Conditions56/10087/100

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
FactHaulin' Aspen Trail Race MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon
Schedule

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

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

LocationBend, OregonHood River, Oregon
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLoopOut And Back
Surface100% dirt trail; mix of single track and forest service roads, dusty and rocky in sections, with steep trails and fast descents100% paved
Elevation characterHillyHilly
TerrainTrailRoad, Trail
SceneryWaterfront, Countryside, Mountain, ForestCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
AtmosphereWilderness, Destination, FestivalScenic Tour, Destination
TechnicalityModerateNon Technical
Total ascent747 m696 m
Climbing density17.7 m/km16.5 m/km
Total descent780 m778 m
Net elevation-33 m-82 m
Max absolute grade19.7%25.5%
Flat grade share33.6%39.8%
GAP factor2.4%2.1%
CutoffUnavailable6:30:00
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon

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

Columbia Gorge Marathon

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

Location

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

Actual distance

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
42.2 km
Columbia Gorge Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Held

Course type

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

Surface

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

Elevation character

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
Hilly
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Hilly

Terrain

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

Scenery

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

Atmosphere

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

Technicality

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
Moderate
Columbia Gorge Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
747 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon
696 m

Climbing density

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
17.7 m/km
Columbia Gorge Marathon
16.5 m/km

Total descent

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
780 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon
778 m

Net elevation

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
-33 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon
-82 m

Max absolute grade

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
19.7%
Columbia Gorge Marathon
25.5%

Flat grade share

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
33.6%
Columbia Gorge Marathon
39.8%

GAP factor

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
2.4%
Columbia Gorge Marathon
2.1%

Cutoff

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon
6:30:00

Entry model

Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon
Open
Columbia Gorge 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, Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon or Columbia Gorge Marathon?

Columbia Gorge 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 →